"Goodbye, Party"

It’s the end of an era. On January 28^th, 2019, I received the news I had been dreading for some time. I’ve been downsized. After 20 years at AT&T, I have been let go. My last day on the payroll is March 29^th, just five years shy of being fully vested in my Pension plan. What a gut punch! But, there is a way to handle this news, and a way not to handle it. Let me explain.

Some of you may remember the days of the party line. You know, a phone line that was shared with a neighbor? You would pick up the phone and say “Hello, party” to make sure it wasn’t in use already before making a call. Now that’s going back quite a few years, but, trust me, it was a thing. It even pre-dates ME. Boy, have times changed over the years. Technology has evolved and we now have a handheld PC in our pocket. These devices run on microwaves and spectrum, instead of wires. As such, the need for copper wiring for telecommunications has all but completely vanished. Fiber optic cabling is still needed to furnish the infrastructure that runs the cell towers and to provide high speed data circuits to homes and businesses, but it requires much less maintenance. And the more of it we have put in the ground over the years, the less of it we need to place for the future. Which leads me to my real point.

AT&T, once the largest telecommunications company on the planet, has shifted their primary focus. After purchasing Time-Warner last year, they have positioned themselves in the Entertainment and Advertising business. And, as you might expect, they have decided to invest much less Capital in telephony and data, in order to concentrate on the new shiny object, Time Warner. Less Capital investment, less cable, less engineering, and ultimately less head count required.

You go through a lot of different emotions when something like this happens. At first, I was nonchalant about it. I very calmly accepted the news and the package full of “assistance” paperwork and went on about the rest of my day. Then came the anger and resentment. I started out 20 years ago as a cable splicing technician, working outside in the hottest summer sun, climbing poles in sub-zero temperatures in the coldest of winters. I also have many scars from various cuts and bruises over the years. Eventually I worked my way up to management and became a crew foreman and ultimately a design engineer. I put in the work, excelled at my job, and was rewarded for my efforts. Now, I think to myself…… “Twenty years of blood, sweat and tears, and this is the thanks I get? A swift kick in the pant seat?” After a couple of days, comes the panic, or as I like to call it, the “what the holy hell am I supposed to do now?” phase. Eventually, acceptance and reality kick in and you begin to weigh your options. How does one start over at 47, after spending twenty years building a reputation, a work ethic and a very specific skill set? Then you look at what you stand to lose in terms of your long-anticipated pension and retirement benefits. The reality hits you like a cold, howling wind in a snowstorm. This is where you have a choice to make. You get to choose how you respond. And how you respond in the face of adversity will display your true character.

Many others in my current situation have basically shut down. A few haven’t even been in the office at all since they got the news, leaving others to pick up their slack. And who can blame them? One person actually joked out loud about shooting up the place. Needless to say, that individual won’t be setting foot on company property anymore. Well, that’s one way to play it, I suppose. But, I think it best to handle this a little differently than the others. One of my colleagues approached me at my desk the other day and asked me why I was still hammering away at a design I was working on. He was perplexed that I was even in the office, let alone, still doing my job. But, the way I see it, I’m still collecting a paycheck. And as long as I am, I have an obligation to earn that paycheck by continuing to do my job to the best of my ability. So again, as is always the case in life, it’s all about choices. And I choose to do the right thing. But I also had to choose an appropriate emotional response. I chose prayer and reflection. And through this, I have been able to see how truly blessed I have been over the last 20 years. As difficult as it is in this moment, this company kept me working steadily for twenty years, putting a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothing and comfort, education for my children, vacations……the list goes on and on. It gave me the ability to provide for my family abundantly. It gave us security. For these things, I am truly blessed. I was also reminded of the Lord’s promise to us in the book of Matthew 6:25-34, one of my all-time favorite passages…

                25  "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about          your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[5]? 28  "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? 31  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The reality of it all is daunting, yes. After all, I had it all planned out. I was going to retire at 57, then move to Florida and work part time to supplement my retirement income. We would be able to enjoy retirement. We would be able to travel. We would be able to have a place close to Disney World for our future grandchildren to come and visit. I really had it planned well. The problem is, those were MY plans. God had other plans. While I still have no idea how this will ultimately play out, I am blessed to have the comfort of knowing that God’s plan for my life is perfect. So, it is now my job to continue to try to live, work and act according to His will, to be faithful and thankful for the many blessings we have received over the years. The rest will take care of itself. It may not be easy. There may be a tough lesson to be learned. It may require us to re-evaluate our priorities and downsize our lifestyle. Maybe not. Maybe there is yet another incredible blessing coming that we just don’t have the knowledge of, yet.

Here is what I DO know. Wherever this takes us. And whatever it costs us, the price is nothing compared to the price He paid on the cross for us. His promises are written in His blood. They are real. They are ALWAYS kept. Our plans are not His plans. Our plans are fallible. His plans are perfect. Please pray for those affected, who don’t know the Grace of God. I can’t imagine going through something like this with an empty, hopeless heart. Please pray for Richelle and I as we take a new path to His will. Don’t pray for a job or money or that we will be financially stable and secure. Instead, please pray that the Lord will light the path and that He will make it clear to us which path we are to take in order to remain in His perfect will. Regardless, the cost, this is the way I am to respond to this adversity. It is the way we should all respond.

So, “Goodbye, Party” It’s been a good run. Now let’s see what awesome opportunities God will provide, next!

 

Thanks for reading,

Drew

2018: A Bitter Odyssey

Well, it has been quite a year for the Bitters……one for the books. I just wanted to take a minute to update everyone on all that has happened this past year.

