I Am A Blessed Man

 

This started out as a simple Facebook post but turned into a blog.

I was talking to my wife about my life and how remarkable it has been. It started with a picture of a clock store front in Wiesbaden, Germany, that is designed as a cuckoo clock. I've been in that store and someone posted it on Facebook today. It was a great reminder.

For a simple man with a high school education (and maybe one semester of college,) my life has been amazing. I've lived in ten different states. I lived in Germany for three years and in Puerto Rico for four. I've now lived in Texas for nine years, longer than I've lived anywhere in my life. I plan to stay here.

Joining the Air Force at age 19 was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It got me away from home and made me a man. I spent 8 years of my life in the Air Force - 3 of them in Germany. I also lived in California and Colorado. And I loved them all.

I got out of the Air Force because my wife and one year old son were in California and I was in Germany, with my bosses trying to convince me to stay. I couldn't do it. I went home to California and was lucky enough to get a job with the Bureau of Prisons. And after a few years I was once again travelling and living in different places. It seems that's what I was born to do.

I was a paramedic in the Air Force. I worked mostly in Emergency Rooms and can unequivocally say that with God at my side I helped save at least three lives. His choice, not mine. In the Bureau of Prisons one evening I stopped an inmate from stabbing another one to death by physically pulling him off. Probably not the smartest thing I've ever done but it worked out OK. I, and that inmate, are both still alive.

I've enjoyed all of the places I've lived, from my early childhood in West "By God" Virginia, to my teenage years in Ohio. The list of states includes Colorado (twice) and California, as I said, but also Connecticut, Alabama, Kansas, Florida, Kentucky and now Texas. I lived my first two years in Indiana but I honestly don't remember that.

With a couple of (large) exceptions life has been good to me. My son's death was devastating. His mom's early death hurt as well. But from those experiences I was able to write a book that has helped others who have experienced that loss. I have had people tell me so. And for that opportunity I'm grateful

Counting the United States I've been in 13 countries. While all were interesting in their own right, Israel was by far the best and most fascinating. I've visited 44 of the 50 US states. I need Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Alaska and Hawaii to complete my U.S. travels.

In 2015 I joined the Praise Band at our church. I'm not a professional musician by any means but I have some talent with an acoustical guitar and they let me play with them. If was one of the most rewarding things I've done. To be a part of the Sunday morning worship music and the Singing Christmas Tree was nothing short of amazing. Sadly, several surgeries and the Corona Virus put an end to that... at least for now. But I really enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the band.

I was chatting with an old friend this morning who said he is planning to move back to his home town and stay there. While I admire that idea, I had to tell him that honestly, after the life I've lead, I couldn't do that. I've been to too many places and seen too many things to end up back in small town Ohio. Not that there is anything wrong with it. It's just not for me.

I guess maybe I'm rambling but I have been blessed. As I said - I'm a guy with a high school education who has been given, and taken advantage of numerous opportunities. I'm a published author. And I have a second book in the works right now. I have an incredible wife and family. And so far we all are healthy and well. I've lost three friends to Covid but I've had several others who fought it and survived. For that I'm grateful to the Man in charge. Yeah... I know the word "Man" is politically incorrect but I don't care.

I guess what I'm saying is thank you. Thanks to God for His many blessings. Thank you to each of you who have been a part of my life. I have friends who are family (you know who you are) and even family who are friends... 😉

Thanks to all of you. I am a blessed man.