I Have Informed You Thusly

So, Veteran’s Day, Armistice Day, is particularly important to me. I served a long time in the military. I am proud of that service, and never understood while I was doing it what was happening. We were all so damn young, and I did not know.  I swear I did not. I did not know that this river of people that flowed rapidly through my life would all imprint me in ways I never would have expected. I did not comprehend that 30+ years down the line, they would be vivid in my mind and my heart. Eric and Rick shooting bottle rockets at each other in the backyard on 4th of July. Losing Brad out of the back of the truck going to see the fireworks. Bill and Bobby sitting in the living room watching the Super Bowl with us when my son took his first steps. I have had the blessing of being supported by the best human beings in the world in all my times of trouble. Somehow, some way, they appear or rally around. The bond never breaks.  Even 20 years later, even completely at odds in world vie

Keep hearing that this is going to be the year of the woman.  Not that I mind if this is the year of the woman or whatever crap it is that is going around on the news, but I have a bigger idea. Maybe we could make this the year of the America that is not scared of what people that are not white do all the fricking time. Maybe we could make this the year of the America that is not afraid of poor families running away from gangs, drug cartels and starvation, that are still 1000 miles from our border. Maybe we could make this the year of the America that decides that since every American will get sick, maybe we make it so that getting healthcare is not tied to how much you make. Maybe we could make this the year of the America that uses the 70+% surplus of food we raise/grow to make it so that no one in America is hungry. Maybe we could make the the year of the America that transforms Columbus Day into Election Day and gives EVERYONE the day off to vote in national elections, gi