My Dad

Well I changed my flag this morning.  I always fly the American Flag and sometimes the Air Force and Delaware flag but today I changed the Delaware flag with a Marine Corp flag.  May sound crazy for a retired Air Force Vet to be flying the Marine Corp Flag but I have done it for years and hope to do it for years more.  I fly it from October 28-November 12^th

Why would I do this?  Simple, it is in honor of my father.  He would have been 82 today and I sure miss him.  He was one tough son of a gun and held close his association with the Marine Corp.  I fly this flag until November 12^th which is in honor of Veterans Day. 

I was thinking what made my dad so special.  He was not a millionaire, did not run or own a big company, actually he was just a normal guy who tried to make ends meet, and take care of business every day.  He was though a Untied States Marine.  He never talked about what he did or places we went.  He was just pretty quiet about it and he felt it was just his job. He taught me some cool things and his teachings of life have been more apparent since I have gotten older.  He taught me to take care of your mom.  He uses to drive 26 hours and spend his vacation doing things to help her in Texas. I still try and take care of mine but I think it is the other way around.  She is taking care of me.  He taught me that you are supposed to go to work every day and unless you’re dead you try and work.  He taught me to help others and be responsible.  He did not have classes as such but I remember the day he had his heart attack that he was helping someone else get out of a ditch after a snowstorm.  I think this country would be better off if we tried this one.  He went to work feeling bad because that is how he was.  He finally had enough I guess when he collapsed on the Post office floor.  He got up and drove himself to the hospital. He taught me how to treat women but I guess I must have been sleeping through this one since I got divorced twice!  Anyway, what a great guy he was, what a proud organization he was in.  I know kids of today do not listen or we as parents don’t think they listen but I think they watch and learn by example.  So I guess what I am saying is Lead by example, help others and try everyday to be the best.  My dad was!  So in a nutshell Happy Birthday dad, you are missed and certainly not forgotten.  Until Next time!

Friends

    Have you ever wondered about your friends list on facebook?  I mean really look at it and see who you have and who you don’t on your list.  I did this recently and realized after getting rid of about 900 people I looked who was left. 

     Over 1000 people I consider friends of mine or have something in common with me to let them be on my friends list.  A lot were military, High school, some acquaintances I have met through the years but I laughed when I looked at my revised list.  Yes for some reason or not there are over 1000 people who have touched my life one way or the other.  I refer back to my high school friends a lot and it is truly an honor to know each one of them.  I think of Lori, TB, Kelly, Mendy and the list goes on and on, what a great group

      I look at some of the names and remember why I considered them my friend to begin with.  Weather they have been in a foreign country with me, doing silly stuff, or in a close call these are people who have touched my life in one way or the other. They stick by you when you need support, are there during your triumphs and defeats and kick you in the backside when you need it the most.  Yes these are friends!  Sure we have family as members but let’s face it, they have touched your lives either good or bad.  I look at my cousins (Not in a creepy way) and remember all the good times we had when I visited in the summers.  I have shared laughs, cries and secrets with my friends and it is amazing to me how we cannot see each other for years and when we do pick up where we left off. 

     Definition of a friend is a person you know, like, trust, or an acquaintance, one who is allied in a struggle or cause.  I certainly know all 1000 friends, trust them and certainly like them, if I didn’t they would not be on my friends list.  Until next time!

    

Folks who make a difference!

I am here to tell you I saw some things this weekend that made me smile and I know that sometimes this world seems screwed up but you know there are folks out there giving back to their community, helping others and making this screwed up world a much better place to live in each day!  My hats off to all who participated and volunteered their energy, and drive to make this a fantastic weekend!

 Words cannot describe how proud I was to pick up a set of (borrowed) golf clubs to play in an event that helps so many people!  I am sore as hell but am so looking forward  to doing this again next year!  I paid for cigars I will never smoke, Hawaiian leis I will never throw away and memories I will remember and laugh at for years!  I feel bad for Carol as she had to put up with Rick, Diane and I but what a great lady!  Carmon my hats off to you!  I hope to do better next year!

We look at leaders in different ways, some are the strong dictator type, some are the strong outspoken type and some are the quite, soft spoken folks who go thru life making a difference each day!  Thanks Dave, Jane, and the many others who made this a weekend I will never forget!  The only comment or complaint I have is why in the hell did I not do this sooner?  I looked around the room after the event and there were some serious golfers, some who never picked up a club and others who could have cared less either way but everyone in that room had one thing in common!  As a friend of mine said “a little patch of land on smoke town road we call Gar-Field  high school”!  Thank you for all who made this weekend a wonderful experience I look forward to!  I know one thing; my first weekend in October 2012 is taken!  Until next time!

what makes us tick?

Ever wonder what makes you tick?  I mean what gives you the drive and ambition to do things that other people just dream of doing?  Some people slack while others have drive, it is crazy!  I think the most part is we are direct reflections of our family and some friends!  Case in point!  I have learned how to act and how not to act by watching my family!  I have had some friends that have been knocked down a few times only to get through it and shine like hell!  What gives us this inner drive? 

 Different cultures act different and what is important to some may not be important to others.  I grew up in a pretty conservative family.  My dad worked, my mom worked, and when we kids were old enough to work we got a job and worked.  I came from a traditional home and my parents stayed married until my dad passed away in 1987.  My grandparents were tough but I enjoyed being with them.  My dad use to travel to Texas from Virginia every year only to take care of his mom and help her around her house.  I take care of my mom now.  No it is not the loser man who still lives with his mom thing, it is just something you do is take care of your mom.  I see so much disrespect and problems in families now a day!  I see a lot of kids being taken care of by their grandparents for one reason or the other.  I see parents wanting to be more of a friend then parents and the kids struggle.  There are not too many families left that seem normal to me! 

I know one family that I think is an awesome example of how it should be!  Both parents work, they also work together to raise their three kids.  Kids seem normal and one is in her first year of college.  They have a nice house and they take vacations as a family!  This does not seem like the norm and it certainly was not the norm in my house but what an awesome way to grow up!  OH Well, wonder why there are so many problems in this world?  Look at the parents!  It starts there!  Until next time!