Still crazy after all these years

Still crazy, after all these years

For years, my mother told all of her friends and some of mine that I was “the only hell she ever raised”. Of course, I know the truth and I do know for a fact that there was an occasional time where she did a little hell raising other than me. But I'm not about to dispute my mother's statement, in fact I'm honor bound to stand by her and prove her right. And for almost 7 decades, I have worked diligently to provide the proof needed, that indeed I was “the only hell she ever raised”. I have to say that I've been very successful in proving her right.

Tonight on the evening of my 68th birthday, seemed like a good time to reflect on a few things. Something I'm willing to do since I have a sufficiency of Churchill's prescription. I understand that some of the Vegas Odds Makers are annoyed with me for having lasted this long. To those boys and girls (I assume they led the ladies in) here's some advice, don't bet against me, learn when to hold and when to fold.

I have spent a lifetime, my lifetime following various paths, as they were presented to me. As I went along those paths, some were easy sailing and some were very bumpy and nasty. Some were like sailing on the Chesapeake on a mid-summers eve and some were like crossing the river Styx knowing that a “hope in hell” was about to be defined. I did what I thought I had to do, I did what I thought was right. My purpose and my path was always to be of benefit and to be of help. That didn't always work out, but I tried, and then where it failed I tried to correct. And yes, I did it my way. Regrets, I have a few, but then again to few to mention.

For those of you who think that as I enter my dotage that you can simply wait me out, let me remind you of a few things. Any thing and everything that is put on the internet, is permanent. My words and thoughts, my teachings and preaching are there forever. But beyond that, I have progeny and they have progeny, and I have endeavored with all of them to create or shape them in my own image. I've had assistance along the way with my wife, the crown jewel in life's accomplishments. She has helped shape them as well and they are balanced with righteousness and truth, love and compassion, caring and concern, but driven by vocalism and activism and ultimately action. As such with all of them and all of those that I have mentored and taught, let me remind you that “if the left one don't get you, the right one will”. And all of them stand on their own, until one of them is challenged, then they all stand together as a formidable force. In that way, they are a prime example of what we all as a community should be.

Damn Churchill, I got sidetracked. I wanted to take a moment to thank the hundreds of you who sent me wishes on my birthday. I wanted to let you know that it empowers me and rejuvenates me, it makes me feel good. I know that it was just a few moments of tapping at keys, but I appreciate that you took those moments and you honored me. As to the rest of you, who didn't, like my sons, I understand that you're busy. I totally get that. But none of that is going to slow me down. I'm going to proceed.

Oh, I got distracted. What I really wanted to do was to thank all of you for taking the time and wishing me a Happy Birthday. I appreciate all of you, and I tried to keep up and thank all of you, but it was a lot and I'm an old man. I want to thank you all, even if I missed you. I want to invite you all to continue and help me, help me make my mother proud, stand with me as I continue to raise hell.