4 Comments

I have been keeping up with all of your writings. You must have a million things on your mind. Awhile back you offered me a Founding Membership. Did you change your mind or forget??....or am I being impatient? In any case I wish you well.....Marcia Valesano Hammerbeck

Expand full comment
author

Ma'am, I'm going to do it! I promise you. You have my word. If I forget, feel free to give me a good kick to the head, and I'll respond.

Expand full comment

I will provide you with the kick if you need it. I grew up the oldest of 6...4 of them boys. We ran wild in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan until the steel corporations abandoned the whole area for cheap labor in South America. It was an agonizing time. Miner families scraped and scrambled to raise funds to run the pumps to keep underground shafts from flooding until we could find someone to buy our ore. I remember when the pumps stopped. They had made a thumping sound that could be heard all over our little town. It was like a big heart that had beaten day and night for years...stopped.

I have a friend who served in Vietnam. He was a poor, skinny country boy from a big family. He was drafted....and spent his time in the jungle as a platoon sergeant. ...came back with serious PTSD. Only nobody understood. I was too immature to offer any help. It's something I've always been sad about. I really liked that you called them the elders. I want to introduce him to your writings. I deeply appreciate your truth telling about your time in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thank you.

Expand full comment
author

Ma’am, you have a lifetime paid membership.

Expand full comment