I never tell my husband or anyone else who or what I voted for or against. We have the secret ballot for a reason, thus, while I am divorced, it is not because of my politics or voting record-it is because he found a woman 20 plus years younger-they each divorced their spouses (she the third husband) so they both married people with history of cheating. Sounds like a good solid basis for marriage! Best gift he ever gave me, though I did not think so at the time, and it took awhile to realize how fortunate I was for HIM to divorce ME-thus, according to most, I was not the bad guy. Other stuff went down, but hey, it ended well for me.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of an OPP icon from the recent past...PoppaGringo. I was notified by his daughter when she returned my call over concerns for him.

'Salty,' as I always addressed him, was as fine a gentleman as I have ever encountered. Though we differed in much (yet, not all) of our political leanings, we respected each other in countless ways. There is no doubt that much of that respect was due to our similar backgrounds in service to this great nation of ours. Salty, just as it is with BadBobby, will always be a hero of mine. Nothing could change that.

Salty served in Korea and I in Viet Nam...both as Marines. Having met on several occasions, we often shared our common experiences of having served in combat. However, he endured at least one hardship that I and others had the good fortune of avoiding: He was a survivor of being a POW for almost two years during the Korean conflict. That time served as a POW had a profound and lasting effect upon him to no small degree, and was accompanied by the pain of losing two sons to unsolved murders, plus a granddaughter to illness.

I honored and loved the man as one would a familial elder. Just as I called him 'Salty' as a term of endearment, in the same manner, he referred to me as 'Boot.' When I attended a Khe Sanh reunion in San Diego a few years ago, I took him with me to meet some fellow combatants from that infamous battle and war. He regaled them...although initially reluctantly...with 'sea stories' as only a Marine Vet of his experience and status could have. They all were so impressed with him, we decided to include him as an honorary member of our 'Nam unit.

Though I had feared this for a while, due to his obvious failing health, I type with silent tears rolling down my face. I had called him regularly and become somewhat alarmed when he did not answer the phone. I soon found it had been disconnected. That was attributed, in my mind, to the fact that he had recently moved from San Diego to Orlando, Florida to be with his eldest daughter, Rin, and her family.

I would ask that all who knew Salty from his past contributions on this forum...and those who may not, to honor him and his surviving Family & friends with thoughts, wishes and prayers for both theirs & our loss.

Micheal Yawn, aka 'OldGringo,' 'PoppaGringo,' and 'Salty' would have been 86 years old on January 1st. Again, goodbye ol' friend, may you Rest In Peace. As you epitomized a true proud & patriotic American, you will be sorely missed by all...

Forever, ol' friend, your Junior NCO...

'Boot'

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away,