Clayton continues to make us proud, serving in The U.S. Navy aboard the Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier, the USS John C. Stennis CVN74. He has had several mini deployments to prepare for the major deployment he is currently on. His current duties have him in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, in support of ground troops in Syria and Afghanistan. Earlier this year, his ship hosted actor, Woody Harrelson for a few days while he prepared for his upcoming role as Admiral Chester Nimitz in a soon to be released movie. Woody is also a talented blues musician. Clayton had the opportunity to play some music with him for a bit, during his visit, which Clayton said was a fun and awesome experience.

Richelle spent a good portion of the year gathering donations and items to send to the ship for Christmas. Her Stockings for Sailors campaign was a huge success, as she was able to send over 200 stockings full of goodies, and several hundred cards, letters, and tons of candy to the sailors onboard Clayton’s ship. A big shout out is in order, for all who helped make this happen!!! The sailors received their packages just in time for Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, Clayton and the crew of the ship spent their Christmas in Dubai, U.A.E. for a port visit and some hard-earned R&R. Just prior to this, the USO brought some Celebrity performers to the ship to put on a show for the sailors at sea. Milo Ventimiglia from “This Is Us”, Kellie Pickler and her husband Kyle Jacobs, and a few others were on hand, spending their Christmas away from family and friends to entertain the troops. Clayton actually got to sing with Kellie and her husband during the show, which I’m sure was a tremendous thrill for him. I know it was for us!!!! At any rate, he will hopefully be back from deployment by the end of May, which is important.

He needs to be here to be Danny’s Best Man!. Yes, Danny got engaged to be married this year. Some of you have met her, and some haven’t, but you all will soon. She is an absolute treasure and a more than welcome addition to our family! Her name is Madalynn Abbott, and she is from Rutherford Tennessee. They met at school in Cape Girardeau. I’m not sure, but I think he’s her lobster!!!! If you don’t know the reference, we are no longer “FRIENDS”. So, THAT happened. The wedding plans are in full swing! In other Danny world news, we all met VP Mike Pence earlier this year during his visit to St. Louis. That was pretty exciting. Then, not long after Danny was asked to sing the National Anthem at President Trump’s rally in Springfield….which was even more cool and exciting. Let’s see, our classic over achiever has done a lot this year! He also published his first novel this year, “Explore, Dream, Discover”. By, now, I’m sure you have already heard about it, but in case you haven’t, it’s available on Kindle and paperback on Amazon. (end shameless promotion). He is doing very well in school, as usual, despite his having multiple jobs and an internship in Senator Roy Blunt’s office. Straight A’s and Dean’s List!!!! Life is good, right now, if you’re Danny. Very busy, but still good!

Brittney is about to finish her Radiology Studies at the University of Memphis, and hopes to be employed as a mammographer sometime this coming summer. Also, over- achieving, she is a straight A student. We are so proud of her!!! She and Alex are planning their future, as well, and it’s a pretty solid plan. Alex has been working hard to help pay for her school, and she will reciprocate as soon as she finishes up. Alex plans to start HVAC school as soon as possible. I’m really proud of these two, for toughing it out to get what they want!!!

As for Richelle and I, we just continue to consider ourselves greatly blessed. It’s tough not having the kids home regularly, anymore, particularly over the holidays, but we are doing our best to enjoy the moments we DO have. On the other hand, our marriage DID survive a kitchen and bath renovation, this year, so that’s something…..

As you have read above, we are blessed beyond measure and well beyond what we deserve!  Thankful for all of our Friends and Family this year, and Wishing You All a Very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!!!!!

