[March 9, 2023] Yesterday, I saw a Robin in my backyard for the first time this winter. The annual arrival of birds, especially Robins, heralds springtime’s arrival and affirm that life continues. And so it was, as I grew up in the Deep South with so many of my relatives who still live there, influenced by “southern culture”… Read More »
[February 17, 2023] Not that long ago, I was a Soldier. The life of those in the military is difficult for many reasons; I seemed to get the most difficult of assignments in the worst locations on Earth. Perhaps I asked this job to be challenging, yes! I deserved it. Perhaps it was because I had “bad luck,”… Read More »
[November 27, 2022] As many of my regular readers know, I have been more prone to read those works that ferret out the depth of human understanding and allow me to understand others better, myself included. I do this in several ways, like riding horses for mental therapy, walking my dog Bella, being with my wife as much… Read More »
[October 17, 2022] My newest book, “55 Rules for a Good Life” is now on Amazon. I’m pleased to get this out finally. I have been working on the idea for years, and the book addresses much of my personal philosophy of life that I learned from 40 years in the U.S. Army and from many brilliant writers… Read More »
[October 14, 2022] Yes, I ride horses. Now, I’m no expert and I don’t profess a great knowledge of horses but there are some slices of knowledge that I see as important. First, horses – similar to dogs and cats – have been tightly woven into human history. Their links to humankind is obvious; a mode of travel,… Read More »
[September 27, 2022] The Fall weather is teasing us here in Southern Jersey; the winds increased, temps and humidity falling, and shorter days. This is the time of year I begin some serious reading. Luckily I was in the library near where I live and ran across a book on Dunkirk. Ever since the movie Dunkirk (2017) came… Read More »
[July 30, 2022] A sad week for our Boy Scout Troop. Yesterday, we buried one of our Eagle Scouts; a good young man at 18 years of age, lifeguard, plans to attend college, 10 years in scouting, Catholic, dedicated, reliable, and trustworthy. It is difficult to realize we will never see this young man’s potential realized. Or to… Read More »
[June 26, 2022] You are molded and shaped by culture, and as a consequence, you are a historical creature. But culture is corrupt, oppressive, and tyrannical. Implicit in your being is the moral necessity to breathe new life into the ancient culture that has had it way with you. This is the hero and the dragon metaphor, where… Read More »
[January 23, 2022] Since America’s stunning self-inflicted debacle in Afghanistan, there has been a growing interest in the Soldier. What is he thinking, what are his deprivations, his fears and desires, loves, and why would a person ever consider the role of a soldier, Marine, sailor, airman, or coastguardsman? This thinking is wrapped up with the “woke” military… Read More »
[November 23, 2021] Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink is the author behind the best-selling Warrior Kid book series.1 I just bought his fourth and latest in the series. Do we need another series of self-help books about “kids?” Given the destruction by well-meaning but misguided politicians in their safe-at-all-costs policies, I think Jocko has hit a home run… Read More »