Medium Story

I wrote this on Medium in February 2022.

Medium is an open platform where readers find dynamic thinking, and where expert and undiscovered voices can share their writing on any topic. 

In other words, it's a Blogging Site.

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Once this was the view from my front yard.

I am Bob. Born 9 years after the end of WWII. Who Bob is, formed out of a mid 50’s to late 70’s American experience. When I was a kid, all the men working in stores or garages or wherever, they were all WWII Vets. Still young then raising their families in a country that wanted peace and prosperity. For the most part, they got it. Perfect? Nope, nothing ever is. But 60 years later, looking back, in comparison to now, it was paradise.

Bob fast forward…. US Navy, career in aviation both airline work and Air Traffic Control work. Wife. Family. 2 kids. Lived in the mountains of western PA until I didn’t. Winter does that to people. Florida was next. 20 years and life was good, Early retirement (ATC throws you out at age 56) was even better.

21st century. Bob. I don’t like it. I watched with great anticipation the birth of the Internet. The WWW world a new world gave us access to all information. It was going to be perfect. Until it wasn’t. Big business jumped in first. The government had to get involved. What we ended up with was a foolproof way to totally isolate human beings into tribal groups. Hate growing every year. Young people falling off of the edge of the Grand Canyon because they were totally involved with making a selfie. Insane. A government that grew rich and corrupt with the bajillions (that’s a lot of billions) of silicone valley money and backing. So now we are on the verge of total self destruction. Not from external foes. We have met the enemy and he is us. Abraham Lincoln called that a long time ago.

I don’t like it. I will spend however many years I have left fighting it. Retirement is good for me. Good wife of 42 years best friend ever. Two good kids all grown up and doing very well. Two grandbabies that are perfect.

I like travelling, reading, blogging, all forms of social media. A good book is still a thing to be treasured. Favorite Author? God. The Bible. I believe in Him and His Book and I try every day to live it. Secular author? Hemingway. First time I read him, He had the gift. Said it all while hardly saying anything. And he was messed up. His life was a mess. He was a jerk and an angel and it all was so wonderful and horrible for him. Ended badly. I am a recovering alcoholic and I wish I could have gotten stinking drunk with him. Just for the experience of it. He was the whole package for sure. I admire his way of living. Messed up and all.

So that’s it. Bob. Here I am. Now you have a little bit of me. Still trying to figure it all out.