What Now?

What Now?

by Gary Saffell

   It will be interesting to see what President Elect Trump does now that we gave him the Power of the Office.  I think we can pray that he follows through on his wish list of things to take care of, because, quite frankly, the is a TON of stuff that needs to be corrected.  We now have the perfect platform to get this country back to it’s Christian roots by the Presidency AND BOTH houses of Congress in the same Party.  Make some adjustments with Senate rules of majority, and we are good to go!  I am a firm believer that God has given this country a second chance.  We need to pay attention and get back on track with taking care of the many blessings He has bestowed on us through the years, and have squandered away the World leadership of providing peace, harmony and good will in the world.  Time will tell.  In the mean time we pray, elect Christian local government officials and see what happens.  No more chances do we have.

Now is the time to push back against the “I’m offended” people (mostly spoiled college brats and the “I’m going to collect a ‘check for my money’ folks, not to mention those that feel they are “entitled” not to work.  Getting the Federal Government out of the States business and quit playing the “you (state) can’t pass that law…[you pick the subject]….or we will cut your federal grants” game.  I think we need to drain the swamp by kicking out all the lobbyists so we can get our elected officials to buy the best product (military, etc.), instead of which company is giving them the best and BIGGEST kickbacks/favors.  Get the Federal Government back to protecting the shores of the United States and helping our FRIENDS [i.e. those who love us] with their challenges IF we can. QUIT funding the countries like Russia, China, Iran, Syria, Iraq, etc. [those that are sending us their warriors under the disguise of “immigrants, for instance]. While we are on this subject, I love Mr. Trump’s open border challenge plan…..build a wall that cannot be penetrated.  Add more staff to ensure that the border is secure….remember the Rio Grand River?  Then charge the Mexican Government the construction costs.  IF necessary, we can always deduct the cost of the building the wall from the foreign financial assistance we are giving them regularly. Will they be happy about it if it plays out that way?  Probably not, but drastic steps in critical times.

That is just the beginning of the Correction Phase that I see that needs to be done.  However, who am I?  Just one little citizen who really doesn’t make a national impact let alone a local disturbance, nor wants to, but when we were growing up . . . in the Country that had recently come out of the Great Depression, and World War II, our Government was in the “retooling phase, from war equipment to infrastructure/businesses/innovations to create employment of its citizens.  As a result, businesses were starting up, commerce was starting to boom, people were going to schools (colleges, trade schools, etc.) to get educated to be able to provide the “AMERICAN DREAM” for their families.  We (my wife and I) were born toward the end of that cycle.  We the people, DID learn values like honesty, work hard, play hard, provide for your family no matter what it takes, mentality.  Those were good times for quite a lot of the people who took advantage of learning a skill, a “work” mind-set if you will, to grow their families, paying their bills, buying their clothing, purchasing their homes, and the list goes on.  THEN we started accepting less than honorable actions by our citizens.  It started, very slowly, almost not recognizable, at a very slow pace, giving up our values that our parents had given us. Giving up our HONOR….one little concession at a time….not realizing what was happening.  It was indeed a slippery slope.  Things were happening that the average American didn’t understand, but our society was changing, it was being gnawed on from within!  It was a slow deadly resetting of values that many, many people succumbed to without even knowing it!  WE, as a Christian based Nation, had become a silent majority of our Great Country called United States of America! A couple days ago,  I have seen what I feel, have finally been awakened and will not stand for the laxness concept anymore!  We will now have BOTH houses of the Congress AND the President to get us back on track of being the greatest nation in the World.  To be a Christian Nation that helps others when in time of need.  To help our poor get lifted from their lives to provide for their families and regain the PRIDE that they once had.  To refuse to fund those that are able to work but demand to share in the benefits of doing an honest days work.  I just know that most of the folks living on the streets would give anything to be employed.  We need to identify them, give them their pride back, give the training to a level they can provide labor at a starting wage, and an imagination to be able to see that through hard work, increasing their skill level, working their way up the employment chain so they can provide for themselves and their family. THAT is the AMERICAN way.   Starting off at a fast food place, minimum wage (NOT $15 an hour) to learn how business works.  Then  while doing that, get more schooling.  Improve your “value”.  Do what needs to be done to support yourself without depending on “the check”.  Set your goals high.  This is how it used to be!  It was working fine.  People, workers and management alike, were growing businesses and people were happy.  Sometimes, people had several jobs at a time so they could make “ends meet”.  There was nothing shameful about that.  It was a sign to others that YOU are serious about providing for your family.  

Today we have a large sector of our nation that expects things (clothing, food, job, spending money) to be GIVEN to them.  They expect the government to pay for their college fees.  Question: What are a lot of them doing with THAT opportunity?  Answer: Squandering their chance to get educated in useful subjects that will help them to be an ASSET not a LIABILITY to society.  I suppose I shouldn’t be too critical here, as it started in the early 1960’s, which was the end of my “schooling” years.  Was I a part of the ruckus in American Colleges of the 60’s?  No.  Did I do anything or say anything about all the protesters?  Not publicly.  Did I like what I was seeing and hearing on TV with all the college sit-ins, etc?  No.  However, I was busy serving my country so others, not so mature [my opinion] could show such disrespect to what they called “the Establishment”.  Looking back, I think that was the  beginning of what we have evolved into today.  

So now we have what we have, and have to deal with correcting it.  I am pleased that we all have the opportunity to support those that have promised to FIX IT!  Some of the fixes may not be what we thought it should be, but there is a lot to do, and now is the time to get started on it.  Those that stood by knowing and perhaps even supporting the selfishness, the “take all the FREE stuff because I deserve it theology”, have a second chance to get back on track where GOD had gifted us so many years ago, and allowed us to degenerate to what we have today.  It is time to get back to God, thank Him for the opportunity to save our country, and be an example to the world, instead of a laughing stock of the degenerates, that have been gloating over their successes in bring down the Great County of the United States of America from within!   

We have made some mistakes along the way.  There is still a class of individuals that believe that because they have a very large currency base (rich) that they can get away with most everything, and mostly do, but the heart of our country is the folks (individuals, businesses, organizations, that still believe in helping others through their companies, through supporting local organizations that feed, shelter, provide job skill training, and the list goes on groups.  They can only do so much though.  There will always be those that have that mind set of just collecting “the check”, and not contributing anything positive to the community. but we as Christians continue to reach out and do our part in giving hope and putting smiles on their faces.  We have our work cut out for us.  There IS hope.  There is a FUTURE available to everyone who listens to what God is telling them. The here and now is only temporary, but we need to share our faith with others while we ARE here and in the NOW.

Dear reader, please help us to use this time, this second chance that God has given us to bring our Country back to where He intended us to be.  To Honor, Praise and Glorify His Name….forever and ever.   

Peace and happiness to all

Gary

Using God's ever changing GIFTS

Today I start out with a sleep related experience, then go from there.

A month or so ago I was scheduled for what they call a "Sleep Study".  I am thinking it is something that quite a few people have experienced.  I also figured "This is no brainer, I got sleeping down to a science."  Seems, I am not as good as I thought I was.  What a downer that was!  A couple weeks later I tried again, and was a success.....I thought.  Well, they called me in late evening of the day before I was rescheduled.  Drove through a rain storm all the way to the Hospital and about 11pm or so got hooked up...all the electrodes working, extra pillow and three extra blankets and off to sleep I went again.  At 6:30 the technician woke me up and said they got what was needed so I was free to go home!  YAY!!!  My appointment with the lung doctor was made, and away I went.  A week my lung Doc says I had stopped breathing, as I remember, 100+ times during my test.  He didn't seem too pleased with that. So nothing has changed in my breathing capabilities to the positive, and am getting more easily winded, but I will continue to do my best to keep breathing and keep doing what I can to share music, guitar instruction, and sharing God's gifts that have been given to me. 

