Introduction

I went hiking a this week with my friend Rose Blossom.  She is a young mother, soldier and wife.  I enjoy time with her because she makes me laugh and we almost always talk about things that matter when we are hiking in the wilderness.  I have also gone out doing airsoft with her husband and enjoyed it very much.  I was usually the oldest guy on the field.  One young fellow asked me why I did it.  I answered, “I used to teach college.”  Without skipping a beat he said, “I understand.  This is your chance to get back.”

‘Getting back’ was not at all on my mind, but I liked it and left it there. 

Rose has a blog on this site where she posts her thoughts and joys and fears.  I thought about doing the same for a number of years.  I love to write and have placed some of my thoughts in the notes section of Facebook.  Unfortunately (I think), many can’t find my notes but they are the primary reason I signed up.

Placing my joys, and sorrows, fears in one place has been on my mind for a number of years.  Rose has convinced me to do it now.  What you will find here are many of my current thoughts.  You will also find some old thoughts when I just cannot find any current ones in my old brain.  I have a bunch of poetry and narratives in archive and will place three chapters of a story I’ve written called “Dreams” here shortly (I want to proof the first chapter this week and then I will post it).  I wrote a little piece on teaching children values earlier tonight and will post that after one proof (probably tomorrow).  So hopefully you will start to see things on this site this week.

About me, I just retired from government service.  I was a Mental Health Therapist at the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Lewis Washington serving injured and wounded soldiers. I saw war myself and didn’t like it.  I also served as an active duty chaplain and combat medic. I was the Director of the Fisher House Program at Fort Lewis for a couple years and a Medical Social Worker (most of that time working the ICU at Madigan Army Medical Center).  I taught Research with my good friend Nancy Raiha at the University of Washington and was a public school teacher for a few years before going into ministry.  I am married with one very patient wife and two adult children.  When most think of me these days, they think ‘old hippie.’  I am a religious conservative, social moderate and politically all over the place.  If you ask me who I am going to vote for this election season, I will compellingly argue that Curly from the ‘Three Stooges’ is the best candidate for the job.  I love to laugh, I’m not at all afraid to cry and am a bit of an introvert (crowds tire me quickly).  There are few people in this world that I do not like and can usually find good in most people (although with some I have to look mighty hard).

At any rate, I hope you enjoy these thoughts.  Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments about them.  Peace my friends.