Letting Go

   Oh, where to begin? I guess at the beginning, huh? Ok, Here we go.
   Several months ago, my youngest son, Danny, expressed his desire to go on a church sponsored mission trip to Uganda. I know, awesome, right? Once again, a child of my brood has made me proud. He has expressed his willingness to travel into the unknown, well out of his comfort zone, for the sole purpose of spreading the Gospel and showing the Love of Christ to children in desperate need of hope. As his father I am aglow with the light of satisfaction. I am filled with utter pride that I have raised him so well. I am renewed with a sense of hope in a dark world, because there are still people like him who understand our purpose in this place and on this earth. Well, you know what they say about pride, right? So, it only stands to reason that God would use this experience to test my faith and check my pride at the door.....which He has most definitely accomplished. Here's the scoop.
   A few weeks ago we received word from the church, that some violence has broken out in very close proximity to the village in which Danny will be working. The Founder of the Mission Organization and Pastor of the nearby affiliated Church has had multiple attempts on his life in recent months. His children have been beaten severely, and his church congregation was held hostage at gunpoint. Thankfully, none of these incidents resulted in any deaths, other than the assailants, themselves, as a few of them were killed by returning fire. None of these events occurred in close proximity to any of the mission teams, but still.......a little scary to say the least. My feeling is that the assailants have been hired by groups associated with child slavery and sex trafficking industries, because this Pastor was recently appointed to a government position, overseeing the enforcement of child endangerment laws in Uganda. He is now in government protected custody in an undisclosed, gated and guarded compound with his family. Now, here's the rub.
   The church mission team had a decision to make. Do we move forward with the trip or cancel and go another time? After much discussion and prayer, the trip is still on, and the decision of whether to go or not would be left up to each individual. Anyone under the age of 21 (Danny is 19), would need the approval of both parents, along with signed waivers, life insurance policy, etc. Danny would have to pray for guidance in making this decision, as would Richelle and I.
   After much prayer and thought, Danny felt as though he was being called to this trip very strongly. His decision was made for himself. He would go anyway. Richelle and I would have to come to a consensus, though, and this would take some work.
   I prayed and thought......and thought and prayed......and prayed some more. I asked for counsel from family and friends whom I trusted. And, I wasn't hearing a clear answer. I couldn't discern what my heart was telling me, or separate that from my own head space. I couldn't reconcile my thoughts and feelings from what God was saying. So, I figured I'd wait and see what decision Richelle would arrive at, first. After all, she could make this a very easy decision for me. If her answer is no, I'm off the hook. I wouldn't rule against her wishes. I've been married for 22 years!!! I know better!!!! So I would just step back and wait.
   Richelle went through the same process, and quickly arrived at her answer. She felt The Lord speaking to her very clearly in prayer, and had no reservations at all about her decision. This will make this much easier on me, now.....or so I thought. There I go thinking again! You see, to put this situation in a bit of context, you need to understand some of the emotions Richelle has been dealing with lately. Keep in mind we sent our oldest off to serve in the US Navy just a year ago. And the vacuum that he has left in Richelle's heart since he has been gone, is vast. She struggled for quite some time with his being gone and on his own, not wanting to let go. Given this information, her answer would be clear. Obviously, she would not approve of placing our other son in a potentially dangerous situation on the other side of the world! Yeah,.......WRONG! Not only did she give her blessing, she made it very clear that this was not her decision, but that it was very clearly made for her through prayer. Well, that just threw a monkey wrench in my whole plan!!!
   Now I would have to man up and make my own decision. I was comforted by the fact that Richelle had promised to back me up and support whatever decision I arrived at. So, I got back to it. I went through all of the what ifs, whys and why nots. I hearkened back to some tactical defense training I received many years ago, while in the Navy. I thought about the logistics of getting a dozen Americans out of a village, should rebels come in and threaten violence. I thought about how I would feel, if I gave my blessing and some harm would come to my son. How would I live with that decision? After pondering all of these things, I gave up on myself and decided once again to pray. This, time though, I was very specific, going through all of these same questions through prayerful consideration, instead of my own experiences and fears. My prayers were answered this time, but not the way I thought and hoped they would be. But His guidance was clear. And here is what I arrived at.
   We are always very protective of our children, naturally. It's the human response. It's in our very nature. But it's not always the right thing to do. As believers, we are called to sow the seeds of God's love. We are called to be light to the world. We are called to spread the Gospel to all corners of the earth. As a believer, myself, I needed a reminder of how God protects us all, just as I protect my own. I needed a reminder of the work that God did in our lives and my oldest son, Clayton's life; an incredible transformation unlike anything I have ever seen. But it wasn't until I let go of him and trusted his life to God, that He was able to do His work in Clayton. As hard as we tried to hold on to him and protect him ourselves, we couldn't. But God could. And He did. This was a tough enough lesson to learn the first time around. I don't want to go through it again.
   I feel very strongly, and believe very deeply in the concept, that our children are not ours. Our Children are God's children. He has only entrusted them to us for a short time, here on earth., so that we can raise them in HIS Church, in HIS ways, showing them HIS Love, and teaching them to be HIS disciples. They are merely on loan. God's will for Danny's life is perfect. Whatever it is, however his story ends, it has already been written. In order to be obedient, I must LET GO. I must give God control. I must trust in His perfect will. It's not easy, but faith isn't supposed to be easy. If it was, everyone would already have it.
   Some of you may disagree with our decision, and that's ok. Some of you will think it foolish to send our son to this far away place, given the circumstances, and some have even already vocalized this concern....and that's ok, too. Just know that we have made this call through prayerful consideration, and nothing else. I ask for your prayers for the safety of all involved in this trip. I also ask for your prayers that lives will be transformed, that the Love of Christ will be delivered, and that the Gospel will be spread to those who have never heard it before. I ask for prayers for the protection of Pastor Elijah and his family and for the recovery and safe return of all children in this area, who have been sold into slavery. God will do amazing things in Uganda.......If we let Him.


Thanks for reading, and Thank You in advance for your prayers,


Drew

Harry Potter and the Half-Naked Breast

  
   Alohomora!


   Hello again all!


   I'd like to preface this post with a little bit of.....navigational aid, if you will. At the bottom of this post, you will find a right facing arrow. If so inclined, this will allow you to scroll back through past posts, that you may find to be of interest. Some are OP-ED style pieces, some are personal, family stories. But all may be of use to you in finding out what makes me Bitter, both in name, and unfortunately, sometimes in disposition. Feel free to explore, share and comment on any of these other posts, as well.
  
   This latest post will be a departure from the family blog. Occasionally, I'll use this site as a vehicle to speak out on current events. This will be such a post. The blog is aptly titled "The Bitter Truth", in that it is sometimes the truth about the Bitters, and sometimes it is The Bitter Truth about the world as I see it. And, yes, it is possible that you may not agree with all that I have to say, and that's okay. It is, in fact, an opinion piece. It is not news, fake or otherwise. I welcome your challenges to my positions, as I believe we are all made better for having open and rational dialogue on these issues. Some of you may believe, in fact, that as a male, I am afforded no opinion whatsoever on this subject. And, that's fine, too. Everyone is entitled to their own views, right? Okay, so with the formalities out of the way, allow me to begin.


