Sitting and thinking about how things are and have been in this world since I’ve been in it. I wonder if it is better or worse than when I was a boy...

Some things are better, no doubt about that. I’m sitting at a computer with the lights shining brightly and the air conditioner going keeping this room at an even 73 degrees. I just had a cup of coffee that took all of 1 minute to brew. I took a bath this morning in water that all I had to do was turn a small handle. Oh, and don’t forget the outhouse. Mine is pure comfort and cleanness.

I remember what it was like when I was growing up. No computer. Not even a typewriter in our house. Pencil and Big Chief tablet if you wanted to write anything down...

Coal oil lamp for light, what little there was of it. No electrical lines came within three miles of our house. We did not waste that oil because it cost 3 1/2 cents a gallon... and those darn lamps generated a lot of heat, which brings us the next thought

Air conditioning? We did not even have a refrigerator. If we had one there would have been no place to plug it in. We had an Ice Box, but the ice man came only on Tuesday, so by Friday, there was no ice. Besides, ice cost money, something very scarce back then. To cool off we could jump in the creek, that is, until it went dry about middle of July.

Baths were taken in a wash tub placed in the kitchen and, if we wanted heated water, we had to heat it on the wood burning stove. Water did not come from a pipe, it was pulled up in a bucket from a “dug” well.

And, of course, the outhouse was a lot different than the clean device we have now. It was a little house placed about 60 yards in back of our house amid a large stand of wild rose bushes. In the winter the place was miserable - well, summers were just as bad. Ever try to hold your breath long enough to take care of such business?

But, we had all the necessary things to live a good life. Food, clothing, protection from the elements, and lots and lots of LOVE. We knew our neighbors, even if the closest one was a quarter of a mile away. Now we don’t know the people who lives just 90 feet away over the back fence.

Most food comes packaged so all you need do is heat it - in the micro wave, of course. The ingredients is stuff I can’t pronounce and have no idea what it is, but it sure isn’t food. Trash from all those packages is heavier than the food. (most taste just as good, too.) Ever wonder what is in a box of Wheat cereal? Everything except wheat...

As kids we read the Bible every evening, even after we got a radio. Most homes don’t have one, and most that does can not find it.

Back in those days we trusted the people we voted for. Now we do not vote FOR someone, we vote AGAINST the other one. Almost all Americans believes that in order to be in elective office, you must be crooked as a snake... All of us know that they will do anything to gain something for themselves. “Go to Congress and draw BIG BUCKS for the rest of your life, and put your entire family on the pay roll, too!!!” Oh, yes...

In school every morning we repeated The Pledge of Allegiance with our hand over our hearts - UNDER GOD -. When there was a ball game or any special occasion, Old Glory was always presented. When it passed by our hearts would move to our thoughts and a tear of pure proudness rolled down our cheek. Now they curse that flag, spit on it, throw it in the dirt. And NEVER even think God in school... If you wish to say filthy, four- letter words in school, that’s OK, but don’t mention God... Sick, isn’t it?

When World War Two started, I was 13 years old. Everyone tried to go into the service, even old men and kids like me. Hell yes, I tried! Got run out of every recruiting office in the area, but I wanted to punish those terrible people who bombed Pearl Harbor and were killing people just because they were Jews.

I watched and cried with folks when they got the news that a loved one had been killed. I watched when a folded American Flag was handed to a grieving mother and she hugged that flag and held it as if it was the son who had died in defense of his beloved homeland. And, my friend, I get very angry when some coward desecrates that flag!

I believe it was Voltaire who said, “Those who does not know history is destined to repeat it.” Well, people don’t know history, because they do not wish to...

“REMEMBER 9-1-1” It’s all over the place. Even my wheel chair has it pasted where it can be seen by anyone. But it won’t be remembered... I remember “Remember Pearl Harbor.” I also remember stories of “Remember the Main”, “Remember The Alamo” and tales of how the Minutemen sprang to arms to defend themselves and their loved ones against an oppressive government. All those brave people gave much, some gave all, that we may have a degree liberty.

But ask most high school grads today about Pearl Harbor or about the holocaust. Unless they have an old grandpa like me, they don’t know, and worse, they don’t give a hoot.

I sometimes wonder if I did the right thing in going to Korea and Vietnam. Few today gives a damn about those shipmates that managed to get their blood and guts spread all over the cold steal of the ship. I’ll never forget, but I’m a small minority.

The fire fighters and police in New York were brave and great people, but so were those with Washington, in the trenches of France, and on Imo Jima. So were those who sailed the seas to bring needed supplies to the forces in the field. And so were those moms, dads, widows, orphans, siblings of all those who would never come back to their arms again...

So, as you go about your tomorrows not worrying whether or not someone will object, remember what those freedoms cost. As you worship in the place of your choice not being told by government how and what to worship, remember those who trudged through jungles of rain forest infested with all sorts of biting, stinging insects, including enemy soldiers who wanted to kill then, and did in many cases. When you shop for the clothing you want without being told what you can wear, remember those who will cry every day for the rest of their lives because their loving son died to grant you that freedom. When you sit down with a good book remember the child who grew up without a dad because he died in some filthy hole as a P.O.W.

I’m proud to be an American! I’m damn proud! I humbly ask that you be proud, too. Support our Nation, Vote at every chance, and above all, KEEP YOUR FAITH. Pray for our leaders, and get rid of those that are slime...