The first boss I ever had in the USA had been a Leatherneck. He ran a tight ship. In fact, he fired me for slacking; and when I went back groveling to try to get my job back, he laughed at me.

That was one of my first lessons about the USA: Marines are tough, mean, and don’t respond well to groveling.

Experience, they say, is cheap at any price.

I’d say “Semper fi,” but I don’t think I’m allowed to, not being a Marine. Whatever. God bless them, and may they always be the meanest s.o.b.s in the valley.