   Emma Watson has been in the spotlight recently for a myriad of reasons. As you undoubtedly know, she is portraying the role of Belle in the soon to be released live action Beauty and the Beast film. A lot of excitement and media buzz is on full press leading up to its release. But she has also been in the news for being outspoken about the cause of feminism. Now, she could have used her celebrity to be a wholesome role model to young girls and young women all over the world. In fact, at a younger age, she did just that. She spoke out about the hyper-sexualization of our youth. She spoke out about the world view of provocative dressing of young girls. And she was outspoken about the global problem of human trafficking for the sex trades. All good stuff. But somewhere along the way she took a hard left turn, and is now, through her words and actions, seemingly advocating the complete opposite views on some of these issues. This is a huge disappointment. Let me explain.


   Many of us literally watched Ms. Watson grow up before our very eyes on screen. We watched Hermione Granger grow from an awkward young girl, into a beautiful, smart, and empowered young woman, both on screen and off. Throughout this season in her life, she was a wonderful role model to young girls all over the world. She encouraged them to dress modestly; to reject the world view of sexuality at a young age. Again, all good stuff.


   However, as she entered adulthood, her cause changed. She was now speaking out about the feminist movement. She was now speaking out about the terrible injustices women face in the world, today, particularly in the west. Now, this wouldn't be so bad, either.......if it were true, that is. (Yes, you read that correctly. I'll get to that in a bit.) She became part of a feminist movement that screams and chants and protests at every opportunity, claiming that women are losing their rights, or that they are not treated as equals to men. This same movement has organized marches and protests highlighted by the wearing of vagina costumes, "pussy" hats, and extremely vulgar signage. Language I even found offensive, and I am an old sailor, for crying out loud! Now, while she did seem to distance herself from the fringe; from the Madonnas and Ashley Judds of the movement, she did recently do something that was in complete contradiction to all she claims to believe in. She posed half naked in a magazine so all of us "misogynist" men could ogle at her goodies. She then claimed that her doing so was "empowering" and that it was done so women could see that they were free to view themselves however they wanted. But is that the message that is really being sent? It seems to me, that the message being received may be much different than the one she is trying to send. The once modest and proper Hermione Granger, is now bearing her naked breasts for all the world to see. This isn't empowering. It's promoting voyeurism and pornography. And it's sending a message to young girls that to be famous and relevant, you must do the same. This is quite the departure from her previous stance, wouldn't you say? And what about the timing of the release of these photos? Do you think it is a coincidence that they were released so near the opening day of Beauty and the Beast? I certainly don't. I suspect her publicists and agents encouraged the shoot to begin with, and saw it as an opportunity to create buzz and publicity for their leading lady. After all, the more she's in the spotlight, the more people will go to see the movie. Of course, this is merely conjecture and theory, but I doubt that I'm too far off. So, the real question, then, is what exactly does she hope to achieve in all of this?


   Well, she claims that it is all to advance the cause of women's rights. But I ask you, what rights does this advocate for? What rights are missing in the first place? Can anyone honestly say that women in this country don't have the same rights as men? I welcome specific examples, if you can find any. but you won't. Now, I'm sure I'll hear the typical example of equal pay for equal work, and that's fine, if you actually believe that myth. But you'll find no statistics to back it up. You'll only find talking points from the policy seminars of politicians whose agenda is in line with it to begin with. But no hard evidence of this is out there. Sure, there are undoubtedly some women who are not being paid as much as their male counterparts in some areas of the business world, but the same can be said about men in more feminine roles and industries. It's not the norm or the standard, and it's certainly not an epidemic worthy of the outrage it has sparked. Now, before you get all wound up, I'm all for equal rights for all. I believe that women should be able to do anything they want, to achieve any success they set their eyes on. I'm not a woman hater, a misogynist or any other word used describe those who don't believe in the great feminism myths in our current climate. But ask yourself these questions, before you cast your dispersion.Where is the outrage for the women of the middle eastern nations under sharia? Where is the outrage for the young girls whose genitals are mutilated at a young age. Where is the outrage for the women who are not permitted to drive a car, go to school, have a job? What about the women who live in cultures that encourage marriage at the age of 7, 8, or 9, and where marital rape at any age is acceptable? Where are the protests for the women of the Arab world who require 3 to 4 male witnesses in order to make an accusation of sexual assault?


   Here's the deal. These so-called western feminists are just loud mouthed hypocrites. They scream for women's rights from one side of their mouths, while crying about the poor middle eastern Muslim refugees from the other side. Many of the refugee populace they advocate for, are the same people who commit the atrocious acts I listed above. So, which is it?


   Do they really believe that screaming profanities at a protest is the way to get their point across? Do they not see the obvious conflicts of interest in their cause? Have you or anyone you know, honestly changed your mind about any subject because a celebrity in a vagina costume said so? I doubt it. So, what, then are we to make of our beloved Hermione Granger and her most recent "statement"?


   My hope is that eventually, she will take a step back and see that her little stunt is causing more harm to the little girls and young women of the world, than good. But, what's done is done. It is up to the parents of these children to combat what society deems acceptable. So I say this...


   Mothers, talk to your daughters about their true value, and where it resides. Let them know that their value is in who they are, not what they weigh or what they wear. Let them know that they don't need to be a sexual being in Middle school, in order to find love and acceptance. Teach them that purity is not only acceptable, but should be their only consideration.
   Fathers, date your daughters. Show them the standard by which they should judge all future suitors. Show them through your good example, how they should expect to be treated by any man who will ever vie for their affections. Be the standard that sets the bar high. Teach your sons to be proper gentlemen. Show them the value of a woman's heart and soul, and how to cherish them and respect them enough to suppress their own physical desires. Teach them, also, that purity is not a scar on their reputation, but rather a badge of honor and courage. Show them the way a woman is to be treated, in the way you treat your wife. And finally, teach your children to seek out role models who display all of these same values and virtues. Only then, will we see a new generation of young women who respect themselves enough to not pose half naked in a magazine. Only then will true feminism be on display. And only then, will equality truly be realized. But what do I know? I'm just your average, ordinary male.
   As always, I welcome your comments, but will not reply in kind to vitriol and venom. Polite, adult conversation is always encouraged.


