John and Andrew

Andrew and 

08/08/2006 1835 hrs Atlanta Airport

John Will and dad 

Banner in the Subdivision

 

Strange, but true - L O O O N G Distance Call !

I was taking Will to see his Grandparents today. We were to meet at Welcome All Baptist Church at 5:30 pm - It's Sunday.

We were riding along talking and laughing --Listening to some music--- and the cell phone rings.

It is John, He had been in Kuwait for several hours. He tells me they'll be leaving at 2 PM to go to AL ASAD from Kuwait on a C-130 . That is 4 AM Monday Morning our time EST.

For some of you that don't know Metro-Atlanta and Cobb County--there is a landmark called
"The Big Chicken" - It's a KFC on the corner of Cobb Parkway and Roswell Road.

According to Rand McNally the distance is approximately 7,122 Miles and 8 Time Zones away.

Here is a quote, I like, and it speaks loud and clear.

“Freedom is a fragile thing and never more than one generation from extinction. It is not
ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation,
for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it,
have never known it again.”
- Ronald Reagan


“Freedom is NOT Free”

Will Update

Will continues to be involved with Webelos Scouts, skateboards and James Bond Marathons.
He has met a new younger friends in the neighborhood and you'd think he was their big brother.
Summer was spent at Twi-Light Camp. He has taken a great interest collecting coins and scavenging for loose change. Saving and earning his allowance, neighborhood jobs (house and dog sitting) . THis week he went to the bank and opened his own savings account.
This is a real GOOD thing.

Since he was so successful with working with his sister on the Film Festival he wanted to explore other opportunities in the performing arts. This is a good outlet for him. Both he and I auditioned a community play with the ACT1 Theater ( Alpharetta Christian Theater) in the two act play "It's A Wonderful Life".
We both won the parts and began rehearsals in September. Performances began last week end and we've had a full house both nights so far. More on this later. We are having a great time.

Will went to Tybee Island with the 5th Graders from his school. It was a three day science project and a tradition with his school.

Will has made a lot of new friends this year. He had a big party at The Varsity and a sleep-over
for his Birthday.
He likes his teacher, Ms. Benton, very much and all is falling into place preparing him for Middle School.

I am Back -

Many things have happened that have kept me from my Blog.

Work and the day to day things, for sure, but battling one of the the power giant Insurance Companies trying to terminate Jeannies disability has taken a toll on any discretionary time.

I've had some responsibility challenges and opportunities at work that took some adjustment
time. To ghet caught up I'll high light the activities of theFamily one at a time.

Amanda First.

Amanda and Will entered a film festival competition sponsered through the YMCA. It was GREAT and they kept it a big secret. There were 9 groups that developed scripts and made an independent movie. There were judges and everything. They won several awards. There were 9 awards and they won 7 categories.
Best Director., Best Actor, Best Teamwork, Most Thought Provoking, and Best Picture. The Movie was titled "WILL'S STORY".

Amanda works so hard and does so well with her activities. She was elected to the City of Alpharetta Youth Council. Her Law Enforcement Explorer Post 919 held elections and she was elected Captain for the post. They have monthly details serving the community and the city.

She continues to work on her Karate - SOO BAHK DO. Drama Club ( technician behind the scenes this year).

She went to No GA College for Open House and it looks like she'll be joining the Corp of Cadets
after graduation from Milton High in May.

She was awarded a Leadership scholarship for her community service through the Leadership Essay and work with the Youth Council at the YMCA> Scientific Atlanta provided the funds for the $ 1000 scholarship.

All this and still maintains an A average in her Senior Year. Some of these classes are college level courses for which she'll get credit.

Clarification

Clarification _When I posed the previous question ( Does anyone really care? ) it relates to the overall purpose and intent of this BLOG.
My original intent was to somehow provide a window or a door for my children and loved ones to learn who I am, who I was and what influences played various parts in shaping me. I do not do this to be arrogant nor to be boastful, but to be open and in so doing answer quastions that may not be asked. To date, I have received comments from my wife, my father and a good friend.
That's okay.
There is much more to share and, for now, time will provide the opportunities to post more until, someday,there is no more time. then the questions will rise and the answers, some of them will be here.
I have had my brother, Vic, on my heart lately. He was so very unique. He was deeply passionate about many things. I have often wondered, in recent years, about all the things I did not know about him. We were separated by distance, for years, and there were voids. ( late '70s, the 1980s and early 90s). As a result of these voids in time, he didn't know things of me, likewise, I knew little of his adult life. We reconnected the last few years of his life.
I relive our carefree youth, adolesent, teen years. His memory is frozen in time. His passion is
burned into my soul. His pain, agony and restoration is on my mind and in my heart.
To me, he was and is forever young. I really miss him and sadly there were things about about him that I do not know. His daughters deserve to know what I know. I hope and pray that I can open some windows and doors for them as well.