Last Updated on January 27, 2021
Keeps; keeping; kept; the endurance of retention reflects the vitality of human obstinacy. To retain, to own, to possess; in the present tense, present simple passive, present perfect passive, past perfect passive, present modal, past modal, and a dozen other forms of grammatical conundrums. It is the action of owning, maintaining or possessing; often, with implications of forceful protectiveness despite demands of rightful ownership by third parties. “He kept it!” “He keeps coming back!” It is the persistence, the refusal to abandon and the resistance against another’s claim, whether rightful, justified or otherwise questionable.
Then, there are forms which imply honor and integrity: “Keeping the trust”; “Keeping the flame aglow”; “She kept her word”. The boys “kept their promise”; He kept up appearances. In all grammatical forms, whether of a passive nature or active tense, there is always throughout a sense of an activity of the will. “Keeping up with the Joneses” is not merely a passive inactivity, but an affirmative movement and stratagem focused upon advancing beyond a social inertia that encompasses tentacles of thought, consideration, judgment and planning.
It is a simple word, used without much thought, never pausing in a conversation to see whether others gathered will be impressed by the perfection of such a choice – that unique word which describes an image so poignant that to have inserted it nonchalantly in a sentence without the help of a Smartphone in Googling it before uttering the inserted grandness connoting linguistic excellence is next to leaving one breathless and in disbelief.
For Federal employees and U.S. Postal workers who understand the simple concept of “to keep”, whether in the present tense, present simple passive, past perfect passive or the multitudinous other grammatical forms, there are caveats to maintain when preparing, formulating and filing for Federal OPM Disability Retirement benefits, not the least of which are: Keep your cool; have your files kept and maintained; keep persisting; recognize the importance of keeping a balanced and coherent narrative; keep the faith; insist upon keeping informed; and never keep allowing for injustice to prevail.
In keeping with tradition, always remember that preparing an effective OPM Disability Retirement application, whether the Federal or Postal employee is under FERS, CSRS or CSRS Offset, is a complex administrative process which must be kept in mind, and that the formulation and filing with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management requires keeping a patient, sane and insistent attitude, much like keeping a promise made despite those who have not kept their word.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Esquire