Thanks for reading,


Colloportus!


Drew Bitter

Mr. Bitter Goes to Washington

   Hello all! It's been a while. I have certainly wanted to jump into the political climate debates and commentary for quite some time, but I have decided some things are best left unsaid. So, Instead, I thought I'd take this opportunity to spend a little time lifting up a certain young man you all may have heard of.
   In past posts, I've detailed some trials and tribulations of my eldest son, Clayton. I've spent a great deal of time on social media, singing his praises. I've also spent a bit of time gloating about the younger son Danny's latest role or his most recent vocal performance. But both of these young men are unique in their own ways, and I felt it necessary to explain Danny a little more. Now, you may be rolling your eyes and saying under your breath, "oh, here he goes again, bragging on his kids!" Yeah, you'd be right. So if you want to bail now, feel free to do so. But I will make no apologies for highlighting the amazing things this young man has already accomplished at the young age of 18. He deserves it. He's worked really hard for a long time. He deserves that recognition.
   Let's do it this way. Imagine you are an employer, looking to hire a bright new face. You're looking for someone who is smart, has a great work ethic, is a self starter, is genuine, truthful and virtuous. You hope to find an individual who is not afraid to "go for it". Your ideal candidate possesses not only the ability to be creative, but also the talent to express these ideas well in a public forum. Ideally, although you can't exclude others, you secretly want to hire a fellow Christian, strong in faith, principle and practice. This is someone, who you could always count on to do the right thing, even when it doesn't benefit them, personally. If you could pick the perfect person to fill this role, they would have a resume to back up the skill set required for this position. "No way I could find someone like that", you may think to yourself. However, you'd be wrong. These folks do exist, even among the millennial generation's sea of unqualified, over-educated, entitled masses.
   Contrary to popular belief, some of us GENXers, are still actually RAISING our children. We're not all leaving this task for the schools and daycare centers to do. Those who have a vested interest in raising their own children in a Christian home, know that the fruits of this labor can be an incredible blessing. Let us begin, shall we?
   At the young age of 6 years old, Danny became the youngest Black Belt in US Tae Kwon Do history. This was highlighted by several local news stories and even garnered an invitation from the Dave Letterman show. We ultimately declined this invitation, because it would have excluded his older brother, who had also earned this honor.
   Beginning in Elementary school and throughout his entire school life, Danny maintained straight A grades, even while participating in extracurricular activities, which he often led. He also became involved in his church youth group and went to King's Kids Camp each summer. In Middle school, following in his older brother's footsteps, Danny became involved in the choir program. This carried on into High School.
   By the time his high school years began, Danny had transitioned into becoming a counselor at the camp every year, where he mentored younger children, ministered to them, and in many cases, helped them to make their first ever decision to follow Christ. Still a member of his Church's Youth Group, he participated in many other outreach programs, volunteering his precious little spare time for charitable causes. Still maintaining his grades, he got involved in the high school choir department. He was a member of the Mixed Concert Choir, Men's Ensembles and Show Choir. He was a member all four years and as a Senior, was named student Director of the Department. As a senior, while attending a National Festival and Competition in Los Angeles CA, Danny was presented with the National Ovation Award, which is only given to one student, nationwide, each year. Over the course of his choral career, he earned multiple awards and was named as an Alternate in the Missouri All - State Choir.
   He was also very involved in the Drama Club, both as a member and as the Student Board President. As an actor, he earned the lead roles in several of the Schools productions, including musicals. Even though he was busy with rehearsals and the business of his Presidential duties, not to mention his choral commitments, he still maintained his grade point average, and even held down a part time job. Early in his Senior year, he felt compelled to become a voice for the arts, as the School Board was trying to pass a proposition for various funding and budget items. Fearing the arts may be the target of possible budget cuts, he attended several school board meetings and spoke on behalf of the student artists in the district. This garnered local newspaper and TV coverage, where he was recognized for his efforts. This publicity got the attention of the Missouri delegation of a National Arts Advocacy Group, who ultimately chose him to lead a delegation in the State Capital, where he spoke to state congressional members, concerning the necessity of funding the arts in Missouri's schools. Later , he would be named to lead the student delegation from Missouri, to our Nation's Capital in Washington D.C., where he would speak to U.S. Senate and House members about increasing federal funding for the arts.
   To cap off his high school career, Danny gave a commencement address at graduation ceremonies. He graduated in the top 7% of his class, earning him numerous scholarships for academics, choir and theatre.
   Today, Danny is finishing up his freshman year at the University of Southeast Missouri. He is double majoring in Music Education and Political Science. This summer, as always, he will be a counselor at King's Kids Camp. He will also be taking a mission trip to Uganda, with members of his church, where he will lead a new group of God's children in worship and song. And, as always he will work at his part time job, whenever he has the time.
   So, there's the resume. I'm sorry, but it is impressive. This young man seeks to excel in everything he does. But that's not the point of this post.
   Raising our kids in a fallen, dirty world is no easy task. Richelle and I are certainly proud of our kids.....OBVIOUSLY. But we didn't do this on our own. I hate to use this phrase, because of the political figures attached to it, but I must. It takes a village to raise a child. Although it's a tad cliché, nonetheless, it is true. Without outside influences, you'll never be able to do it alone. Where the rubber meets the road, however, is in the choosing of those influences. Who will you allow to be their influences? Their role models? Their leaders? Their teachers? Each and every one of these choices are critical. I'll not take credit for a conscious decision in each and every one of these categories. In fact, we sort of fell into most of them. Some would say we lucked out. But it's much deeper and much more spiritual than that. Many of our children's influences came directly from involvement in the church and participation in ministry. While we made church a priority in our kids' lives, they were the ones who immersed themselves in the ministry. They were influenced by pastors, elders, fellow youth group members and leaders, etc. This kept them focused on their faith, and their roles as children of God and as followers of Jesus. While Richelle and I had spent a great portion of our lives apart from God, our kids were raised in the church. They knew the right path at an early age, and only due to God's providence and Grace, they were able to stay on that path. Of course they have wandered and stumbled, as we all do. But through accountability from their Christian peers and leaders, coupled with scriptural reinforcement and reassurance from us, they always right the ship. Richelle and I are far from perfect parents. Most of the time we were just winging it. And, we made more mistakes than we can count. But a decision we made when the boys were very young, assured us that we would not be on our own. We made a decision for Christ. Then, we gave our boys to Him.....fully. The way we saw it, they weren't really ours in the first place. They were His. He had entrusted them to us to bring them up in His ways. We owed it to Him to make sure they were surrounded by those who would help to guide them along that narrow path.
   THAT is the point of this post. No matter how bad it looks out there in the world; no matter how dreary and devoid of decency and moral compass; there are those who will come alongside you in any journey, and help guide you, if you are only willing to give HIM the wheel. Our children are who they are, not because of me or Richelle, but because of God's Grace. What a blessing!!!!


