Sergeant Tony's Blog

I started telling Virgil Ray my secrets during the summer between 6th and 7th grade.

He never said a word.

Ever.

I still confide in him to this day.

I met Virgil one summer morning when I was walking lazily home from the swimming pool in my hometown.

Creekmore Park was the coolest park in town. It had two pools, an Olympic size pool for swim meets and general splashing about, and a diving pool for showing off that had three different sized diving boards to perform your can openers, cannon balls, and belly flops from a variety of heights.

Between Creekmore Park and my house was one of the oldest cemeteries in Fort Smith. It looks like your stereotypical cemetery. It has old mausoleums, massive and ornate monuments, and headstones that hearken back to a different era with dates that go back to the mid 1800′s. The huge oak trees in the cemetery are old and enormous.

That summer I was a volunteer helper for the Red Cross’s Swimming Program at the pool. I was a “swimmer’s aide” helping the swim instructor teach little kids how to swim. We started early in the morning and then we were finished an hour before the pool opened to the public. So I’d walk home, eat breakfast, and head back to the pool to hang out and goof off with my friends.

The shortest route home from the pool was to cut through the cemetery.

And that’s where I met Virgil.

Virgil Ray died in 1943.

On Virgil’s headstone was a ceramic picture of him in his US Navy uniform. No other headstone had a picture of the deceased. It was very interesting and very compelling.

He was 22 when he died during World War II. To me, he was a full grown man from the Great Generation, smiling at me from the dead. The hundreds of others buried in Oak Cemetery were simply names on stone. But to a 12 year old boy, Virgil became a real person.

Day by day I passed his grave looking at his picture. Eventually my pause at his resting place turned into a reverent conversation — almost a prayer — with this war time hero. Over time I just started confiding in Virgil, telling him about my life and even asking him for advice.

Thus began a “relationship” that has endured my whole life. I left Fort Smith when I was 18 and haven’t lived there since. But trips home often include a visit with Virgil.

Over the years I’ve taken girlfriends, family, and friends to “meet Virgil Ray.” I remember when I turned 22 myself. I’d finally reached Virgil’s age. I remember how strange it was when I was finally 23 and older than Virgil. By that time I’d been visiting my friend’s grave for over 10 years.

I’ve tried unsuccessfully to contact any surviving members of Virgil’s family. I always wanted to talk to someone who actually knew him. I always wanted to know what kind of man he was. But by now I’m afraid all who knew him have joined him.

Saying nothing over the years, Virgil has counseled me with the wisdom of silence. I have sometimes sat on the grass next to his headstone and waited for an answer about some question I had or some problem I was struggling with. And in that silence I’d often received the “answer” I needed. Sometimes I just needed to take the time to talk the situation out and hearing me speak those things aloud … I would have an answer.

Your best counseling to your family or friends probably won’t be what you say to them. It’ll more than likely be your willingness just to listen … and then having heard … it’ll be your willingness to say nothing. You will often speak loudest when you say nothing at all. You will demonstrate your concern and love for your friend or spouse by validating their feelings through a loving and attentive silence, through body language that says you love them and support them, by a comforting hand on their shoulder … by a hug. I seldom need someone to solve my problem, but I am happy when my friend lends an ear that hears … and listens … and validates my struggle.

I have sometimes wondered, when I am no more, will some 12 year old boy by chance wander past my final resting place … and pause for a moment … and say, “Hi Tony.”

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LOSE THE WEIGHT — The Body You Want in July Begins With a Strategy in January!

Take Shape For Life — weight loss program!

In the 10 year history of USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP I have never endorsed a weight loss program. I have always given the advice, “eat less, move more.” Which works. But is very hard to accomplish for a number of reasons.

I’m officially recommending, and partnering with, the Take Shape For Life weight loss program! This is a VERY successful and results oriented weight loss program developed by physicians, recommended by over 20,000 physicians, and endorsed by John’s Hopkins Hospital. And now by USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP!

