My family had a Stormin’ Norman way before the Gulf War and General Norman Schwarzkopf was brought to the forefront and given the nickname. Our family’s version, my version, was a tough as hell leathery SOB with a great smile a deep laugh and a wicked sense of humor. He was the epitome of a mans man. I was honored to call him Grandpa Norm, it was an honorary title as he was actually my cousins’ grandfather (Amy and Dan). His son was Dave, who got all of the bad habits and little of his charm, which is a story for another time. I am not certain why Norman came to my mind last night, I did a quick web search and found he had died back on July 1st, 2007. I hope he was attended by his son and grandchildren, for some reason I don’t think he was and that’s sad. Sometimes you don’t realize the last time you see someone is truly the last time you see them in life. Norm was a formative person for me growing up. I was lucky enough to get the benefit of his time and training and while it was only a few days of his life I greatly appreciate it.
Norm had a cabin up at a small lake, Sage Lake in Michigan. He was well known and liked up there. The cousins (4 of us) would be invited during our younger years to go up and stay at the cabin. Between Norm, Uncle Bob and Dave I learned how to fish, canoe and swim. The lake was something I always looked forward to and I believe my cousins did to.. Norm could be a fire cracker. A veteran of WWII and the Army Norm had seen a lot of action and been at the concentration camps. He had a Luger that he showed me once and I could see by his eyes as I turned it over in my hand it had more meaning than just being another one of his guns. He was an avid sportsman and loved hunting and fishing. He did not take well to weakness or squeamishness and I made it a point to never show an ounce of that. Both of his grandchildren did on different occasions. I think it drove a wedge between them and I will forever be disappointed about that. Dan, my younger cousin had already endured a lot of verbal and physical abuse from his father and Norms rough (Not abusive) ways did not have the expected outcome with Dan. He shutdown after awhile. Norm taught me to shoot a British Enfield 308, shotguns and pistols. I ate that up. I was lucky enough to go rabbit hunting with him and Danny. I almost shot his dog in the nose. He was more than pissed off at that, I just shrugged it off and did a better job at leading the rabbit. This seemed to make him settle down. Dan took his gruff advice a lot more personally. He had two beautifully engraved semi-automatic shotguns a 12 gauge and a 20 gauge. He always made us carry the 12 gauge. At first I didn’t get it… Then I did… He was making us stronger and tougher for our future. Duck season came and he offered to take me duck hunting. I am not certain if I was asked after Danny had refused or passed on the opportunity or because he and Dan were fed up with each other. I remember the day distinctly as we waited outside a barn with the permafrost on the ground wait for our plot assignment. Norm had me get into some waders that were oversized. I hopped in and we headed out with our canoe. I was of course given the 12 gauge to lug around. At some point we got hung up in the field and I had to jump out, the waders being to big compressed in with the water around them and I got a nice gush of 40 degree water. Norman just laughed his ass off and watched me… I shrugged it off happy that I was alive and doing something fun. He got a look at that moment, not sure what it meant or what it was but when his laughter made me laugh and he saw I wasn’t going to cry or want to run home he stopped laughing, said I did good handling the situation and cracked open a small flask of whiskey. He passed it to me told me to take a pull. I did… It warmed me right on up and we finished our day duckless and laughing.
I saw Norm at family get togethers after that from time to time. He always said he there Chris. He had a name for me but I don’t recollect it anymore. Over time the family broke apart from family fights and for other reasons. I ran away from home and moved in to my fathers, that was really the end of my relationship with Norm. One time when I returned and enquired about Dave and Norm I was told there was a big rift, that they were fighting and that Norm had adopted another family. Don’t know the truth of the matter. Just know it was a tragic state of affairs.
Norman was crude, rough and tough — he’d been through a lot, but he did love and he would share what he had and what he knew with everyone. I appreciated what he shared and gave to me. Thanks Norm, I’ll always be thankful for my time to get to know you and I am sorry I didn’t stay in touch.