We ALL have special God given Gifts.  It is our job to discover what they are.  Some are as simple as  a warm smile to those we encounter.  Others my be words of encouragement.  Some may be complex and training is needed, so be prepared to follow through.  I know of lots of instances where God has been leading people to areas that are needed, but few are accepting His "nudges".  There have been many times in my life when I can look back and see the workings of God even in my family!  Those "look backs" are heart warming and gives me assurances that no others can give or take away.  If you take the time in the quiet of the morning or evening, sit and look back on your life, perhaps you will be surprised to see it is God that has guided you to where you are at today.  Maybe not a physical location, but it could be that too.  Maybe not occupational, but, you may find it so.  Maybe it was something that someone who has entered your life has changed your course a touch and you are pleased with what you are because of it.  In the occupational part of my life, after looking back I realized I couldn't keep a job!  hahaha just kidding.  I have been blessed with a variety of occupations that provided me and my family with so much more than we could have imagined.  I was raised in the printing trade, and that has provided me stability through my life, but also allowed me to explore other areas.  I have been a shoe salesman at one time, and within the 6 months doing it, I was the top salesperson in the five store local chain.  The movie Heartbreak Ridge, Clint Eastwood said: "Adapt, Preserver, Overcome". That has been my motto since I heard it. In the few short times that I have been without a job, I found something to do that payed me enough to buy food, pay utilities and house payments.  Of course those were the days when that was what was expected and THAT made the difference between now and then. My family and I had decided to relocate to the Las Vegas, NV area where she grew up in.  Her folks were living there and we were able to stay with them until I could get a job and buy a house. During my time in Minneapolis, I had worked for my Dad in the family printing shop, managed an Aquarium store, worked as a motorized Night Security Officer, and a Transit Driving job with the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Transit Commission after 12 years as a bus driver.  

So when we got to the Las Vegas area, I remember going in for an interview I got from the newspaper for a van driver job.  I was in my late 30's, early 40's.  The interviewer's first question was: "Are you retired?" my answer was "no".  Then he stated: "You realize this job pays $4.50 an hour. Why would you apply for this job."  My answer was, "Because it pays $4.50 an hour, which is better that $0."  He then said "We are looking for a younger person and a lady, to be our van driver."  Needless to say, I couldn't fill his requirements, so I continued my search. I even tried phone sales, but after two days, I knew I was NOT cut out for that type of work.  The State Employment agency finally gave me a lead for an interview with a private sector transportation contractor starting a Downtown Trolley Bus service for the City of Las Vegas.  At the interview they seemed pleased that I had mass transit experience and I was hired as one of three Driver/Supervisor position.  That was a good job.  About a year and 1/2 went by and the City of Las Vegas bought out the contract, hired most of the drivers and now I was a CLV employee.  That led to an opening a while later in the Graphic Arts Department.  

In addition, when I moved to the Las Vegas area, I continued my military (Army) Reserve career and found a local Army Reserve unit and became the Personnel NCO of that unit (Section 3) that was part the total Hospital (the rest of the Hospital Command (HQ + Sections 1 and 2) was located in Southern California.   My military experience continued to get even more interesting when our unit's Field First Sergeant retired and I was chosen to replace him.  When things heated up in the Kuwait area, our Hospital got activated to Desert Storm.  Six months later after the Doctors, Nurses and Techs. were on their way back (by that time I was the Unit's First Sergeant but wasn't  activated at the beginning) I got my orders to ACTIVE Duty to Saudi Arabia.  While there I had the honor of being part of LTG Pegonis' staff in Daharan, Saudi Arabia. Another job skill acquired.  My job was the Communication's representative in the Logistic Operations Center.  An interesting place to work.  Enough said, other that being in that Section gave me the opportunity to see places, others had only seen photo's of.  We were downwind of the Kuwait Oil Fires which had it's consequences. For instance: 4:30pm (1630hrs military time), you could look directly at the sun and in comparison, was duller than a 45watt bare light bulb, because of the smoke drift. 

When that active duty was over, and I reported back to my Unit, I was told that I had been promoted to Master Sergeant (E8) four months earlier and that I was transferred to a USAR School in Bell, California to be an Chief instructor. Of course when I returned, I also got my civilian job back at the City of Las Vegas.  When I returned there, I was surprised that the person who replaced me all those months had graduated from Minneapolis Vocational High School where I had graduated a year before him!  What a small world.  My job though had been changed (to keep Ron on staff) and I moved into the Camera/platemaking department.  I loved that part of the trade so everything was great with my new area, and became very good friends with Ron and his brother Wally (another graduate of MPLS Vocational High School) who had moved to the Vegas area also. Even with some residue from Desert Storm (VA challenges) I was glad to be home and my civilian work got even greater when a new position of Graphic Arts Customer Technician opened up and after beating out over 100 applicants, was awarded the new position.  THAT was the best of anything that I had ever done before!  I was the "go between" between the City department heads, directors, council and Mayor staffs.  What a fantastic relationship I was able to build with the most wonderful, fine, outstanding people.  That is the position I held until I turned 60 and was able to retire.  At that time we were my Wife's (Pat) Father's caregiver.  I kept myself busy supporting her and Dad and enjoying retirement which gave me more freedom to get more involved in our local church which I was the Lay Leader (keeping me pretty busy) and in addition, I had been asked to be the North District Director of the Desert Southwest Conference Lay Speaking Program.  I had a good friend and his wife that I sent out to the remote areas of our District (Central Nevada to the Arizona/Nevada border communities, like Winslow AZ, to Needles CA. and all in-between like Kingman, etc.)  That consisted of 44 United Methodist Churches.  With the help of my team, we were able to train and increase the Lay Speaker Program.  Personally it was very rewarding to watch the excitement of the program growth in numbers and activity results. During this time from the time I returned from Desert Storm, I had been asked to develop a Celebration and Praise Worship Service which is still very well attended 25 years later.

Pat's father went home to the Lord at the age of 92.  It was a big loss for us, but he went home where there is no pain, no age problems, but with peace, comfort and Joy.  It was shortly after his leaving us that we felt that God was telling us it was time to move one last time.  Our Daughter Amy had attended Lambeth University in Jackson, TN.  After she graduated she married a strong Christian man and a year later we came out to see our new granddaughter.  We loved the area so much, we sold our house to the incoming Pastor at our home church, and moved to Rutherford TN about 10 minute drive from Amy's home.  Once we were settled, we started attending the local Methodist Church here in Rutherford and I was blessed to be able to assist in their music program.  After a while, I contacted the UMC District Office and began filling in the pulpit when various Methodist Churches needed.  I enjoyed that time to spread the Word of Jesus Christ and got to where I was traveling quite a lot, which was very spiritually rewarding.  There was a group (charge) of three churches that I was able to fill in for two months, and got a pretty firm feeling at what being a Pastor was like.  Shortly after that experience, I was sent to a church south of my home about a 45 min. drive for three weeks to fill in for their Pastor who was on a sabbatical leave. After the second week, I was called into the District Superintendent's office and he asked me if I would like to be their Pastor.  I was floored!  What an experience that was for me.  I felt I was a pretty fast learner.  I had been assigned as a part-time Pastor, but I tried to make visitations when my Lay Leader was available. (Man Pastor-Female church member situation) required that I be accompanied for each of our safety. We had a Youth program every Wednesday night and one of our Youth Leader's would pick up the younger ones in the church van and those that had "wheels", drove.  It started out with a nice meal that was furnished in rotation from the congregation, and the numbers were usually in the 20's which for a small country church was outstanding!  After 10 months, my life changed.  I ended up in the hospital Sunday night and found out I had a lung condition called Pulmonary Fibrosis which is incurable.  It is a slow developing condition that continues to make breathing more difficult as the elasticity of the airways stiffen.  I was shown equipment that would be a part of my life from then on.  It was a startling time and almost overwhelming emotionally.  I was in the pulpit the following Sunday, not missing a Worship service.  It was my last Sunday at that church.  The Biggest Achievement I feel I had during my rather short stay was the children.  I had given them half sheets of a "grading paper" to fill out and write down some important parts the sermon that they understood or liked. and to score (A, B, C, D, F).  Every Sunday I had several sheets from the kids completely filled out including a score (never had one under a B!) and most had some great looking pictures drawn as well.  I had told them that if THEY didn't understand what I was preaching, I FAILED them, and so I needed their help.  Wonderful results.

