I don't care what anyone says about my country, the United Sates of America, there is nowhere else in the world I would trust with my life.  Where else can you be born and know that if you are harmed, your neighbors, whom you don't even know will come to your aid?  Sure, Europe, Israel, Japan are candidates... but in this country, you can believe anything you want.  Build your own business.  Live wherever you want. Even leave to another country if you prefer.  In this country, a very, very small percentage of our citizens are murderers, but even they are full of rights before they are tried and convicted.  I love this country no matter how bad a few can be.

Our children and grandchildren are proof G_d loves us and gives us another chance. They assure we will not die. A piece of us will move on, and hopefully a little smarter than we were.

Time can be such a cruel, cruel monster. I sit and think about all those things I would have changed if I could but Time says no...it's too late. Regret and Time walk hand in hand teasing me to desperately tell the young not to make the same mistakes. But they won't listen. They are young and believe they will live forever, just like I did. So I digress and just look forward.

Sitting here looking out at the yard I wonder just how many times G-d will allow me to anticipate warmer days. I seem, over the years, to just sit back and have the faith it will happen. It always does. I love summer with it's sunny rays on my face. The many bike rides I plan. The rain that cleanse the earth, and sometimes myself. It's almost like a rebirth in a way. I wish it would last forever, but alas, then I'd never be able to sit and look out the window and anticipate it again.

Some of the things G_d has blessed me with over the years: Parents that cared for me. Marrying the love of my life. Being filled with the Holy Ghost March 18, 1977 and being baptized in Jesus' name 30 days later. Having 4 wonderful sons. I was there for all their births and I love them more than life. A wonderful job at a company I love and respect. A beautiful daughter in law that means the world to me. Two grandsons that I love so much they take my breath away at times! 

If, before I go away, I could just stress the importance of the life we have been given. There is nothing like it anywhere that we know of. Your life can't be duplicated or repeated. It's such a wonderful gift that needs to be lived to it's fullest. Cherish every moment you have, you will not have the chance again. My young friends, you too will grow old and look back and wish you had treasured those times like I do now. Don't let it all slip away without loving someone or being loved.

I swear I'm getting more belligerent than ever before. Today at Walmart, this "security" guy is spying on a few customers from behind a display. The customers can't see him snooping at them but he is blocking the aisle. So loudly I said, "EXCUSE ME." He looked up at me a totally ignored me. Once again I said, "EXCUSE ME!, go spy on people somewhere else, your blocking my path!" The customers he was spying on quickly vanished. Later, on two occasions he slowly passed me and stared at me on the third time I said, (very loud): "WTF (no abbreviations used at the time) are you looking at?" He has be the worst security I have ever seen. Most of you know how I am an unassuming little guy and look like I would never hurt a flea, but I clearly shocked this fellow. His face turned completely red with embarrassment and he scurried away with his tail between his legs.