America Land Of Choice

On this election day, my vote has been cast as I anxiously await the end of the day when the tally has been officially recorded.

 This has been the most controversial election I can ever recall in all my years of voting.

But, when all is said and done I will proudly still salute the flag and pledge allegiance no matter who is chosen as this nation's leaders.

Only in America can we as citizens reach across the miles to help our friends, family or strangers in time of need and yet exhibit hatred for those who have different political or religious views. Once the dust has settled from this election I hope we can unite again; for storms will continue to come to our shores and they may not always be from mother nature. God Bless America!

Mothers Scrapbook

Looking back into the past is such a pleasure when one has a Mother such as I had. Glued to the pages of one of her many scrapbooks are mementos of Pagosa before electronic storage devices. Articles printed in the"Pagosa Sun" of local events such a scores of the local high school sports or who had dinner with a friend complete with names, or major events. The photo here is a partial glimpse of one of the most famous stories to be printed, John Wayne and film crew arrived to make a movie "The Cowboys."
 Anyone who knew my Mother, knew that she was not a shy lady and had many friends while working in the Citizens Bank or attending the Baptist Church. I don't know how she managed but she became friends with John Wayne and was personally invited to travel into the mountains and witness the scene where John Wayne would be shot.
 Times change and people come and go but I am so glad those before me took the time to save memories on printed paper that I hold, feel and smell.  Tucked away in these old scrap books are family history, world history, and events that although they are stored away in memory, the pages bring them back to life. To all the younger generation I would make a request that not all past be stored on some electronic device that become obsolete with each passing day, save some of the past for your grandchildren to hold and admire.

Still Looking Back

 Television programs can become quite addicting as I discovered 

while watching a program called "Who Do You Think You Are. This show peaked my interest in trying to find the source of my roots or just shaking skeletons in the family closet. Using such internet sites as Ancestry.com and findagrave.com I learned of  several links to the family tree but the most interesting find for me was the grave site of the only grandfather I knew growing up even though he was only a step-grandfather. This man taught me the fundamentals of being a responsible hard working soul and the rewards it could bring. He also taught me how to catch a trout, track a deer, and the phrase "keep you hand out of your pocket or you'll never amount to hill of beans" has forever been stamped into my brain. Together with my older brothers we worked side by side with Frank and built the house my grandmother called home until the Lord called her to a greater home. With an old brick and hammer I straightened out every old rusty nail used to put up the walls on what I considered a lovely house.

 My dear grandmother went to her home in heaven in 1974, Frank soon sold all the property they owned in Pagosa Springs Colorado and departed that beautiful little town in the San Juans of Southern Colorado. By then my youth was gone and I had put into use the teachings of my parents and grandparents to bring up a family of my own. Although years passed without any knowledge of what had become of Frank I never gave up hopes of someday finding him. 

 Today I can say I am at peace with the memories of my grandfather Frank, only regret that I never knew my paternal grandfather but so grateful to have known Frank.

Another Year

Father time has come to visit once again, 73 visits and like good wine each one just gets better as the years go by.

This year finds me looking more at the past than the future. I can look back at all the so called good old days and wonder how I made it this far. Here I am facing a demon called cancer and about to lose a kidney, knowing that my visit here on earth is dwindling down with each passing day.

Just today as I read the news from the little town where I grew up; tears filled these old eyes knowing that with progress time has erased all my precious memories of landmarks I remembered through the years. The place of peace and tranquility I knew as young boy has become a beacon for wealthy tourist to come and change the landscape, and promote life as one big party.

Each decade has seen its portion of despair, political turmoil, inflation, depression, recession, but somehow we Americans have found the strength and courage to pull our selves out. Maybe some changes have not been as beneficial as we would like but there still is no greater country to live in. If I could make one change before I leave this world, it would be to find a way to prevent wealth from electing officials to run this country.

Tomorrow morning will find me under the surgeons knife and with Gods help this cancer on the old kidney will be gone, and soon it will be time for my better half to face the same thing. Once we both get our insides repaired life should be a little easier to bare.

Tune Up

The old body is kinda like an automobile and has to be tuned up once in awhile. Both the wife and I are finding out that this getting old is not really so golden. Without any gory descriptions I will only say that the wife is going to have to have about a foot of her intestines removed. With this news facing us I learned that I have a tumor on my Kidney and will most likely lose it. My condition seemed to be the most urgent according to the experts so the wife postponed her scheduled surgery so that I can recover from mine first to care for her. Since all these problems popped up in November and no surgery for my Kidney is scheduled until February one can't help but wonder just how urgent this could really be.

On top of all that I have to have another surgery on my mastoid of the right ear again. This has been repaired three times and now the fix that was done six years ago has come lose and bleeding has sent me to the ER. This will have to wait for me get over the Kidney thing.

Here's hoping 2012 will be better for everyone. The whole world is in really bad shape these days and it will take a strong faith to lift us all from the strife. With all my health issues I have so much to be thankful for and will never give up trying to make this country a place to be proud of, God Bless The USA.

So Proudly We Served

These three sailors from Pagosa Springs are proud to be called "Veterans". All three eagerly volunteered upon completion of their high school education. Although there are no glorious heroic war stories to be told, each would have gladly laid down their life to protect this country.

Their stories all started in 1953 with Ron and friends enlisting in the Navy. Ron was a natural leader and selected as Honor Man of his training company in San Diego Calif. After completion of his training he attended electrician school and served aboard two wooden hull minesweepers, a tug boat in Guam, and an aircraft carrier "The USS Ranger". After twelve years Ron was forced into early retirement after losing a leg in an accident. Today He is still very much a Navy man as he attends to functions in the Local American Legion Post.

Jerry followed in the footsteps of his older sibling two years later and after completing basic training in Great Lakes, he attended machinist mate school and served the remainder of his enlistment aboard and oil tanker. The USS Caliente participated in "Operation Redwing" in evaluation of Atomic Weapons in the Pacific. Jerry passed away in 2008 after a long battle with COPD.

Billy left high school a year short of completion and followed his older siblings along with an old family friend Richard Walter. Upon completion of basic training in Great Lakes he was assigned duty aboard the USS Reaper where his brother Ron was already stationed. A rare thing for two siblings to be aboard the same ship, this lasted until a crisis in Lebanon forced a separation. Billy attended culinary school in San Diego and became the ships cook, a real delight to the older brother who always had a hefty appetite.

As November 11th rolls around each year the old sailors left will proudly display old glory and stand at attention to salute her, then bow our heads and thank God for the young men and women who have taken our place to defend freedom.

Diversified and Proud

Looking back over the makeup of my family tree, I can see that we are well rounded and very diversified with one common "A" running through our blood. There is a wide diversity in our religious beliefs, political affiliations, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, income brackets, sports, etc. but one thing that binds us as one unit is our belief in a supreme being, love for one another and the big "A" AMERICAN. Each one of us in our own way will defend the foundation this great country was created for, and rights for all to be free to worship, speak, or love whom ever they choose.

Political debates are a healthy thing for this country; support and decent will follow every rally and after all is said the people of this country will make a choice for a leader. If we are to survive another 200 yrs of democracy we must set aside our dislikes and support the government chosen to lead this nation of diversified people. If it appears that the wrong choice has been made then the remedies is at the ballet box, not rallying with profanity laced signs, racial bigotry, and violence.