I have gotten my breathing challenge to where it is not as scary as it was, but am not kidding myself that I will live to reach my goal of 115 years old either! ha ha ha

So in the meantime, I have opened up myself to offer FREE Basic Guitar lessons for those Church friends that I have to friends I haven't met yet to learn how to play guitar learning the basics of chord progression, strumming patterns, etc. using predominately Gospel Music and some Country & Folk thrown in for variety.

The main point of THIS issue is being open to understand that God's work in us continues on throughout our personal lives.  Keeping an open mind and a willingness to learn new things, is very important. You have read what a plethora of occupations, etc. that I have done and I am sure I have left out some jobs, tasks that I have forgotten. In my opinion: There is little excuse to NOT have a job.  Realizing that today's economy is a little different, but God provides for those that are sincere and ASK. It may not be that CEO position you THINK you DESERVE, but with some effort, I have experienced success in supporting my family, and raising my three WONDERFUL children to be very well supporters of their families.

So, keep on Smiling, Laughing and Singing

May God Bless YOU
Gary

There is Music in the Air

Welcome back dear reader....or if this is your first look, Welcome dear reader, I hope you read something you can take away from here and think about a while, ponder it and maybe crack a smile or nod your head.

Today's issue is something that I do quite a lot of lately and enjoy very much.  The topic is MUSIC.  Specifically aimed at Guitar music/playing.

For me, it started a long time ago now, about when I was 14 years old.  I had a job at a local Super Valu grocery store.  I was able to work on Saturday's as a bag boy.  In those days, grocery stores used paper bags and job as "Customer Service" as they call it now, was to bag up the newly purchased products and take the bags to the customer's car.  NO TIPPING!  It was my start in the world of self sufficiency.  I rode my bicycle to and from (about a mile or so from home) and put in a full day at $1.00 an hour.  I was in hog heaven making that much money.  I even started a savings account! 

To backup a bit, I had bought my first guitar from Sears Roebuck.  It wasn't the top of the line by any means, but it was a start. It was an arch top acoustic guitar and came with a case, a pick and a strap. I bought a cord book to so I could learn what it was all about, and started to learn what was what in the guitarist world.  The house we lived in was a two story with partial vertical sidewalls then peaked.  My sister had the front room, the only bathroom was at the top of the stairs (tub and sink only) and "the boys" room was in the back. Dad built my bed in the side wall and was like a ship's captains bed with storage underneath.  My brothers slept on trundle beds.  Mom and Dad's room was on the main floor. Dad loved remodeling so it wasn't long before he knocked out some walls, closed in half the porch and did some knotty cedar tongue and groove boards in the living room and it's new extension (from the porch acquisition).  

I practiced my guitar in my room and of course I got to keeping time by tapping my foot.  I learned pretty fast that sound carries throughout the house!  Mom would call up to me "Gary! Take your shoe off and put a pillow under it!"  I got a chuckle thinking about that. It got to where I was getting the chord patterns down pretty good, so I saved some more allowance and bought a songbook. It had chord diagrams over the words, so it was pretty easy to understand. Folk music was coming into popularity by then, so I used Peter, Paul, and Mary songs, and what was to become my all-time favorite group, the Kingston Trio.  I had a couple friends down the block that I would hang out together some.  One day Tom Pederson came over and asked me if I wanted to join their new folk group.  After an over-the phone-audition, I was approved.  Then Tom asked if I could teach him how to play! ha ha ha  I was not really advanced enough to teach him, but said I would.  So after a couple lessons, I had taught him absolutely ALL I knew. Within weeks he had bypassed my abilities.The upside was, our group now had two guitar players!  We had so much fun. The leader Dan Nelson was our spokesman and lead singer. He couldn't chew gum and walk at the same time, so we let him to the talking.  Our fourth member was Alan Benson who lived next door to Tom, wanted to learn to play guitar also, so I let Tom teach him.  That was the start of "the Northstar Singers".  Throughout our high school days we had a blast. One day at practice I showed the guys my new Kay 5 string banjo!  Since we had Tom and now Alan playing guitar, we could use a banjo.  After that practice, Tom asked if he could borrow the banjo.  I said "sure".  The next practice he was playing the (my) banjo like a pro!  So I went back to the guitar and let him play banjo.  Needless to say, Tom is a gifted, very talented musician. He can play anything with strings attached.  The boys all went to the local High School and I went downtown to Minneapolis Vocational Trade School.  Dan got us into a few places we were not really ready for, but for the time, he got us into the Minneapolis *Aquatennial Summer festival. It is really a big thing for Minneapolis, with all it's lakes, and parks.  We got into the roving entertainment unit and played at Hospitals, Prisons, and even played regularly at the Festival's "Skippers Club", that was set up downtown in the Radisson Hotel in the evenings.  It was a great time of growth, and becoming friends with other folk groups, watching what they were doing and how they were doing it!  Tom had started watching the other groups banjo players to learn how they were doing as well.  I think it was that fall, we entered the State Fair Folk Competition.  Again we were excited and having the time of our lives.  Turns out, as an added bonus, it was a competition.  Can't remember what the prize was, but we were happy and excited to just be a part of the program!  We played some outdoor afternoon "gigs" and the night of the competition came.  We had two songs to sing.  We brought out our best.  Started out with "Shanandoa".  For you guitar players, I was using a capo on the 2nd fret. Both Tom and Alan were playing guitars as well.  It went off very well.  We were excited.  So much so that I started the next song (Ride Up) it was a galloping, spirited song with Dan the singer of the verse's and the rest of us came in on the chorus.  Oh....Tom changed to his Banjo (of which he had an banjo instrumental break in the middle of the song) Tom didn't use a capo....the song didn't require one....for anyone....
Not realizing that my capo was still attached firmly in place and that by starting out the song in a higher key and Tom wouldn't be able to play his rousing and spirited break, I lead out with my guitar intro.  Well, right away Tom and Alan figured it out and grabbed their capos and put them on to match where I was. Unfortunately, Dan didn't know anything because he was playing the room with his booming voice not noticing that his back up instrumentalist guys were sweating bricks on the inside, but we all had a smile on our faces.  It came to the break where Dan shouts "RIDE!"  Tom stayed chording his banjo as banjoist do, Alan and I are doing what we do, and smiling up a storm.  Dan tried again, and then again on final time with a question mark attached to his voice, we then continued on with the song to the finish. We were laughing the whole time, and the officials (of the competition) were standing in the back with their clipboards and pencils smiling (a good sign).  We got a nice round of applause, and didn't smell any tar or see any bags of feathers being prepared for us, so I figured we weren't THAT bad. As it turned out, we came in the top 20 in the State, so we called it good and continue doing what we were doing.   Lesson learned: If you make a mistake when on stage, just keep moving on and keep smiling.

*The Minneapolis Aquatennial is an annual outdoor event held in the U.S. city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the third full week of July. Originating in 1940, the Minneapolis Aquatennial celebrates the city's famous lakes, rivers, and streams.

In our senior year, Roosevelt H.S. (where Tom, Alan and Dan attended) was having their Annual Talent Show.  At one of our practices, Tom mentioned our group needed a Bass Fiddle.  I then talked to one of my shop instructors (and counsellor) about our folk group and mentioned that we were looking for a bass for the Roosevelt talent show.  He told me he has one, and would be able to loan it to me if I needed it.  What a God thing that was.  So the night of the show, I drove across town in my Dad's station wagon, loaded up the Fiddle and took it to the green room where Tom pluncked around on it a little bit hearing what it sounded like and when we were called to the stage, here Tom comes with a Bass Fiddle, never before played anywhere, and played it like he was a master.  Folk music sounds so much better with a Bass Fiddle holding down the bottom of the music.  Like I said, Tom Pederson is a gifted and master of making music.  

