What I took away from the Las Vegas Shooting..

First, I would like to say that everyone should continue to pray for the folks who were injured. Many have a long road to go before they are healed.

The thought that one man could do all of that damage is incredible. It could have been even worse, but luckily the crazy guy who did the shooting was stopped permanently.

So I am not going to say anything about gun control! I am not going to say anything about liberals, conservatives, socialist. That is not what I am taking away from this terrible tragedy. I refuse to dwell on the hatred and insanity portion of this story.

I am taking away the fact that for each one of these deranged individuals, there are hundreds of great Americans who continue to be of good moral character, and have the stuff that made this Country GREAT.

I watched a bunch of the video's from the incident. These were "point of view" films from the folks who were in the crowd and were fired upon.

I saw men shielding folks with there bodies, I saw men carrying complete strangers from the exposed area's to get them to safety. I saw men dragging folks to get them out of the shock of what was happening so that they could save themselves.

I read about folks making multiple trips under fire to rescue wounded folks. I read of men stealing trucks and setting up a triage area and then taking multiple trips to get 30 of the wounded to area hospitals.

The stories of heroism will continue in the coming days. These are the folks that I would love to break bread with and have a few beers with.

If I could, I would tell them that they have renewed my faith in my fellow man. That they, in this time of divisive rhetoric, are one nation of strong individuals that given the chance will rise up and put others well being ahead of self.

As I previously stated, I will focus on the positives shown by this horrible, evil incident. I will concentrate on the folks who stood in line for hours to donate blood. I wish our media would not focus so hard on the evil doers, and focus on the great Americans and what we all can do to improve the world we live in.

Alzheimer's a Bitch

Gramps - Mom - Alysse - Me

Last weekend I went home to visit my family, specifically my grandfather who has Alzheimer's.

My mom had called to tell me that he was getting much worse. The kind funny man that I grew up knowing was now angry, physical, and argumentative. So I told her I would make the trip and come see him. I called my brother's and we planned to get together Saturday, go visit him and see what we could do to help.

Well when we we arrived he was just setting there sleeping. My mother woke him up, since it was also almost lunch time. He just stared at us for 15 minutes while we tried to talk with him. We talked with other patients in the memory care unit. We watched one attempted escape, and laughed when she turned herself in immediately.

The only reaction we got from gramps was when mom asked him if he wanted help to go to lunch. He shook his head yes, and then shuffled off with mom to his spot in the dining room. So the body is still there, but the mind is gone.

What do you do to reconcile your memories of the man that was versus the shell that still exists. This decorated war veteran, who I once heard tell a TSA agent when the metal detector kept going off, "that's shrapnel from when the ____  got me in Korea." This is the guy who sang, "I Love to go swimming with bow legged women". Which always got hum called Donald Clarence by my grandmother. This is the guy that took you on your first duck hunt at 4 years old? The guy who stopped taking me to the bar when I was  four because I kept sliding off the stool? Or got you hooked on big american Lincoln's and Mercury's? Was a UAW member through and through?

My favorite story of all time was that he had Carotic artery surgery to remove a blockage. He was waking up in the recovery room, and was being attended to by a sweet young red headed nurse, and grampa was hitting on her and asking for a sponge bath. He kept it up until she was replaced by a large male nurse.

I don't know, but I'm glad my daughter and my nephew's got to meet him and know him prior to this terrible disease taking his mind. Because he is just a shell now. A loved shell, but a shell. I have resolved myself to this fact. Hopefully someday this disease will no longer exist. But for now it does and its a bitch!

My baby came home this weekend...

Its a wonderful thing when you get to see your child for the first time after they've been gone a couple of weeks.

"Separation makes the heart grow fonder!"

I don't think that is always a true statement. I was extremely fond of her prior to her leaving. I think I love her just as much as prior to that fateful day that we dropped her at Mississippi State University.
I think that this is a result of being extremely lucky on our part to have a child who always seemed mature beyond her years. Those of you that know her realize that this is not a brag. It is a plain statement of fact.

She has been gone, and I think she misses us as much as we miss her. We have always been a close and supportive family, so to be separated has caused some anxiety for all of us. Nothing that can't be cured with time and regular visits on both parties parts. But we don't love her more because she has been gone.

Maybe I am taking that old statement a little to literal, but it was weighing on my mind so I figured I would put my thoughts onto the proverbial paper. With all of the emotions that I have, fonder is not one of them.

I love that she is growing wings and flying. I love that she will get her feet under her and she will be running at life full tilt. I love that she cares for her parents so deeply. I love that we love her back just as deeply. This is the way life is supposed to be! A little sad, but a ton of joy to offset the changes that are occurring.

If your child has yet to leave the nest, cherish each moment. The moments you want to last a lifetime unfortunately don't, but you can cherish the young adult they have become.

So Alysse, go back to school and give it your all because we will always be here for you.

Katrina and how it changed my outlook...

We have a tropical storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico right now. Its called Harvey.. I'm hoping its a Harvey Korman rather than a Harvey Keitel.

Its brought up a lot of discussions about Katrina with the team members who are not from Louisiana or have not been in hurricanes previously. We tell them that Harvey is not going to impact us too much, not like Katrina did.

Which brings back a bunch of memories that are not bad memories, just memories that make me realize that I look at life a little differently now. I don't dread hurricanes, I just think back to my experiences and know how quickly life can change.

Katrina was bad. It killed bunches of folks, it took irreplaceable heirlooms, it took homes. That goes with the territory, all of those things contribute, but takeaway I have is life can change in a heartbeat.

Now as you read this, realize that I am not a prepper. I am just a regularly guy who get up every morning and goes to work and hopes that the status quo remains until I am old enough to retire, and our grandkids can enjoy this great country.

What I know now is that we are one natural disaster away from total anarchy.

Enjoy your electricity?

It can be taken away in a heartbeat. Our electricity at home was out for over a month. Think of all the things you use electricity for? Keep medicines cool, food cool, house cool, house warm, lights, television.

Think about that, with the help of all available energy crews from all over the country, it took them over 30 days to repair!!! Thinks about the breadth of the destruction! Without electricity, you could not get gas at the gas station. Then your mobility is severally hampered, and you can not escape somewhere with modern creature comforts. You can't get gas, you can't get food, you can't do your job, you can't make money.

So always be aware and understand what is going on in your surroundings and be prepared to remove yourself and your family from bad situations if required. Big government and private companies end up just as helpless in these grave times of need. The only help you can count on is friends and family.