As I sit here tonight, 31 Dec 2008, the wind is gusting to 50 mph, it’s heading toward 20 degrees, and I’m tired. Hell, I’m Old and tired, I’ll be in bed by 10pm since I have to get up in the morning…

I’m not 21 anymore, nor honestly do I want to be…

I would never trade my friends, my life, or my family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. I’ve bought and paid for every grey hair and the belly too!

I figure I’m lucky to be here. I’ve seen too many friends leave this world too soon, before they had a chance to enjoy the laughter, and too many have died before their time. Some are on the Wall, some in Arlington, some buried in small towns across the USA, living only in our memories…

I listen to the tunes of the 60 & 70’s, and maybe I have to turn the radio up a bit, but at least I can still hear (as long as it’s not above 3000 Hz).

I know I’m not perfect, but I’m satisfied with that. I’ve always been lousy with names, but I can still remember faces. I got an email a couple of weeks ago from a shipmate, telling of another shipmate who was in the hospital after a pretty bad fall.

I had a few minutes, so I called him up. Now we had not spoken in probably 15 years, as I’d lost touch, but we had a good chat until we started talking about others we had flown with. He didn’t know four of our shipmates had died in the last year…

Come to find out, he is not on the Internet, has no desire to be, and I believe, purposefully doesn’t keep up with folks for that reason. He was always one of those with plenty of strength, but little understanding and compassion.

I’m finding as I get older, it is easier for me to be positive. I could care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore (I never win those arguments with myself anyway).

I know I’m not going to live forever, but while I’m still here, I won’t waste time with what could have been, or worry about what will be. The Man upstairs has a plan for us all, and I’m just playing out the string as they say…

Work is work- not fun, but it keeps me occupied (way too much). While I’m not retired yet (again), I am trying to take time to smell the roses, see the kids more than once a year, play a little golf and shoot a few guns in 2009.

This blog has brought me new friends, some old friends I’d lost contact with, and a little bit of release in writing… I appreciate those that read it, those that comment, and I appreciate the opportunity I have to read many others who are MUCH more prolific and MUCH better writers.

I wish each of you the best for 2009 and propose this toast-

Health, wealth, love and happiness where ever you may find it!