When you write for yourself, pretense tends to disappear.

Seems like yesterday, but my calendar tells me that it’s been over sixty years since my mother delivered me into this world. I was the oldest child of a waitress and U. S. Naval officer. Theirs was a long-distance relationship since the war was going on, and the marriage lasted only a few short years. Mom was a good mother, taking my baby sister and me and raising us the best way she knew. We were in church every Sunday, and I can’t remember ever doing without clothes, food, or toys. Somewhere along the way, she met my stepfather, and as was the custom back then, he adopted my baby sister and me, changed our last names, and moved us all to another state to begin a new life. We added three more sisters in the process. Yes, I was the only son, and my sisters kept me on my toes even after I graduated high school and joined the Marines.

Those were different times, but the values my parents instilled in me have served me well. I eventually married, settled in Texas, and raised my own family. Mom and Dad are gone now, but I think of them often. I was blessed to have known them and thankful for the love and lessons they showed me. Like many in my generation, my life included military service, college, two careers, advanced education, my own business, and retirement. And like many, I still want to contribute to society in some small way.

So, if you are reading this, it is most likely because someone has referred you to me and you want to learn more about me, or you have found me on the Internet. Whatever the case may be, I invite you to take a look at my letters. I don’t advertise on my pages, and I’ll never solicit anyone for money. I do this for a myriad of reasons. If you find a benefit to any of my musings, I invite you to leave a comment.