It was shortly thereafter that school was out, we graduated!  YAY!!!  And I had commitments with Uncle Sam and His Navy, so off I went to the Philadelphia Naval Receiving Station and ultimately assigned an Aircraft Carrier USS Shangri-la CVA-38 to be deployed to the Mediterranean Sea.  I was assigned to the Print Shop (my specialty) which was very rewarding. I was blessed to see places most folk either read about or see in the movies, like Mt. Vesuvius (easily seen from Naples, Italy) and the Leaning Tower of Pisa to name just a couple.  While I was gone, the Northstar Singers finagled their way with one of the local TV stations to host a Sunday afternoon music show spotlighting other local Folk Groups.  Those that we had played along side during the Aquatennial events.  The show played out it's 13 week run and everyone was happy.....except me.....I wasn't there! 

After I returned from the Med. Deployment, I was transferred to Norfolk, VA to Commander-in-Chief US Atlantic Fleet HQ. It is a short distance off of the Norfolk Naval Base in it's own smaller base. That is also where the Navy has it's own, all Navy staffed Printing Plant. I came to it as a Third Class Lithographer Petty Officer.  While there I decided to go to night school at Old Dominion College and start working on a college degree. There was a personnel office on base so one day decided to see about the Tuition Aid program. THAT is where I found my future wife.  She helped me to navigate the maze of paperwork to get my request submitted.  She did a wonderful job, too good of a job, because after several weeks (it seemed like days) I asked her to marry me, and she said yes! Actually, what I said was "If I asked you to marry me, what would you say?"  After some thoughtful time she responded this something like this: "If you were to ask me to marry you, I would probably say yes."  So now after 49 years, and neither of us have either asked nor answered "the" question.  Just before this happened I had another band ramping up for a square dancing gig.  That was our last job as a band, as my focus was changed forever (as the vows say) I have never been happier.  We made some very nice Navy friends and because I had been advanced to 2nd Class Lithographer, I qualified for Navy Housing. 


After my return the guys had moved on to their careers.  When we returned to Minneapolis our traveling days were over for a while, as I returned to work with my Dad at the printshop.  My brothers, Guy and Greg and a friend of the family Mike, decided to get a group together with Tom (who was still hanging around Minneapolis...even to this day) and a female singer.  That was a fun time.  We now had a drummer, female voice, a bass guitarist, and three guitarist. I did some of the singing, and we all had fun.  Got a few gigs, and enjoyed making music...which at this time was more on the popular side, nothing radical. So that is one more band to "hang my hat" on.

So we will leave at this point and will take up from here in my next "issue".  

I hope you enjoyed reading about how music has been a part of my life since I was a young teenager. The music continues everywhere I go.

The Point of this story is:  Follow your dreams.  It may not be what you make your living at, but it will manifest itself in your lifestyle to enhance the quality of your life. 

So Keep on smiling, keep on laughing, and keep on singing.

Blessings,
Gary

Values, Freedom, Family, Choices

I was reading an email a very good friend of mine sent me today.  It was about the up coming election and the immense affect it had on our county's future.  The next President of the United States will most likely be choosing the Supreme Court Justices do to retirements, or death, as there are FIVE vacancies that will likely come up over the next 4-8 years! That would affect the Highest Court in the United States to be skewed in the ideology of this next Presidential election.  That is pretty scary when considering we are a conservative family and naturally associate primarily with like minded people.  That got me thinking about my childhood (again...don't we all at times?) and how I grew up with this outlook on values, standards, goals, etc.

In our family when I was young, we lived in Minneapolis/St. Paul area.  I grew up with both sets of Grandparents and were very close to both of them.  My first memories were when Mom, Dad, Suzanne (my older sister of 2 yrs.) and I lived in a 28', canvas roofed trailer in Dad's folks back yard. No bathroom in the trailer, so we went into the house for that. I remember going to Hiawatha Grade School until the end of third grade (I think) at which time we moved out to the northern suburbs of St. Paul. That was a good time to be little and growing up.  Our community was a new housing development called Circle Pines.  We were bused into the next town a couple miles away, called Lexington, where the grade school was. If I missed the bus (which I did a couple times), I ran to school through "the woods" (scary times for a little kid, but exciting too!) and got to school on time anyway.  Don't remember Mom ever finding out about it, but it wouldn't surprise me if she did and not talk about it. After World War II, Dad came home and went to Dunwoody Trade School and learned the printing trade. With the help of his Dad, they started a small print shop in South Minneapolis where he worked until he passed away at the age of 65yr. We will continue this part after I fill in the rest of the family.  My sister Suzanne and I always looked forward to spending time with our Grandparents for a weekend here, and a weekend there, during the summer. So I became very close with both Grandma and Grandpa Saffell and Grandma and Grandpa Rockart.  We took turns with our visits and each time was a special time.  I remember Grandma Saffell's silver dollar pancakes.  Mouth watering and a true culinary treat!  Too bad the recipe was lost. They taught me a lot about respect, having a sense of humor, how to treat others, and the value of family.  Not necessarily by teaching, but by observation and listening how they spoke to others, treated others.  A lot can be taught without "teaching", it you can understand.  We are teaching those around us all the time by how we ACT.  That's the "what" and "how" I learned from my grandparents as well as my Mom and Dad.  I cannot remember a time when my Dad raised his voice to me...not that I never deserved it, but how I learned was from his face.  Disappointment.  THAT is how I got quickly straightened out.  Never, never, never get that "disappointed" look. That was enough to get me back in line, for sure.  So I was blessed to have my grandparents to go to, usually during the summer when my sister and I would make the Grandma and Grandpa stay overs.  Everything was great in my life
until I was around 10 when we lost my Grandma Saffell in a car accident. That was in 1956.  The next to go was Grandpa Saffell in the early '60's.  He had retired early at 63 so he could fulfill his dreams, but was cut short with a heart attack.  While they were alive, they were a big part of my life as we were FAMILY.  They helped shape my thoughts and reasoning capabilities, as well as my values.  My Mom’s parents were both with us until I was in Viet Nam when Grandpa died (65years old).  BUT, while he was still alive I spent lots of time at his house where he taught me things like woodworking. He helped me build a old West fort by cutting 1x2’s into smaller pieces and making   the forts sides with eye hooks on each end so I could disassemble it and store it flat.  Pretty nifty since it was a school project.  It had a working swinging gate, ladders to get to the walkways to defend against indian attacks and stuff for the inside. He taught me a lot about life too.  I remember his telling me once "When you apply for a job and they ask if you can do 'such and such', tell them YES, then learn it."  He was an immigrant who came over from Europe and became a part of the American Dream.  His brother was one of the architects the designed the Minnesota State Capital.  Grandpa went into the Engineering profession and as I understand it, was a large part of designing the heating systems for the Minneapolis School District.  Grandpa was a LARGE influence on my understanding about responsibility and education.  Grandma Rockart was such a blessing also.  I remember once they had me overnight and took me to a restaurant in St. Paul that had an "all you can eat" Chicken dinner special.  Bless their hearts.  She told me that They wanted to see how much fried chicken I could eat.  We were there for quite a while.  For a small, skinny kid, I ate like there was no tomorrow!
In our house, we were fed well, but there were not a lot of leftovers. If there were any my Dad had first "dibs" then Mom, then Suzanne, then to me.  After my brothers were born the progression went do to them, in order.  We were never starving, but we treasured the rare treat moments we had.  Those were teaching times as well, that stuck with us.  We valued our family members and after Grandpa Rockart passed, and Grandma got to the age and infirmity that she couldn't live in her home, my folks helped her transition to their house, where she could be taken care of and watched over. Grandma ended up dying at 86 years old.  She got to see our children and they loved it when she would come over and stay with us when Mom and Dad would take a weekend break and head up north for their “get-away”. ha ha  My kids loved having her stay over, as well as seeing her at other family picnics, etc.

All of this is to say, us kids learned values of living.  We understood that we were blessed to be living in the United States of America because we learned that in History class in school.  We learned to respect our elders because our family taught us that, and we understood.  We understood that when one member of our family was in crisis, we came together and helped however we could.  We understood there was strength in having a family. 