I’ve written a short description of why I’ve chosen Take Shape For Life on the website blog: http://usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/2009/12/01/take-shape-for-life/

As a personal testimonial, after I had knee surgery I spent the next 2 months doing little that resembled my normal level of activity. Result? I gained 10 pounds. I started Take Shape For Life in early December and lost those 10 pounds in two weeks!

You can go directly to the Take Shape For Life website and poke around there for a bit. You can also sign up there as well. Go to: www.combatchallenge.tsfl.com . If you’ve got questions, let me know.

I’m excited by the success that many have already had in just the first month! Let me know if you’re interested. I’d be glad to sit down with you or talk on the phone. I can help you with this and even be your coach.

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SNOW DAYS!!

In the event of snow, we will follow Memphis City Schools. If MCS shuts down, we will stand down.

If the snow comes while MCS is on a holiday break, check the blog on the USMC Fitness Boot Camp website where I’ll post my decision at 0500 of that day.

Also, if MCS shuts down in the morning and we stand down, but the streets clear and are fine by the afternoon, I’ll post my decision regarding the evening class on the blog by 1600 (4 PM).

Q: “Tony, what if the Memphis City Schools have a delay in their start (like starting 2 hours late) what will we do?”
A: “We will workout!! We will be rockin’ and rollin’!”

I’ve been considering establishing a Twitter account as a means to communicate these kinds of things with you. Do you Twitter?

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FACEBOOK

And speaking of social networks, find me on Facebook and make me your friend! (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=629618416)
I’ll make you mine! Then join the USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP Group! I can communicate snow day decisions through that group too!

While you’re on Facebook, you might see an ad for USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP pop up. Do not click on it! Facebook charges me for every time someone clicks on it. That’s an ad for prospective Boot Campers! You knuckleheads already know how awesome it is!

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BOOT CAMP SWEATSHIRTS

The black and gray zippered hoodie have arrived! Embroidered BOOT CAMP sweatshirts are the way to show your coolness! Sizes are available in S to XXL!

Get yours ASAP! $35 each or two for $65!

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BOOT CAMP GIFT CERTIFICATES

For the month of January I’ll make these gift certificates available to you to give to that friend or family member who really needs to be on the Quarterdeck with you!

As you know, the first month of USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP is $180. Then it’s $75 per month after that. BUT a Boot Camp gift certificate that YOU purchase this month costs YOU only $75 to give to your friends or family members! The certificate you buy takes care of their first month’s fee.

Only members of USMC Fitness Boot Camp can purchase these gift certificates at this savings.

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WHY ARE OUTDOOR WORKOUTS SO GOOD FOR YOU IN THE WINTER?

Q: Tony, why must we workout outside? You’d make more money and you’d have more recruits and you’d make more money and you’d have more recruits (see a theme?) if we worked out inside! So …how ’bout it?

A: Here are the five benefits of cold weather workouts!
1. Strengthens the immune system!
2. Naturally increases the body’s production of saratonin, a natural calming chemical in your body.
3. Increased calorie burn!
4. Runny noses keep the cooties from taking up residence inside your schnozz and making you sick.
5. Bragging rights! You get to tell your sissy “indoor” friends how tough you are!

* If I moved us inside, my Marine Corps buddies, including my Marine Corps son, would abuse me, harass me, and laugh at me. Plus, in shame, I’d have to remove the “USMC” from our name and replace it with USAF. hahahaha

What should you wear? Layers. Layer your clothes so that you can adjust your body temperature as you get warmed up.
One more thing to remember about our outdoor winter workouts: hydrate! Because we’re not hot and sweaty, like in the summer, we often don’t drink enough water in the winter time. So hydrate y’all!

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“The only thing that scares me is a succession of ordinary days.”

Make your days extraordinary!

To your continued good health and fitness!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
4888 Southern Cove
Memphis, TN 38117
901-644-0145
www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com
www.combatchallenge.tsfl.com