Ok so here in California people have upholded the fact that it is immoral for gay marriage, that gay marriage is an abomination to religious beliefs... and at the same time we are passing prop 4 that doesn't make it necessary for doctors to notify parents of underage girls to have abortions.  I could be wrong but I thought that sex before marriage was a sin and not looked highly in the eyes of religious faith.  I can't understand the double standard here in this state.  I was going to vote yest on prop 8 until I really got to looking at what it would mean.  I would be outraged if an election made my marriage to my wife were made illegal and not valid!  And I would be outraged to find out that my step-daughter recieved an abortion without my concent!  The prop 8 and prop 4 situation we find ourselves in now is so hard to understand, I mean what were the real reasons for outlawing gay marriage?  Is abortion a form of birth control?  I am sickened by the irresponsibility of voters, it is a horrible problem here in the valley with children having children and we want to help them make more irresponsible decisions and tell them that it's ok because you can recieve an abortion and not have to worry about telling your parents how reckless you were?

I have never been more miserable and happy!?  Alaska is an amazing place, I can't explain it, when you see the aurora borealis (sp?) it's amazing!  I remember driving home from the base and I hade to pull over because all of the tendrils of light streaking across the sky.  It was the first time in the winter that it had been clear enough to happen, or become visible.  Yes the cold was dreary and the fact that night never really leaves in the month of December it was humbling... I loved it.  I loved being able to drive to the town of North Pole and gas up my car and not hear anything, not a lot of traffic any time during the day.  Looking out my front porch to look at the moose that would lick my bronco as a salt lick because of the over hanging trees.  In the summer time the geese and duck would flock about and watching them was pretty cool too.  Summer time was a completely different because the sun never went down, shops stay open for 24 hours because of the summer Soltice.  I lived in Fairbanks and I would love to visit.

I was just out of the service thumbing through the classifieds
When an ad that said:"Old Chevy" somehow caught my eye
The lady didn't know the year,or even if it ran
But I had that thousand dollars in my hand

It was way back in the corner of this old ramshackle barn
Thirty years of dust and dirt on that green army tarp
When I pulled the cover off,it took away my breath
What she called a Chevy was a sixty six Corvette

I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills
But what a thrill I got when I sat behind the wheel
I opened up the glove box and that's when I found the note
The date was nineteen-sixty six and this is what it wrote:

He said,"My name is Private Andrew Malone"
"If you're reading this,then I didn't make it home"
"But for every dream that shattered,another one comes true"
"This car was once a dream of mine,now it belongs to you"
"And though you may take her and make her your own"
"You'll always be riding with Private Malone"

Well it didn't take me long at all,I had her running good
I love to hear those horses thunder underneath her hood
I had her shining lika a diamond and I'd put the rag top down
All the pretty girls would stop and stare as I drove her through town

The buttons on the radio didn't seem to work quite right
But it picked up that oldie show,especially late at night
I'd get the feeling sometimes,if I turned real quick I'd see
A soldier riding shotgun in the seat right next to me

It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
Who fought for his country and never made it home
But for every dream that's shattered,another one comes true
This car was once a dream of his,back when it was new
He told me to take her and make her my own
And I was proud to be riding with Private Malone

One night it was raining hard,I took the curve too fast
I still dont remember much about that fiery crash
Someone said they thought they saw a soldier pull me out
They didn't get his name, but I know without a doubt

It was a young man named Private Andrew Malone
Who fought for his country and never made it home
But for every dream that's shattered,another one comes true
This car was once a dream of his,back when it was new
I know I wouldn't be here if he hadn't tagged along
That night I was riding with Private Malone
Oh,thank God,I was riding with Private Malone

 

I am doing it again... I didn't write this and I am not trying to take credi for it.  I love these stories told from a military point of view, not because I am into big guns and blowing up people in other countries... But because I served in the military and would love the opportunity to go back.  I had a few opportunities to be deployed and would have if I wasn't needed on post.  I am not necessarily patriotic but I would fight in a second to defend the freedoms that we enjoy here in America.  I just love this song by David Ball