I think America, on a large part, has forgotten our VALUES.  They have lost their RESPECT of both others AND themselves. America has lost GOD, in a massive way.  Why?  Because we, as Americans have FAILED to teach our children the things most important to ourselves, our communities, and our COUNTRY.  We have failed to accept our responsibilities to our children to teach them that life is not about ME, it is about US.  Us as that neighborhood, community, county, state, and NATION.  Without the basic knowledge of VALUES, TRUTH, RESPECT, FAMILY and most importantly GOD, we have FAILED.  And we will not be able to regain what we have lost without the help of GOD.   It is through God, it is Because of God, that this country exists.  It is because of the FACT that we are God's creation and that because of our founding Father's FAITH, is why we are what we used to be.  That's sad isn't it?  "what we used to be"  It is not too late.  We still have a chance.  All we have to do is forget about our selfishness. Forget about your HATE of others.  Step back and take a hard look at your life.  How many folks have you helped?  Have you considered doing someone a favor without thinking of a reward?  Have you smiled at anyone lately....just because.  There is so much we can do still that needs to be done to get our country back on track.  I think it hinges on FAMILY.  I know I am proud of my family.  I am proud that I knew and experienced my grandparents and value their efforts to guide me to the person I am today.  Did I ever fail?  Yes, but with what they gave me, I was able to move forward and try again.  In my wildest dreams, I never imagined the wonderful life I have today.  The many wonderful experiences I have had.  The places I have seen.  The occupations that I learned...and was actually good at!  What a wonderful journey.  If wishes were fishes we would all have enough to eat.  That saying goes a long way in the way you live. In the choices you make.  I the upcoming election, your vote matters to the life or death of our great country.  Did you know that Communism does NOT work?  That Socialism is a FAILURE!  Do you want to have the opportunity to do the things you have been dreaming about?  Most likely, that won't happen unless we can maintain our FREEDOMs.  That is the FREEDOM of thought, FREEDOM of speech, FREEDOM of choosing.  FREEDOM of earning as much money as you want instead of having to give 70-90% to a government that will "tell you what to do, what you can eat, what you can say, where you can live, where you can . . . . and the list of lack of freedoms goes on and on.    Learn what VALUES are.  Learn what RESPECT truly is.  Learn what COMPASSION is.  Most importantly, get to know who GOD is.  Ask, and you shall be given that very important information.

Its a Sad, Sad Day

My dear friends, and readers,

After seeing an article from Minnesota, the State where I grew up, I got to thinking about it and the more I thought, the more I needed to speak up about our Country’s immigration challenges.  The story was about the Somali communities (enclaves perhaps is a better term).  Seems that the new resident’s in our culture of kindness, openness, and generosity, is coming under attack.  The part that got to me what how the recipients of our kindness and genrosithy in trying to help them better, are starting to become ungraiteful and are becoming DEMANDING of the “system” to provide them FREE FOOD that corresponds with their customs!  To the point of almost rioting (the way I interpreted the article).  There was also mention of Somali Taxi Cab drivers refusing to allow seeing eye AND other service dogs to be taken in their taxis. The article went on to discribe more challenges that Minnesota is having to deal with their new residents.  I remember my Grandparents teaching us and the school system teaching us through AMERICAN HISTORY class of the folks from Europe and other places, arriving in NewYourk City, being inprocessed into the greatest country in the world!  How greatful they were and how they got jobs, and melted into our society, assimilating into their new home, learning the customs and traditions of the new culture they had prayerd for.  With all the trouble in the news about our newest residents acting up and out, sneaking in around the system that had been in place for over 200 years, ignoring the customs and traditions of their (however illegal they got here) is an atrocity to those that came before them, and became great employees, great business men and women, eventual teachers and respected leaders in their chosen communities.  But what is happening now is increasing in occurance and volumn!   This has GOT to stop!   It is time that ALL US Citizens rebel against the Somali and all Muslim invaders and get them out of the country….back to where they came from.  America welcomes ALL who desire to live here . . . BUT must become one with us according to our laws, cultures, and customs.  If the poor dears can’t do that and also can’t provide for themselves without welfare payments (which is a form of ransome in this case) then they HAVE TO GO somewhere else.  Because of all this crap about them needing this and needing that and demand that we change our culture to theirs and they have the audacity to expect us — the ones who are providing them food, clothing, a roof over their head for FREE, to give them more?  I think not.  Especially since we have American Veterans not able to get decent housing, food. medical assistance and even a job because of their physical or mental challenges, there is NO REASON WHATSOEVER to do anything more (other than kick their butts out of our country) for these leeches to our society.  They show no desire to become an AMERICAN.  They show no desire to blend in with the neighborhood.  They only show scorn, disrespect, and evilness to those that they live around.  I got really irritated reading the reason they demanded youth centers to occupy their “gangs” so they wouldn’t get in trouble.  How about sending them to grade school, or Jr. High so they can get an education.  Oh, that’s right.  We don’t teach camel riding, or goat herding.  Send them to an English class, or a trade class so they can earn a living like all US Citizens do to support themselves.  Whatever is done next HAS to be to kick them all back to the sand dunes and caves they came from.

Can you tell I am IRRITATED by the situation?  Really sad is that this is just one of the place these slime balls are gathering.  We need to, we HAVE to . . . remove them from our shores.  All that are not employable, or refuse to assimilate to our culture.  That means employment wise, self supporting, obeying our laws, no areas of restricted access from neighbors or law enforcement, no Sharia law accepted, and the list goes on.  In other words become United States Americans and give up their former country’s customs that are not compatible with ours. If they have a job as a cab driver and a passenger with a seeing eye or service dog needs a ride, and that offends the Muslim driver, then he is fired and deported!  Right on the spot.

What has been happening in Dearborn Michigan over the past quite a few years with the enclave of Muslims there is an indication of what our country will become if enough are allowed to be in our population.  When the percentages are sufficient, they will be the voting majority and our culture, our country, our right to Worship, will be no longer.  We cannot allow that to happen. Yes, it is very scary, maddening, and tremendously sad.  If we allow this to continue there will be no United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave.  It will become a cesspool like the crappy places that they came from.  They are demented, sadistic, repulsive, and most importantly UNGODLY.

We were founded on the principle of FREEDOM.  Free speech, free to worship, free to speak your mind, write your thoughts.  Free to choose your vocation, free to go to college and pay your way…through scholarships, working your way through, etc., support your family financially within your means to provide a roof over you and your family’s head and food on your table, help the poor, shop the stores where you choose, raise a family (and support it yourself).  The majority of the process is financed through your endeavors, but in down times it is understood there is assistance available to you the tax payer to assist you and your family through the tough time, until you are able to be employed once again. Nowhere should the government be expected to be your survival ace in the hole because you are lazy, but there to help you through the tough time in short duration.  Welfare is not a job description.

Perhaps I am an idealist. I cannot remember a time where I was unemployed and didn’t have the financial support of my family to help me through. When we moved out to Vegas from Minneapolis, I was out of work for six weeks.  We were living with Pat’s folks, but we contributed to the food source, and I was at the employment office every week day only because the office was closed on Saturday and Sunday.  I applied for a janitor job, a car rental van driver, and a bunch of other places that  I felt I could do.  It didn’t matter what it was, if I was earning a living, I was fulfilling my obligation and could hold my head up high.  I ended up getting a job from a transportation contractor who just got the contract for a new “trolley bus” system in Downtown Las Vegas, that led to being employed by CLV when they stopped the contract and took over the bus thing.  After a while an opening came up in the CLV Printshop…of course I got it and that’s where I retired from after 18 years, at the age of 60.  That was nine years ago!  That six weeks was the longest I was ever unemployed.  Which was caused by my moving to Vegas.  So I have a strong background of providing for my family and take that seriously.  For the life of me, I can’t understand why there are people that refuse to take responsibility for themselves and those they are married to to provide a home, food, and a way to get around, even if it is a bus. 

