Just a quick note...

As my first two blogs were fairly lengthy, I just wanted to write a quick note wishing everyone in my readership and their families a happy and healthy and prosperous New Year. In light of the recent tragedy in Tucson (which is 2 hours southeast of where I live) you get harsh reminders that life is precious and you need to live it, not just go through the motions... I have been blessed with circumstances that allow me to live here (much of the credit belongs to other people) and allow me to pursue the lifestyle of a crazed (I prefer "unique perspective") middle-aged man in the desert with an unfathomable (to some) addiction to the game of golf... (and as most or all of you know, this addiction pales in seriousness to my past addictions). Thanks to Mom and Dad for raising me to respect my elders (although I am fast becoming an "elder" myself) to respect other people and their property and to treat people the right way. Thanks to Dad for my sense of humor (off the wall as it is most times) which allows me to handle my security work and make it more fun. Thanks to my relatives and friends growing up, who rounded me into the individual that I am today (although maybe I should blame some people for the same reason...lol).

I watched the memorial service the other night in which President Obama spoke and the secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General of the United States also spoke and I was thrilled that two of them read scripture verses and all mentioned God in their speeches. In these crazy times where political correctness has gotten completely out of hand and God is removed from our schools and Christmas and most everything else, it was a great thing to hear the Word of God mentioned. It should not only be used to comfort in times of sorrow, it should be used in everyday life and spoken freely in our schools. I thank God for allowing me to live through my past, for giving me the strength to remain clean and sober all these years, for putting the right people in my path on this journey to the desert, for giving me the wisdom to do the right things, for making me able to work and excel at my job and especially for allowing me to live the life I choose. I thank him for accepting me even though I am flawed and sinful. I don't give him enough credit (too many times I accept credit for these things) and remaining humble is the most important thing to learn. Keep God in your thoughts and actions this New Year and the road will be a lot smoother.