'Tha's Mah' Boy!"...

Both of my sons have done things I'm not so proud of and they have done things that have made me proud for the remainder of my days. I just woke up for the day and was thinking about these prideful moments and I'm not sure why. You just think of things like this from time to time. Two memories stick out as the proudest moments...

The first is of my oldest...It's his senior year of high school and the last HS band concert for his school. He had a solo, and I was impressed at that alone. He played the alto sax and that evening, he played the most beautiful rendition of "It's A Wonderful World" I have ever heard. 

Next is of my youngest...He had just returned home from basic training in the US Army. He and I were at a mall in the Dallas area, just browsing really, and he was in uniform. Just out of the blue a young lady about 8 or 9 walked up to him and thanked him for his service. It was a very touching moment for me.

Sometimes I wonder if I had done right by my sons and it's moments like these that irradicate my fears of failure and I think to myself, "Thas' mah boy!"

I love my kids!

December 4, 2025

Love Is My Fuel...

It's been a long time since I've had anything to say and I'm still not sure if I do now. We shall see. What I do know is that I have had many, many thoughts on a lot of things in the last few years. From the battles I have faced daily to the triumphs I have made, everyday life can be challenging, at best. As the years pass, they become shorter, but the challenges remain the same. You begin to wonder how much of a difference you have made in this life for others. Your inner circle becomes smaller because you realize how less important the things you thought were important have taken a back seat to what we realize is most cherished.

Empathy takes a front seat to selfishness. What you have accumulated takes a back seat to what you leave behind. You become less concerned about what others may think while respecting their thoughts. Simply put, you don't give a shit about what other folks think, respectively. Your main thought for each day you awaken is, "Am I ready?", or "Am I done?". No, I'm not!

The discomfort of aging is real. Yet, we press onward to see the end, the results, of what we have conquered and accomplished. All the while, deeply desiring to see our ultimate goal, whatever that may be, reached. As long as there is a breath in you, you get off your ass as best you can and make a difference. Embrace all aspects of life, whether good, bad, or ugly. Laugh at the funny shit. Shed a tear at love at its best, for it comes in everyday life if we choose to see it. We have emotions for a reason. Let them flow. Whatever brings you joy, do it without shame. 

Random thoughts come and go and life is fleeting. The earlier one realizes what is most important, the more interesting and rewarding life can be. Living life is random. You never know what the future holds until it stares you down. We all travel in the same direction regardless of who or what we are, forward. There is no permanent reverse for anyone or anything. Just like time! Recognize the fuel that keeps you moving forward. Mine is love. Love for myself and my family is first and foremost and probably the only thing I have left to burn. But it burns hot and bright.