The United States of America was founded on those freedoms.  People have fought and some have died to defend those freedoms. We have welcomed millions of people through the years to our shores to take advantage of our freedoms.  Sadly to say, there are invaders among us that are planning to undo what over 200 years millions of men and women have provided blood, sweat, and tears to build it into the greatest Country the world has ever known.  Today what I see is the eroding of all that effort because of uneducated, uninformed, selfish, ignorant, uncaring, uninformed  people that are not paying attention to the danger that is about to come tumbling down around our shoulders. My grandfathers, father, uncles have all helped build what we have today.  They raised us to respect, to get educated in whatever we liked, not necessarily a college degree, but a trade….whatever would make us a part of the building, not a part of the tearing down.  They raised us to understand how great America is, as a leader in innovation, medical research, electronics, etc.  We were the leaders of the earth.  We helped (and still do) other countries in need, from disasters, both natural and man made.  We, as a country had earned the respect of all peaceful nations and even our enemies, because we were benevolent as well as strong to be an influence in affecting peace.  We are losing ground and that is not good.  I shed tears for the country that was once great.  Where its people were proud. Where its people were loving and respectable.  Where its people were giving, sharing citizens.  Where neighborhoods had children playing in the parks, women pushing strollers along the sidewalks and men walking in opposite direction tipping their hat to the lady with a “Good day miss.”  When you could go to the movies and not worry about a crazed gunman ruining your evening with your loved one.  Or going to a high school football game and watching the coach and his team gather at the 50 yard line and say a prayer before or after the game, and no one was offended.  I miss the America where people treated each other with respect and honor.  No crude and foul language spoken.  Where you didn’t have to worry about your children seeing inappropriate things on the computer, magazines, or TV.  There were barriers that were in place to prevent those things from our children.  Where they could go to school and not be afraid of bullies, having to endure classroom fights, abusive language from other kids and nothing being done about it.  Fear of physical abuse is a common fear today.

I miss the days of Jimmy Stewart, Debbie Reynolds movies.  I can remember the first time Color TV’s were on the market.  What an awesome invention.  There were a lot of advancements in communication, kitchen appliances, electrical products, and now with all the electronic devices, it is a sure sign that AMERICA is indeed a leader in the world…..but it is degrading as I write.  It is time to stop this nonsense of “being offended” . . . of not being willing to become a WHOLE AMERICAN and enjoy the freedoms that we have been given by others.  Come to America . . . assimilate into our culture . . . enjoy the abilities you have as an AMERICAN.  Be self sufficient.  Remember your heritage but become an AMERICAN, and be a productive member of society that honors different traditions, different cultures.  But as AMERICANS…  United States Citizens, we may do things a little different here.  We allow our citizens to WORSHIP if they wish to.  We even allow them NOT to WORSHIP if they wish to.  But, we do not insist or demand others to change their life style (or Spiritual styles) as it appears radical Islam dictates.  THAT Is not allowed.  We as a country have designed and developed our culture that requires laws that are followed by our population.  Our Laws protect our citizens from harm.  Our Laws protect our citizens from enslavement.  Our Laws also allow our citizens to get along with each other in love and peace, without the threat of violence, or seclusiveness such as excluding law enforcement or the ability of protection.  We are a country of many cultures. A melting pot if you wish.  Within our laws, as I understand them, is the overall purpose to protect our citizens.  Our country has been going along fine for over 200 years. Although not without some challenges, and it seems we are still working on some lingering challenges because of some individuals that insist on stirring the racial pot.  But we will get through these issues as well. 

Our history is pretty colorful and rich in heritage of many cultures.  But the part that seems to come out on top ALL the time is this:  FREEDOM

Along with freedom comes responsibilities. Do no harm to others is what I consider at the top of that list.  If we as AMERICAN citizens can keep that in mind when dealing with our citizens (which I think we have mostly done) we will continue to thrive.  IF through selfishness, laziness, weakness, stupidity, or lack of caring, we FAIL to be a loving, caring, people that have let down all those that have gone before us. It was those that were here before us that have built this nation to the greatness it has become.  Reign in the selfishness, become aware of your surroundings, forget about being “offended” at everything. Learn American History.  See about brushing up on what it takes to be a naturalized citizen.  Those folks study hard, and I would be willing to bet, they know more about our history than you do.  Exactly what does the Constitution say?  What are the Amendments…or for that matter, WHAT are amendments?  Most kids that went to school, at least those of my age or my children’s age, had to learn that kind of thing.  What about our War of Independence.  From whom were we at war with, and did we win that war?  How about more understanding more of our American History?  Naturalized Citizens can tell you about that time period as well.  Who was the first person in SPACE and from what country?  Who won the Second World War?  Who lost?  I wonder how many invaders even care? It’s a very sad day.

Enough said for now,

So Keep smiling, keep laughing, keep singing,

Blessings,

Gary

Common Sense . . . a lost trait

Today is the day that I have chosen to get some "stuff" off my chest. It has been getting worse and worse and more intense and I need to share my thoughts before I implode! I am thinking that I am not the only person in our Great Country of the United States of America that has these thoughts.  If I am, then we are in more trouble than even I realize.

It has been creeping up on us a little bit at a time, similar to a pot of frogs in water, with the water very slowly getting the temperature gently increased until it is too late to do anything about and they are all cooked!

Recently several things have come to my attention and I am starting to realize that we are getting the heat turned up and very few if any are feeling it!  I am referring to our rights that have been guaranteed by our Constitution.  For example, just recently a federal judge Carlton Reeves, had ordered the marching band of Brandon High School in Mississippi to remove the old standard hymn "How Great Thou Art from its half-time show.  Much to everyone's surprise, the spectators started singing it a cappella and everyone enjoyed it.

We have become a nation without a national pride focus.  We used to have it, but now, because of very poor leadership (using that term very loosely) in both the federal and state government, we have become a nation of whiners!  We have become a nation that looks for the Federal Government to support us.  Instead, the government has decided to take over the planning our OWN lives by mandating what will be taught in the school systems (I'll get to that in a minute).  We have a very large number that are not raising a family that is self supporting, We have a Federal government now that is out of control of it's ability to monitor the uncountable number of programs that were originally designed to help those that are absolutely incapable of taking care of themselves through mental or physical challenges.  That is NOT supposed to be a federal function.  They are NOT authorized (except for their own self rules) to be doing that.  Remember the title of our Country?  There is that word STATES in it.  It is the Individual States responsibility to provide (if voted on by the people) to provide the assistance that the People of the particular State decide. Our education system has run amok!  There are many challenges that have developed in educating our children on who we as a country are, how we were founded, who we are, what our value system is, how to get along with each other, how to develop PRIDE in our selves, and the list goes on.  But it is craziness that has filtered down by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT to teach a certain way, certain subjects, etc. that is not right.  For example:  Common Core.  I know of no parent that likes it.  I have not heard a positive comment on Common Core subjects from NO ONE except a handful of politicians.  When we allow the government to take the responsibility of education away from the lowest level of education, and are able to force stupidity, irresponsibility, and foolishness to be "taught" to our children, our children are on the loosing end of the stick!  They are not learning our history as a country.  They are not learning how to get along with others, because it is being forced on them to accept values that are not of our heritage.  They are not of Christian values that are at the center of what our Great Country has been built upon!  It is a value system that protects each other from harmful physical and mental abuse. I am reading of more and more instances of people being tormented by others in our schools from both fellow students AND management, professors, that are demanding, yes demanding  that the students think like the instructor, and agree with the instructor or are ridiculed and are failed in the class. I am referring to higher education and the far liberal leaning instructors, we have all seen instances on the news, of the harassment of students who's value system will not allow them to conform to outrageous subjects/assignments.

