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When the Going gets tough the tough get Going

Posted: Monday, September 19, 2011

by David Tanguay

When I was a teenager I, had a friend I use to hang around with he always had sayings he would interpret into wise old adages. One of them was this: “When the going gets tough the tough get going”

Well I always enjoyed his company we would do all sorts of things together. Then at the age of 18, I enlisted in the Marine Corps and off to Vietnam I went. After serving two tours over there, I got an early out of the military and off to work I went.

My job was cleaning business offices after the staff retired for the night and cleaning private homes during the day. I was new at the cleaning profession but I learned as I went along.

I got to like my job and became supervisor after a while; I met many interesting people through my job. Some days I’d be in a millionaire’s home and some days in an average home. I was responsible for the work my crew done during the day.

In the year 1971, I quit my job and began doing drugs (chrystal meth) I got strung out on it for awhile it wasn’t until December of ‘71 that I cracked (or hatched) i.e., when I became undone or reached my level of understanding.

This episode of time led me to a veteran’s hospital where I was put on a psychiatric ward. I was exposed to many disoriented individuals on this ward.

It was on that ward that I learned that the old adage my friend taught me when I was 18 years old did apply to that day and age. “When the going gets tough the tough get going”

Dave Tanguay was born on November 8,1948 in Westbrook, Maine. The 10^th. child of a family of eleven children. Served in Vietnam in the 60s, he became active with the youth movement of that day on completion of military duty. Now retired and living in Florida. (still believes in the young)

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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)

» left by elle kynzer
247 days 6 hours ago.
32 fans. Follow elle kynzer on twitter!

That's a wonderful testimony, to how a person can overcome drugs and circumstances. Vietnam Vets are finally being welcomed home, and when we don't support our men/women in uniform, then we spit on our freedom.

Nice to see you are helping young people, because so many are being thrown away, especially in hard times.

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» left by David Tanguay 246 days 16 hours ago.
189 fans.

Thank you for commenting elle

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» left by Jennifer Stewart
240 days 10 hours ago.
153 fans.

It's a good saying, that, David, and it's true. Reading your response to Greg's comment, I like your use of the word "hatched".

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» left by David Tanguay 240 days 8 hours ago.
189 fans.

Thank you Jennifer, yes many of us were hatched in life.

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