I fell in love twice today, once more than my usual visit to the VA. Sophia is my cheerful torturer, lending me unearned vitality as she teases, cajoles, and punts me through my physical therapy regimen. I have a standard nurse crush on her, the kind you cherish for a woman who sees you … [more]
Memories? Well, yeah…
26-May-2014 by 1 Comment
A lot of people maintain strong opinions, but I’m not sure how to respond to Memorial Day. A good friend reminds his fellow Americans that there’s no “happy” in a Memorial Day greeting; that it is to be construed as a pensive remembrance. Another friend makes a cogent argument for cheerful remembrance, with a toast … [more]
ROK ‘n’ roll
15-November-2013 by 5 Comments
Once upon a time back in the misty past of the early 1980s, a geeky 19-y.o. pushed BCGs up his nose, hoisted a green duffel over his green polyester leisure suit with its one lonely ribbon, and got onto Flight 007 to head for the Republic of Korea via Japan. We didn’t yet know how … [more]
Open Email to the Christian Coalition of America
17-April-2013 by 2 Comments
ON 17April13, I received the following communication from the Christian Coalition of America: Dear Friend, Believe it or not, materials in an official US Army Reserve training program listed evangelical Christians as “extremists”. It even lumped us into the same category as the KKK, Hamas and Al Qaeda. Yes, really. After receiving numerous complaints from … [more]
For Edichka, who asked
6-April-2013 by 8 Comments
What is it that I like about guns? Nothing specific. Good gear is good gear. It’s no more about the guns than dancing is about shoes, or dutiful service is about collecting ribbons on your blouse. My dad inherited three rifles and four shotguns from his father. Grandpa was a longtime hunter and fisherman in … [more]
So according to the VA…
21-March-2013 by Leave a Comment
… a veteran of the U.S. armed forces kills him (or her!) self every 80 minutes, ’round the clock, all day long, every day except Christmas — when the rates go up. A last call every 80 minutes means 18 veterans dead by their own hand, every. single. day. The great State of Wyoming recently … [more]
Math is hard
14-March-2013 by 6 Comments
…but sequestration is easy. Sequestration avoids all that hard stuff about negotiation, compromise, and putting things into adult perspective. You know: the things we pay our leaders to do. Therefore, citizen, do not ask where the meat axe falls. It falls on you. All four military services plus the Coast Guard have cancelled their education … [more]
Vote like your life depends on it!
1-November-2012 by 1 Comment
I posted a tiny, white-hot rant on Facebook today, and it seemed to hit a nerve. My little temper tantrum read like this: “Sorry if this offends, but: Those of you voting for candidates I respect, thank you. Full stop. Those of you voting for candidates with whom I disagree (probably vociferously), you have my … [more]
"Jack Lewis takes the overall literary crown with his new book...there’s a lot more to Lewis’s work than what it feels like to ride motorcycles.” — Ultimate Motorcycling
"Insightful and from the heart ... a driven and much recommended look into the mind and conflict of the next generation of war veterans. " — Midwest Book Review (Reviewer's Choice)