[Joe Dan]

Long ago... (I was in the first SFAS - right after SFOT changed the name)

I was on the last road march. Sat down to rest, and resting...

As an aside, I used to run ultra marathons and we had a saying - "beware the chair". Don't sit down to rest.

Anyway, I'm drifting downward into an abyss and here comes this triad of dudes moving with a purpose up the road. They were not rucking together per se -but they were definitely drawing psychic energy off of each other. If you've been there you know what I mean.

So I pull out a shred of motivation, fear, "Oh CRAP!" and jump up and turn that wedge into a diamond moving up the road.

I believe that saved me.

Any way, the sun comes up and we sort of break up the psychic bond and are moving at our own paces. At one point I see this kid (he seemed like it to me) that was one of the three and he is limping badly. He's from Batt and he is harder than woodpecker lips and hurting like hell.

I hang near him for awhile and try to put out some psychic encouragement - in my mind he helped me a bit hours earlier - even though he didn't try to. So I hang with him and try and get him to focus on my ruck and keep up. He does. Now I know this sounds like mumbo jumbo to some and you don't know me but I am the farthest away from new age philosophy as can be. I just don't know how else to describe this type of thing. And anyway, that's not the point of the story.

Long story short - he was standing in that final formation with me - with a cast.

Sua Sponte.