Oh, and Danny.....you're a freaking Rock Star!!!! So proud of all you are and of all you have done!!!!




Thanks for Reading,
Drew

Sanctus Ex Machina: Two Albums, One Season

Hi y'all. Ben here. 

As I began tracking my new record "Deus Ex Machina" a very interesting situation began to develop. "Deus Ex" is a song cycle consisting of songs that I wrote, some of them many years ago depicting major events in my life beginning with the death of my father. As I tracked each one, and took meticulous care to see that they didn't all sound alike (as that tends to happen with my records if I'm not careful) I noticed that although the songs were a fair piece different from one another, they all seemed to share a certain vibe. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but one day as I was driving home from my teaching gig listening to Pandora, the answer slapped me square in the face. "Of course!!! It's REO Speedwagon!" Now to those that know me, that won't come as a huge shock, as I have obsessed over the band since I was old enough to know what music was. After some thought I decided to record a couple REO songs for the record as bonus tracks. As I began tracking those, two turned into three, then four. I decided that work on Deus... Would have to wait until I got this out of my system. Organically, the idea of a double album came to me as though it was the answer to the world's most obvious rhetorical question. So when "Deus Ex Machina" drops there will be an additional record that I'm calling "Sanctus Ex Machina: The Music and Influence of REO Speedwagon" Sanctus is Latin for ghost, as I can think of no other way to describe what happened in the studio. The boys from Champaign invaded my sessions, and wouldn't allow me to proceed until I had settled the score with them. So here's the track list. 

Take It On The Run

Time For Me To Fly

Keep On Loving You

Can't Fight This Feeling 

Lightning 

Blazin' Your Own Trail Again

Ridin' The Storm Out

Son Of A Poor Man

Sweet Time

In My Dreams

Love Is A Rock

Keep Pushin

In Your Letter

Take Me

If you hate REO Speedwagon (many in my circle do, including my wife) then hopefully these songs will make you at least appreciate their impact on my music. Cause I'm tellin' ya, without them, there'd be no Ben Bitter music at all. See ya on release day!

In The Navy - A New Chapter

   Today is the first day of the rest of his life. Hell, in many ways, it's the first day of the rest of MY life!
   Today, Our oldest son, Clayton was delivered to the U.S. Navy. As I write this, he is in a hotel in downtown St. Louis, undoubtedly contemplating his decision, and nervously awaiting his next set of orders that will place him on a plane to Chicago, and ultimately a bus to Great Lakes Naval Recruit Training Center. He has been waiting for this day for a long time. He's ready. He's more than ready. He's officially a U.S. Navy sailor, on his way to the biggest adventure of his life. And pride does not even begin to describe my emotions. As I look back on Clayton's life to this point, I am overcome with a sense of peace I've not felt in these twenty years of being his father. Many of you know Clayton's story, but some don't. so I will share a little here, in order to give you some perspective on why this day is truly monumental.
   Clayton was always small for his age, not terribly easy to get along with, and lacking some social acumen, most of his early years in elementary school and particularly middle school and junior high. This led to a lot of exclusion and bullying, the likes of which I won't even fully describe, as it is still today, too painful to begin to elaborate. Suffice it to say, it was bad.....very, very bad. Richelle and I spent most of our nights during that time, sitting outside his bedroom and listening to him cry himself to sleep. when sleep finally came, we were relieved, because this meant he was safe from his demons for one more night. This was a painful time for us all, but especially painful for Clayton. He had an escape hatch, though, and that was his music. His music was his happy place. It was a place even the demons weren't allowed. Richelle and I reached a point in our lives at this time, when we had no options left. We couldn't fix it. We tried and tried, but nothing worked. This ultimately led to our Salvation in Jesus Christ, as we finally gave in and lifted Clayton up to Him. But that's a story for another day.
   Freshman Year of High School, Clayton's life truly changed. He got involved with the Choir program at school. His life would never be the same. He was accepted for who he was. He was loved by many. He would no longer be the eternal victim. He had respect. and his involvement in the church youth group and worship ministries kept him grounded in his faith. Things really started happening for him with his music. He won some National and State awards, made it through several rounds of American Idol, and ultimately obtained a large scholarship to study Music Education.
College was a blast for Clayton. He excelled in all of his music classes, and was performing at the highest level. He just didn't care much for the General Studies portion. He owns that. Ultimately, he decided that the normal channels were not necessarily for him, and he decided to join the Navy, an idea he was throwing around before he was given scholarships. But now, his choice was clear. and he made it.
   So today, I say goodbye to my boy......for a little while at least. But when we see him again, he will be the embodiment of manhood that I always prayed would come to fruition. He departs today on a journey that is three generations strong. He has pledged to defend our country and our freedoms with loyalty, honor, courage and commitment, and this dad could not be more proud!! May God watch over him and keep him safe in the years ahead. But for now, I pray God continues to show him how strong he is with the Lord at his side. I pray for his success in basic training and beyond. I pray that the Navy will be all that it was for me, and more. I pray for Richelle. I pray that she is able to cope with letting go, and that she can continue to see that Clayton's life is still in God's hands.
   So as one chapter ends, another always begins.......Fair Winds and Following Seas, my Sailor Son.... until we see you again in a couple of months. For now, though I am proud to call this sailor my son....and equally proud to call him SHIPMATE!!!!!!!

