Old habits......................

[Bob Wright]

Did you ever do anything then suddenly it dawns on you that it is an old habit from many years back?

Recently I bought a new Wrangler denim shirt. Yesterday I worked around the house then clean up and put on clean clothes, and pulled out this new, blue denim shirt. Then I picked over the jeans to put on, picking the most faded, and lightest color blue I had, that was still decent to wear. Realizing what I had done, I had to smile as a flood of memories came back to me.

Years ago, I was a soldier in the Army, fatigues were our daily wear. And no old soldier ever wore a brand new suit of fatigues. Fatigues, when new, were bright olive green, and faded to a gray green with wear. New shirt? Match it up with older trousers. Or, new trousers? Then an older shirt to go with it. Brand new fatigues branded one as a raw recruit.

I reckon I still have that "old soldier" mentality.


Bob Wright

 

[Fox Mike]

I was getting dressed the other day and realized I was making sure the "gig line" was correct. Yep, old habits never completely dissappear.

 

[tom black]

Ok Mike,
For those of us who never served, what’s a gig line?
Tom

 

[Gator89]

What is a Gig Line? Gig line is a military term that refers to the alignment of the seam of the uniform shirt, belt buckle, and uniform trouser fly-seam.

 

[eveled]

I call underwear skivvies and the bathroom the head. Picked up in the Navy....... by my grandfather! 90 years ago! My dad used those words so I got it from him. It wasn’t until recently I realized it came from the Navy.

 

[blackhawknj]

New fatigues with combat badges were the mark of one who had Seen The Elephant in my day.
Properly cultivated habits-SOPs, if you will,think gun safety make a BIG difference. I have an electric stove, before I leave for work I make sure everything is turned OFF.

 

[Bayouhunter]

Never served and I thank the ones that have. I have 41yrs now in the Gulf of Mexico on oil field supply vessels from some of the smallest to some of the largest ones. Thoughtlessly carrying over verbiage habits from boats to land results in my grandchildren sometimes giving me questioning looks when driving or giving them directions. They’ve gotten used to my frequent bow and stern descriptions instead of front and back. Turning to Port or Starboard throws them off some. Telling them to look forward is no problem if I say look aft!
If Dementia ever strikes me it may become interesting. An old shrimper I once knew when dementia finally overtook him I his late 70’s would take a one inch diameter rope tie his house off to a tree in his front yard whenever weather was approaching just as if he still on his shrimp boat. His son was friend of mine and I told him I would not try to correct him because he wasn’t hurting a thing just let him have his memories.

 

[SAJohn]

To this day, when at a urinal, I look for a rail to hold onto. In rough seas, if you don't, you are going to miss the target.

 

[coach]

I actually learned the gig line arraignment in the Boy Scouts and still check if I’m tucking in my shirt. My jeans make the rounds from decent to wear anywhere I wear jeans to yard work until they knees start to split then to the trash. No need to mention the ones I hope to fit in again someday.

 

[gramps]

Never heard it called gig line, but was taught as a child to line it up! Wonder if my Master Sergeant father did that to me?
gramps

 

[Rook]

Most of the cars and trucks I drove the majority of my life had 3 and 4 speed manual transmissions. I sold my last manual transmission vehicle 17 years ago but to this day, at times, I still find myself feeling for the clutch pedal and reaching for the gear shifter.

 

[phonejack]

I’m 73. I still check my gig line if I’m going out in public.

 

[Mobuck]

Who can forget the "gig line"? Nothing else is the same but the gig line is always checked. If the shirt has pocket tabs/flaps, those are always buttoned unless something in the pocket prevents. The loops and tails on tied boot laces need to match closely. Seems things like that are forever imprinted in one's mind.

 

[Fox Mike]

Most of the cars and trucks I drove the majority of my life had 3 and 4 speed manual transmissions. I sold my last manual transmission vehicle 17 years ago but to this day, at times, I still find myself feeling for the clutch pedal and reaching for the gear shifter.

Both my Hyundais have selective shifters. I find myself selecting the 'manual' setting quite often just for a change. Run each gear up near red line and shift to the next.

 

[SamV]

Most of the cars and trucks I drove the majority of my life had 3 and 4 speed manual transmissions. I sold my last manual transmission vehicle 17 years ago but to this day, at times, I still find myself feeling for the clutch pedal and reaching for the gear shifter.

Yep, same here. I don't do that in my large vehicles, like vans and Expeditions, but when I get in my wife's Toyota, as soon as my hand touches the shifter (automatic), old habits kick in and my left foot is going for the clutch and my hand is trying to do a H pattern.

 

[shootinfule]

I spent 21 years in the Navy, after being drafted during Vietnam. Went from E-1 to O-4. I've been retired for 29 years and I still check my gig line several times a day. Never thought about it as an old habit - just something that needed to be right. Wonder what else I do that I don't consciously realize?

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Yep Checking your Gig Line is something an ex GI will always do.

 

[Bob Wright]

Yep Checking your Gig Line is something an ex GI will always do.

I always check that, but this is the first time I ever heard it called "The Gig Line." New term amongst today's military?

Bob Wright

 

[blackhawknj]

It was in use when I enlisted in the Army in 1967.

 

[kramden]

Wow! That brought back memories. Faded fatigues. A straight gig line. Also having "pegged" (tailored) fatigue pants. And blouse your fatigue pants with the rubber band type stretch cords instead of tucking them into your boots. Things I haven't thought of in some time.

 

[Muley Gil]

Yep Checking your Gig Line is something an ex GI will always do.

I always check that, but this is the first time I ever heard it called "The Gig Line." New term amongst today's military?

Bob Wright

In use with the Marine Corps and the Navy when I went in in '72.

 

[Fox Mike]

Yep Checking your Gig Line is something an ex GI will always do.

I always check that, but this is the first time I ever heard it called "The Gig Line." New term amongst today's military?

Bob Wright

It was in use 1953 when I was a member of Civil Air Patrol and stressed when I joined the Army in 1959. Had a DI that just LOVED to find misignment. Not too new.