5 LIES - ONE TRUTH

1) I was in the Air Force

2) I was raised in southern California

3) I'm 29 years old

4) I have O+ blood

5) Last week I won a $100 with a lottery ticket

6) I drive a Chevy vehicle

POEM - "Eternity"

I have a ship on the sea

Her name is Eternity

The sails are up high

I can feel her fly

The horizon is far but clear

The songs of love and life

Are the songs that I hear

I am sailing to that far away shore

My ship will take me there

The ocean winds will make her soar

My journey begins at the bottom of Heavens stairs

I now realized that my life was not fair

But, no since living in the past

My ship has made me free at last

I am on my ship and see lights all around me

The lights are like Angel eyes

Able to take me far up into the skies

Atlas, I set sail on my ship Eternity

                                               

A Change of View

I would have to say that I have changed my opinion in regard to people of the world. Growing up in the mid-west, I was not exposed to that many people of race or different ethnic backgrounds. I was definitely ethnocentric because of my environment growing up. Most of my opinion of people from various other parts of the world was one of ignorance. I had no reference point or cultural experience to lean on that could provide some kind of base. Unfortunately, movies provided me with the missing parts in regard to people from around the world. It was usually in the form of some bloody war movie where the American bad-ass goes into some third world country and brings hell with him. Most Hollywood movies were extremely ethnocentric during the 20^th century. For young, impressionable white kids from hometown USA, that was the world outside of the 618.

Then the Navy came-calling and I enthusiastically said yes. Little did I know that I was going to get a serious crash course in world culture and my naval experience would take me to 21 different nations in my nearly nine years of service.  Five years of that time was spent actually living abroad, in Japan. These experiences have definitely changed my views of not only people of different race or culture, but my view of humanity as a whole. Seeing more of the people that make up the world we call Earth gives me a sense of hope. I believe the sum of the parts can add up to something very incredible and inspiring. I just hope I am still here to see that day where ignorance isn’t bliss and everyone can appreciate what humanity as a whole, can offer us.  

Family

My family currently consists of my 3 year old daughter and myself. However, her mother physically returns from a military deployment next week! Exciting times, but also, anxious times as well. Our little triumvirate makes up my immediate family here in California. I do have a son that lives in Japan with his mother, a good mother, but a dreaded ex. My girlfriend has a son as well who also lives abroad in Mexico.

The rest of my family resides back east in the states of Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. I was raised by my grandparents, who had three kids, plus my brother and me. My mother was 15/16 years old when she carried and delivered me. Here’s a little side note.  My dad just turned 18 and was sent to boot and then stationed at Ft Leonard-wood, MO. My mom, 8 months pregnant with me, hitchhikes over to Ft Leonard wood to go be with him. Not the safest or smartest thing to do, but that was and is my mom, a little crazy. So the old grandparents said that maybe I would be better off living with them and I would agree. I often wonder how things would have turned out for me if other choices were made on my behalf.

My mom went on to have two more children through another marriage. I now have 2 brothers and 1 sister maternally. They have had 7 boys and 4 girls between them. From what I can tell, no more nieces and nephews are planned, between my siblings. 

My aunt raised two children in north-west Missouri. Both of my cousins are now married with children. One is currently serving in the Air force and has also returned from a mid-east deployment. Good to have him back!

My uncle is currently married and raising two kids in the house I grew up in. A nice little two-story on main street in a small town in southern Illinois. A nice place for kids to grow up in my opinion, but that’s where I grew up.

On the more personal, my family is a very strong one. Very strong with their opinions, but willing to listen (mostly) My family is a family that can be described as loud.  A trait I do not share. All are very hard workers and appreciate the lives they have. Mostly liberal, but support the military enthusiastically. Oddly, a conservative trait by nature. My family is one that loves the “get together” and the drunken induced stories that follow. A trait I do share. All in all, my family is one that works hard, but most definitely plays hard. They are a little rough around the edges, but what can I say, they are my family.