Our education system broken, except for the many instructors that are trying to keep the standard high and the students well trained in the basics of self thinking, high community values, how to treat each other, how to be self supporting, i.e. learning a skill and supporting subjects that will allow the student to eventually support him/her self. We need to support their efforts with the proper funds to buy books (each student gets a book per subject) no more sharing one book per classroom! This is my biggest challenge right now.  I found out that kids in Jr. High School do not have the proper books to do their studies with!  IF you can't take "the" (one and only book in the class room) home to do homework, what kind of quality is the instruction!  Horrible is a word that comes to mind.  Common core is bugging most of the teachers (whom a lot of them can't understand it either). With a long and not understandable style of maneuvering to get the right answers which defies all common sense reasoning and the answer is so easy to chart out the "old" way, why insist on the New Way?  I'll tell you.  Because somewhere, someone of "influence" and power is getting a fat wallet/bank account for approving it!  

Enough for now.  If you can come up with any logical answers and a path to regain sanity, we can talk about it and see if there are any honest government officials left that can make it happen.

Cheers,
Gary

Mother's Day and what she taught me

Happy Mother's Day everyone.

Got to talking on the way home from Dinner at the Majestic today and wife Pat and I got to discussing our upbringing values that we learned and were taught mostly by "Mom".

Self respect was a big one and we have talked about before. Depend on others to a minimum and exercise your abilities to the maximum.  Being brought up in a home where Mom ruled the roost, and was our major instructor on day to day issues and the difference between right and wrong.  For instance: Don't use bad words, it only irritates those you are trying to communicate with.  Be nice to others because that is how you want to be treated.  Do what you are supposed to be doing, and do what you say you are going to do, and when it is done, make sure you clean up your mess.  Here's a great one that most young people are probably not even aware of.  When walking with a girl, the guy walks on the street side of the girl.  If books or bags are in the mix, the boy offers to carry them for her.  I had thought that most Mom's taught those things to us kids.  I have told the story of the girl that lived on the block behind our house and every school day she would pass along the street toward school.  I got where I timed myself to join up with her and walk to school with her the rest of the way.  When school was out, we would meet up and I would walk her back to where I lived and she continued to her home.  It was one of those "shy and awkward" stages, but I enjoyed her company and our daily visit.  One day when I got home and up to my room, there was a note on my dresser.  It said something like this: "When a gentleman is walking with a lady, he walks on the street side of her."  Point well taken, now that I knew that, so from then on, I walked on the street side of her in our walks to and from school.

Along with Mom, there was Dad teaching me "fact of life stuff" on how people should be treated, how we as children are responsible for our actions and how to think ahead to when school is completed and how we prepare for living and sustaining ourselves in society.  I think I was probably 16 when I got my first outside of the family job as a bag boy at Houston's SuperValu store on 42nd Ave and (I think it was) 39th Street in South Minneapolis.  I rode my bicycle to work on Saturdays.  I only worked on Saturdays.  Primarily, I carried the groceries out to the customers car.  Don't remember anything about tips so think I wasn't to accept them. It was usually a long day, but I survived.  I had a JOB!  $8.00 a day minus tax.  I felt I was in hog heaven.  This was around 1962 or 3.  I had a JOB....me....untrained.....kid......cleared less than that after withholding tax and all.  But I was on my way to the innards of "The Workforce".....ta da  I also worked for my Dad in his printing business.  I learned discipline also.  Looking back on my life, I see it didn't really matter what it was I was doing as far as a job goes, I just did it because it provided me with spending money, and later in life a means to support my wife and family.

How did that happen?  I felt I wasn't a College person, because I had a hard time with Mathematics, and didn't think my success rate would soar if I decided to go that route.  My Dad had told me stories of his life in the Navy during WWII and the places he was able to see because of his profession.  He was a Navy Quartermaster which is the guys that shoot the stars, keeping track of navigation and doing those Navy things we were seeing in the movies.  It sounded like something I would enjoy, so Dad signed permission for me when I turned 17 and I became a US Navy Reservist YAY!  It was a great start and even our very short BOOT CAMP was interesting.  That was between my Jr. and Sr. year at Vocational H.S. and Technical School.  Of course I was in the Printing Classes and things were good. After finishing up High School with a emphasis in Graphic Arts (we called it PRINTING in those days), I went off to Active Naval Duty.  Spent a couple years on an Air Craft Carrier and a shore duty slot working in my trade, and got promoted eventually to 2nd Class Petty Officer as a Lithographer.   Along the way, I had fallen in love and married the lady I am still married to.  That was 48 years ago.  So now that I had responsibilities, I decided that my Navy Reserve Unit looked pretty good back home while I worked (civilian wise) for my Dad at his print shop.  During this time, I decided two jobs weren't enough so hired on with a security outfit, driving a car from place to place and punching a clock letting the the customer know someone was there checking on their business.  As things would have it, I decided to move to Las Vegas Nevada close to where my wife had grown up.  So leaving Minneapolis and heading to the desert was a new and exciting time in our lives.  I started working in a print shop within the first week that we got there.  That lasted a short time before a Printers Union issue cropped up and all of a sudden I was out of a job.  Since I had already affiliated with a Navy reserve Unit, I went to them to see what was available back on Active Duty.  Nothing at that time, since now I was a 1st Class Petty Officer (E6) and it always gets tighter as you progress toward the top.  I went to a local print shop that was advertising an opening, and interviewed.  I was hired on the spot and started working the next day.  Sadly it paid $2 less an hour that I was getting from the "other" shop, but it was still putting food on the table and a roof over our heard.  Luckily, a few weeks later, that Navy called telling me an opening became available and I needed to get it while it was.

We sold our house and off we went to San Diego California.  Spent two tours of Viet Nam via Yankee Station as I was the Print Shop Supervisor on the USS Bon Homme Richard CVA31.  During the second cruise I had decided not to re-enlist but to come home and continue civilian life as a Naval Reservist as a secondary occupation.  Returning to Minneapolis, I restarted at my Dad's shop.  Along the way, I was offered to manage an Aquarium store in a northern suburb of Minneapolis.  Pat and I accepted the offer and started yet another job skill.  New the hobby of Aquarium Keeping, it was exciting to be both a hobbies, store manager, and employer as we had two part timers helping off and on.  Pat took care of the paperwork and hard goods, I took care of the customers and the fish.  We had no rodents, snakes or other pets....pure aquariums, equipment and fish.

While all this was going on, I had to leave the Navy as a Lithographer Chief Petty Officer, because of a manpower drawdown, so went over to the ARMY and started a new career as a Personnel Sgt.  I started liking the Army Reserve and it was exciting to learn a new career field.  I eventually ended up in the Personnel Section of HQ, 88th USARCOM which is a major command lead by a Major General.  There were several different opportunities made available to me while there.  My main responsibility was looking after the Officer Annual Evaluation Reports.  Through nothing wrong that I did, a computer programmer was assigned shortly after we took over a brand new facility with a new computer system, etc.  We brought the delinquency rate down from 22% to 2% in several months, because of our new developed tracking system.  I was asked by the HQ First Sergeant if I would take on an additional task as Training NCO for our enlisted personnel.  Always willing to take on more, I accepted.  What a joy that was to have an open book to design common task training for the enlisted soldiers which up that point was being very poorly attended and most hidden event of the drill weekend.  After assigning instructors and training them during the month, it became the most fun thing the soldiers got to do!  Camouflage was a real winner when we  took them out into a neighboring "wild growth" area to hide themselves with straw grass and twigs, etc.  The morale soured sky high. I could go on and on with this one, but won't.

After the owners of the Aquarium store sold it, we were off on another adventure.  There was a shoe store in the shopping center the Aquarium store was in.  I went down there and asked if he had any positions open.  He said he had an Asst. Manager spot open in one of his FIVE stores.  I took it.  Not knowing how to sell shoes, but through observation, and in spite of the manager trying to keep me in the back room from showing him and his wife off in sales, the six months I was there (1/2 month at the beginning  and 1/2 month with five full months in between), I was the top salesman in his whole five store chain.  Unfortunately I wasn't making enough money to pay our bills.  Owner John knew he lost a terrific resource but I needed to move on.