Christian - The New Dirty Word Part 2

     So, where did we leave off? Oh yes, that's right. We were talking about the degradation of morals in our society, the entitlement epidemic and a general disregard for personal responsibility. How did we get here? Well, as far as the moral decay goes, I believe T.V., Movies, Music, and other forms of media are primarily responsible. As I stated in my last post, sexual innuendo is everywhere we look. It has been normalized in our society to the point where you can't watch cartoons without sitting through an erectile dysfunction commercial. No, seriously.......The Cartoon Network! Why? Even condom commercials are common place in prime time T.V. on national networks. And why not? The shows they are advertising on are drawing the demographic they are targeting. And since almost anything is fair game, might as well make some more money, right? Speaking to the entitlement disease that is plaguing this generation, some answers can be found in the following video. It was put out during the "Occupy" movement and explains the generational outlook as well as anything I've ever seen. I encourage everyone to watch this and do everything in your power to reverse the pattern! It can be found at the following link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAOrT0OcHh0
    
     Finally, the disregard for personal responsibility. This, I believe, is also an epidemic. The outrage caused by the Hobby Lobby decision certainly gave some indication of that, but it's much more. A sense of personal responsibility is decaying at a rapid pace in every aspect of American society. It seems that very few believe in consequences for our choices. And it all really does come down to choices. Upset with the compensation package at Wal Mart? Simple. Don't work there! Don't like working for minimum wage? Apply yourself and get an education so you don't have to! If you are trying to support a family on your part time job at Bob's Burger Barn, then you're right. It's not going to happen. But the real question is why are you trying to do that in the first place? Part time, minimum wage jobs are not intended to be a sole source of income for a family of 4 to 6. So, where did you make the wrong choices that got you into that situation in the first place? Dropped out of high school, perhaps? Maybe not. Maybe you just chose not to go to college and further your education. Or maybe you did go to college for a while, but you decided it wasn't for you anymore. Maybe you got a bunch of tattoos and piercings in college and can't figure out why the bank won't hire someone with a barbell stuck in their cheek? As for the kids, maybe life wouldn't be so hard if you held off on having so many, until you get a career that can support them. Here's a hint.....It may require some personal restraint and/or some birth control that, yes, YOU are responsible to provide for yourself!
     All of these things have led us to where we are now as a society. Due to the downfall of family values and morals, those of us who proudly call ourselves Christians, find ourselves in a battle. The name Christian has become a sort of Scarlet "C" that we wear on our chest, welcoming the vilest of accusatory and hateful name calling from those who would rather not take the moral high road. Having morals and values, means that sometimes you don't just get to do what you want or what feels good in the moment. You don't get to treat your body and soul like a pornographic playground. Those that would like to continue that type of lifestyle are appalled by those of us who speak or act against it. We are called women haters, misogynists, homophobes, hypocrites, extremists, etc. And for the record, believing in family values doesn't automatically make someone a homophobe or against gay rights. It just means that our values are more traditional. I believe very firmly in the concept of family values. And for that, I'm accused of hating gay people. I believe in monogamy, and for that I'm labeled old fashioned or prudish. I believe in the sanctity of marriage and the sanctity of life, and for that I've been told that I'm an idiot and a right wing Evangelical moron. I eat meat, wear a leather belt and fish for sport, so I'm an animal hater. Anyone seeing a pattern, yet? It's pretty obvious. If you disagree with anyone on any subject whatsoever, it apparently means you HATE them.
     Well, I don't hate very often, but when I do, these are the things I hate. I hate having to watch erectile dysfunction commercials on every commercial break. I hate that I can no longer watch television or movies without seeing constant sexual content, nudity and innuendo. I hate that I can't have a hamburger without wondering if someone, somewhere was licking the ketchup off of a young woman's chest and thighs. Thanks, Hardee's! I hate that my children are being raised in a society where abstinence is deemed an impossibility and promiscuity is taught as the norm in our schools. I hate that a soldier entering his new barracks room for the first time, will no longer find a Bible in his night stand, and that he will be punished under the UCMJ if he dares to publicly recite or display verses from that Book. I hate that we can't use the word Christmas in our schools, or display any religious symbols of the season. I hate that the schools are teaching "Religions of the World" in Social Studies, while barely mentioning the Christian Faith. I hate that hard work and earning an honest living has taken a back seat to laziness, entitlement and free stuff. I hate that all of my expenses have gone up 30-40% over the past 5 years, while my pay has gone down by 10-20%. I hate that my insurance premiums and deductibles have doubled so that someone else can get for free, what I sweat and bleed for every day. I hate that being a white, middle class, heterosexual, carnivorous, monogamous, Christian male with family values and a sense of moral and personal responsibility, puts me at the disadvantage and labels me as the "hater". Maybe I am a hater. But I hate the sin, not the sinner. I hate the viewpoints, not the people who form them. I hate the state of the world and society, not the people in it. I hate the choices, not the chooser.
     Yes, there are plenty of problems in today's society, but Christians aren't the problem. Young single mothers are working two jobs just to barely make ends meet. People are dying of heroine overdoses, getting killed by drunk drivers. The homeless are suffering without food or shelter. There are plenty of examples of suffering in this world. But sadly, many of these examples are the direct result of poor choices, made by people with low self esteem, low moral fiber and very little sense of consequences and personal responsibility. Sad, but true. Now, this all may make me sound pious and close-minded. But it's quite the opposite. I have made many choices in my life I am not proud of. All of which led to some fairly serious consequences. That doesn't make me a hypocrite. I am a sinner. I have broken many of the Lord's commandments. I struggle daily to keep myself from sin, as I will never measure up to the example I have to follow in Christ. We all fall short. That's the price we pay for who we are. So, as Christians, we have to have compassion for those who suffer every day. But that doesn't mean we have to agree with the choices that got them there.
     Yes, in today's world, the word Christian is a dirty word. It is equated with terms like hate, intolerance and hypocrisy. But those accusations are falsehoods, perpetrated by a society of people who would rather feel good in the moment, than do the right thing or make the hard choices. So, I will wear my Scarlet letter "C" with pride, and I will continue to absorb the spits of venom from the opposition that goes along with it. Because without pain, there can be no relief. Without darkness there can be no light. And without suffering there can be no compassion. I am called to this service by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and his great commission, and I will not back down, just because the left majority would like me silenced. I follow the Holy Bible, which I believe to be the perfect, inerrant word of God, and for that I will not apologize.
    
