2011 - It was and wasn't a very good year.

I have mixed feelings about 2011 now that 2012 is just two days away.

It was a good year because I reunited with a Vietnam War buddy after 43 years. I had been trying to locate Bob for most of that time, when out of the blue I got an email from him. It was great meeting up with Bob and Sherrin in Chicago in April.

It was fantastic for us to travel out west for six weeks this summer (June and July) with a brief stay to see the wonders of Yellowstone National Park as we traveled to our main destination of Fort Collins, Colorado. We took many trips up to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park. The only downside, if you will, was that when we returned home we felt we lost six weeks of summer, since we weren't home in Michigan (if that makes any sense).

In October we celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary with a five day trip to Toronto, and saw the Cirque du Soliel presentation of Michael Jackson - The Immortal. Wonderful.

It was a very bad year health-wise, as the middle of May on a weekend trip to Mackinac Island, Mary came down with a serious illness which ended up with a five day stay in the hospital in St. Ignace.

Then came the worst scenario one could imagine . . . on September 1st, Mary was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer - Angiosarcoma. Which is a cancer of the soft tissues, such as blood vessels. The prognosis is grim - 1 to 5 years on the average. But we are taking it one day at a time. Mary says "I am not a statistic." So we move on together, appreciating each and every day as it arrives.

After what we experienced in 2011, I wonder what 2012 will bring us all.

God Bless!

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Thanks Giving?

We've just 'celebrated' Thanksgiving, a time to reflect upon the blessings which have been bestowed upon us. But . . . .

I have two points to consider:
1) Health and well-being on a personal level.
2) The over commercialism of a very holy day.

The first issue, I have a great deal of difficulty being thankful for, is what is happening to my wife. Being thankful for a serious medical diagnosis? NO! I do not have anything for which to be thankful. My heart is cold and hard to be grateful for this situation.

Yes, I know that we are 'fortunate' to have an idea of how much time we may have left together, but it makes it all the more difficult to comprehend that we will be apart. I do believe in Heaven, and Jesus Christ IS my Lord and Savior, but that does not make it any easier to accept the outcome of this prognosis.

~~~~~

The second issue - I am offended and somewhat disgusted with retailers forcing upon us the idea of holiday lights, decorations, gift 'bargains' and door-busters as early as August and September, all in the name of "Commercial-mas." I believe that the world, all of us, have forgotten the true purpose of which we celebrate.

Personally, I am glad that I am the age which I am. It means that I won't have to put up with all this for too many more years. I'm aware that 65 is still young, but I think I see the 'hand-writing on the wall,' the world is going to hell in a hand basket on a greased track.

Do I sound depressed? Well, I am!

However, I am not going to let all this drag me down. As is said in A.A. "One Day At A Time.'

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Old and Cranky?

As I was viewing the mundane TV fare this evening with the mediocre attempts at advertising, I came to the conclusion that perhaps it is true . . . I am old . . . and I am cranky.

I deduced this fact because I'm disgusted with the fact that retailers have been pushing the idea of Christmas and shopping for some three months, and that I am no longer excited about getting up before dawn has even considered cracking, just for the sake of getting a 'bargain.' Nah!

Combine the above with how nothing is getting done 'of the people, by the people, and for the people' anymore. All this along with GREED and the potential of economic chaos . . . YUCK!

I'm glad I'm old (and cranky), because I won't be around for the collapse of civilization and the planet which appears is the direction we all might be heading.

I am sorry for our children. They have to live with what we have done.

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Journaling is safer than blogging!

I have just learned a very valuable lesson - Do not blog your feelings, journal them.

I had recently created a blog to deal with some feelings of a personal nature, as a catharsis, to reduce stress over a situation.

Bad move.

My comments were taken as a 'plan of action' instead of a verbal vomiting of stressful thoughts. I violated one of my prime directives, which is to stop and think before clicking the 'publish / post' button. Now I regret my action, which has created quite a stir with some. So now my private thoughts will remain private.

I am so sorry that I took this route of venting.

* Slap upside my head *

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UNBROKEN AND UNBOWED

(By Guest Writer Frank J. Montoya)

UNBROKEN AND UNBOWED

With outrage, shock and disbelief,
We have felt the thrust of the coward’s blow.
We have seen it, but cannot comprehend
How our fellow man could stoop so low.

A sneak attack by a nefarious foe,
Who took innocent lives by a vicious deed;
Who had no regard for human life;
Who was willing to die for his cause, his creed.

We have buckled and staggered, racked with pain;
In our hearts we feel the sadness grow.
We have been stricken, and our wounds are deep;
How many thousands lost? Will we ever know?

We have felt the rage surge in our breast,
And we will find the means to retaliate.
We will put an end to the terror caused
By those whose hearts are so full of hate.

Yes, we hurt, and we cry, for loved ones lost,
As we suffer through these trying times,
But Liberty’s Light will not be dimmed,
By those who commit such loathsome crimes.


Listen, World, do you hear our voice?
United we speak out... clear and loud.
America’s Spirit and Resolve will forever be:
Strong and proud... unbroken... and unbowed.


Frank J. Montoya
Poet Laureate, City of Fountain, CO