James Lankford is Have a Tisue Podcast guest #6. Prior to the start of this podcast, we knew we had exactly two hours before his going away was scheduled to begin at the base club. We wanted to have one last conversation together before he leaves South Korea and the two of us go our separate ways.
In the military, it’s an interesting feeling when one member is leaving their assignment and starting a new chapter of their life. Kids who grew up in the Department of Defense school system are familiar with this unique feeling. It’s something that happens all too often and we become immune to the fact that we may never see this person again. These people are people we grew bonds with and shared our most monumental experiences over the last months or years together. Although these were our final moments together, neither of us mention or acknowledge it during the entirety of this two-hour conversation or later on at his going away.
JR is one of those rare people who aspires to live life according to their own values. At just 24 years old, JR is well-travelled, highly successful in the eyes of the Air Force, always found ways to participate in his hobbies, and reached all of his goals during his 5 ½ year career. We talk about favorite books and up until this podcast occurred, I had no idea that we shared the same favorite book.
JR and I talk about our travel experiences. We share favorite travel destinations and recognize the unexplainable bond you make with foreign strangers who are also travelling. During a 3-week trip to Bali he explains how he made some very close friends and I could say the same about my 6-day camping trip in Spain. Traveling is JR’s passion and through his stories this is easy to pick up on.
JR is his own person and anyone that knows him can see that. JR shares that when he was younger, he was always concerned about what people thought of him and he shares the steps he took to stop caring. We consider how positive the world could be if everybody alive was not judgmental on how others looked or behaved. This podcast shares JR’s experiences of South Korea and he shows gratitude for the people he met during his time in the Air Force.