Retirement: A New Adventure Awaits

I'm done with punching the clock. I'm done with being the "Sarge in charge." I want to explore this beautiful planet. I want to play my guitar more, and ride my bicycle more. I want to smile more, to laugh more, to love more. I want more.

We Say Goodbye

Students from Gardnerville, Nevada, 29 Palms, Caliornia, and Jacksonville, South Carolina travel to say goodbye to Richard. St. Gall's Catholic Church is standing room only as each heart says goodbye to our precious son, brother, grandson, nephew, friend. A young Priest from Norte Dame celebrates the Mass of Christian Burial. Richard's dad, Moe, struggles to read the words from the Book of Wisdom, searching for some solice, some understanding, some confort. Ricahrd's mother Connie is the strong one now, holding her husband up, as his voice breaks, and his sorrow wells up from deep inside. A good friend delivers the eulogy of a happy and beloved young man. Nothing make sense here, but the ritual is somehow healing. The snow began to gently fall upon us as his casket was placed in the hearse. An unending stream of headlights wind their way along the two lane route to the Carson City cemetary. We gather at the gravesite. A short ritual as we say our last farewell. Students pass by, single file, placing flowers on his casket. Like deer in headlights, no one gets it. No one wants to get it. We just want our RIchard.

Richard Died Today

He was just sixteen, or should I say all of sixteen. He was old enough to drive a car; old enough to stay at home alone; old enough to handle a gun. His curly light brown locks encircled his face like a warm furry cap. His grin was ear to ear most of the time, but tonight he lay still on the couch. What happened today? Yesterday? What happened? Did we love him enough? Did we love him too much? He loved video games, and football, swimming, his family, his brother Chris, and his dog Bailey. He was a helper. He was a gentleman. He met Ellen DeGeneres on his fourteenth birthday. He celebrated his birthday lunch at the original Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. His choice. He loved it. It was a good day. The winter seems so much colder now, so much colder. He was just sixteen.