I learned that the Mass Transit Bus Company (MTC) was looking to hire bus drivers, so applied for a driver position.  Got the job, lasted there 12 years, enjoying it to the max.  Loved the people (except once) and loved the town.   The once was my last night on the worst line of the system, which went through a very rough and dangerous part of St. Paul.  Short Story:  I was out of work for a month healing because six or seven punks didn't like me telling them they couldn't smoke on the bus.  Well, it upset my stomach!  Had a major readjustment to my wire rimmed glasses to my new and puffy face the next day.

We moved again to Nevada and after about six weeks of daily visits to the Employment office, I got hired on with a contract company who provided a trolley looking mini bus to drive a circuit around downtown Vegas.  This was before the canopy came up and Fremont Street was closed to vehicular traffic.  That was a fun job and I was able to work my way rapidly into one of the two Sr. Operator slots.  After a while the trolly busses were integrated into the City itself.  At that time I applied and was given a spot to continue with the trollies.  Soon after that, a position opened in the Graphic Department of the City of Las Vegas so I applied for that.  Getting hired was the best thing that happened to me!  I started as a Bindery Worker, doing paper cutting, machine folding, padding, and a bunch of other processes.  It wasn't very long though and the Army Reserve Unit I belonged to  was called to Active Duty because of Desert Storm.

I had become the Section First Sergeant (the rest of the unit was in Southern California...Ventura area)  Lots of stories to be told here, but the short is that all my Doctors, Nurses and Medical Techs were activated.  The non-medical soldiers were left home.  The month my soldiers were returning, one of the Finance NCO's and myself received orders to Daharan, Saudi Arabia.  Being assigned to the Communication Staff (G6) of LTG Pagonis was exciting as I, again, was working outside my specialty.  I was technically the Message Center Supervisor, but spent most of my time in the Logistical Operations Center (LOC).  Patriot Missile system are dependent on Satellite communication. That fell under our prevue.  One night the system went down.  I was told to call the States and let them know.  After a frazzled conversation with a Major on the stateside end, he finally understood what the challenge was, although he was having a challenge between the messenger (me) and the reason for the message!  Since we both survived that phone call, I am guessing it turned out ok.  One other major event that involved me and the chain of command was when I was tasked with getting a young Private packed and ready for the flight home in the morning.  It involved retrieving her from the "Culture" center (Muslim indoctrination tent outside US part of the air base) and getting her prepared for her morning flight home.  One of the local's took offense of my getting my soldier back under our protective arm and chose to try to distract me from my mission.  After making sure she was in my vehicle with a female NCO, I had to almost forcibly extract myself from his verbal harassment.  Another Short version:  Next morning at the General's briefing, my name was brought up in a derogatory manner.  Seems the Saudi and our Chaplain, were friends.  My Col. spoke up and said I was following His orders.  General approved and the meeting went on.  She made the flight in the morning to the States, and I am assuming is home safe.

When I returned home after 8 month tour, I was transferred to an Army Reserve School in Bell, CA. I was also informed I had been promoted four months earlier!  Now an Army Master Sergeant I was a very happy soldier.  Being assigned to an Army School, provided another chance at a new part of Army knowledge.  Ends up, after a training period, I am a qualified Army Instructor which brings with it a Designator "H".   But when I returned home I returned with some physical challenges that were taken care of with VA's help, and my personal civilian doctor's advice.  It was about a year after that I decided it was time for me to retire from the service as I had 30 + total years and had done so much more than I could have imagined.

It was also time that I had reached 60 years old and was qualified to retire from the City of Las Vegas of which I was having a blast working with.  The City had created a new position called Graphic Services Tech. and I applied, beat out over 100 other applicants and got the job.  I was the interlink between the Division Chiefs, the City Council and the Mayor to insure they got the best price for their projects and printing needs.   I got so much enjoyment and satisfaction being able to help these folks with their projects.  My last day with the City was a very humbling day.  My wife said there were over 200 people who came to see me and wish me well in retirement.  It was indeed a great job, and I still look back on all the friends I had acquired while serving the City.

The point to this HISTORY of Gary lesson is this:  I am just a regular guy....with a Mom that loved me so much she made sure I knew the rules of civility and how to treat people.  I have only a Trade School diploma, and some Military School completions.  I was never one to say: "I can't do that".   Skydiving....maybe.  On counting what I have done in the areas of Jobs, I figure I have 16 different and distinct job skill areas that I have accomplished because I did not say: "I can't do that".  I went ahead and figured it out and got it done.  As far as surviving and raising a family, taking care of others, etc., there was never an issue of providing a home, clothes and food for those that I am/was responsible for.  Even when I was "let go", I sought out a job, nailed it and continued to march.  I can't remember taking a welfare check, although when we had special needs children under our wing for about 9 years, there was a stipend and when that went away, we realized how much of our own finances were going into the system.  That was ok....we didn't do that for gain....we did it because children need a safe and comforting environment to live, develop and flourish in the best we can do.  I have been blessed with a fantastic wife and children that have been our base team, whether they realized it at the time or not.  There was always food on the table, light in each room, heat in the winter and cool in the summer and clothes on their backs.  Not realizing it at the time, and not regretting it now, I spent a lot of time away from my home, earning a living, building several careers, and quite honestly, having fun doing it.  But it was with the focus on providing for my family, not relying on a system like we have today that there are so many that are doing bad things to cheat the system of the "INTENT" of the assistance.  They are cheating the system when they are not honest about their predicament. Drugs, lavish food...like that surfer dude we see on TV with the fancy expensive meat.  The system "may" allow that, but reason and common sense shows that as CHEATING.  We need a major....ground up....overhaul of the system which includes the clerks that are taking a paycheck and allowing abuse to happen right in front of them.  We need to help the children that need the help, and cut out the parents that are using the money for drugs and other "non-children" items.  We need to overhaul the rules.  Abuse of the intent/purpose of the "card" and they loose the use of the card.  Failure to show up for a job interview, they loose their "card".  Buying "luxury items", they loose the "card".  I have experienced families on welfare, living with Grandma or Mom, with their three or four children, still doing drugs, not contributing to neither the food in the house or the rent to live there.  Grandma is stressed, but it doesn't matter...to them.  The kids are in so much danger of continuing the cycle their (hate to use the term) "parents" are on.

So you see where I am going with this issue.  We HAVE to straighten this problem out!  Our educational system has gone to hell in a hand basket. Our welfare system has become a worse problem than when it was started.  Our Nation is on a downward spiral that is suspect of not being able to correct itself.  There is really only one thing that can get us back to the Greatest Country in the World in all time....the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, that is get GOD back into our lives.  That means throw out all this racist talk...which it isn't.  That means allow Christians and Christian values to be expressed freely...again.  As Christians, we do NOT force our beliefs on anyone.  We share our beliefs and if you choose, you can accept or reject the offer.  Nobody is forcing anything.  We are not crazy or insane people.  All we are doing is what Jesus Christ has commissioned us to do:  Make disciples for Jesus Christ.  We are tasked to share Jesus with whoever will listen.  There is no threat of death, decapitation, fiery confinement, or whatever else is happening according to the news feeds of today.  If someone is afraid of what followers of Christ are saying, that is easily remedied by sharing our plain spoken, no hidden messages in the Book we use, that we feel is God Breathed, called the BIBLE.  It does take the word FAITH into account in order to understand. FAITH is the belief in something in complete trust or confidence in what the BIBLE says.  It is indeed a book of wonder, and for those that choose to elevate their belief quotient to accept the message, a peace that passes all understanding will change their lives from disbelief and distrust, into a life of better existence with each other until there is no more.  Showing you that everyone can have a peaceful life if they cut out the cheating, beating, self abuse, ugliness, hate, corruption, meanness, lying, and all those "can't do" attitudes, is something to grow toward.  Don't think it will be something done overnight, but a continual "work toward" to accomplish it IS possible.

If you need help, visit your local Christian church.  It doesn't matter what denomination it is, they are only paper labels anyway.  Find a church that preaches the Bible.  There are televangelists that love to sucker you in with those "Feel good" messages, with a lot a noise and shouting, so be careful.

Keep smiling, keep singing, keep laughing

God Bless,
Gary