     Thanks for Reading......
 

Christian - The New Dirty Word Part 1

   Hello, all!
   After another extended absence, I am back. What a year it has been so far! There's a lot to talk about, so let's just get to it.
   Recent current events have led me to write again, not to satisfy my own insatiable need to be heard, but more so to inform everyone that I now find myself unable to sit on the sidelines and watch, while society is eroding, moral fiber is disappearing, family values are becoming harder and harder to find, and most importantly, my faith is being undermined, attacked and targeted for extinction. I used to be okay with watching it all unfold from afar and shake my head, but not any longer. I've grown very tired of having to defend my beliefs on a daily basis, only to be called a hypocrite, misogynist, homophobe and my favorite one, Evangelical nut job.
   Some recent facebook posts about the Hobby Lobby ruling by the Supreme Court have set me off a bit. I guess I was a ticking time bomb, already, and the clock finally ran out. Post after post, people are disappointed with the ruling, saying it is a setback for women's rights. I'm, of course paraphrasing, because the actual language used in most of them is not suitable to use in this blog, another trend that's becoming all too popular, as well. But we'll get to that part later. Most seem to be upset that the Christian owned company is willing to supply men with Viagra and vasectomies, while denying women intrauterine devices and the Plan B drug. To this first claim, I say, "apples and oranges". Firstly, Viagra, while it is certainly often over prescribed and misused, is a medication for a medical condition, and has nothing to do with the birth control issue of this debate. It should not even be a part of the conversation. Secondly, a vasectomy is a medical procedure that could be necessary for any number of medical conditions, not just as a means of birth control. I'll also gladly point out, that it's female equivalent, tubal ligation, is also still covered under the health care plans in question. So much for those arguments. Now we'll move on to the treatments that Hobby Lobby did not want to provide. Let's begin with intrauterine devices. Hobby Lobby's Christian ownership took a stand, that this form of birth control went against their beliefs. Agree or disagree with them, they have that right to those beliefs. The intrauterine device's ONLY function is birth control. Some Christians believe that all birth control is wrong. I personally don't feel that way, but others, in this case, the owners of Hobby Lobby, do. The other one in question, was the plan B drug. Again, this drug's ONLY function is birth control. Hobby Lobby did not want to provide these services because their ONLY function is birth control. For the same reason, they will not be providing condoms to the men that work for them, even though condoms actually have the dual purpose of disease prevention, but that's just semantics. The majority of the posts by those outraged by these decisions are using words like Misogynist, Hypocrites, Haters, and the always disparaging Right Wing Evangelical Idiot. And, it even gets worse. There are reports that there are groups who are staging a SEX-IN at Hobby Lobby locations. For those of you who aren't quite sure what that means, they will pick a date and time and go to Hobby Lobby locations and perform sexual acts in public at these stores, in protest of the Supreme Court's decision. Way to keep it classy, ladies! Openly defiling a persons private business, property......all class. So, I thought I'd discuss some of the possibilities of why some are so outraged in the first place. Here goes.....
   In my humblest of personal opinions, I see two main issues causing this school of thought. First, and foremost is the lack of personal responsibility in today's society. Unfortunately for us all, it all comes down to choices. Every choice we make has consequences. If you are not willing to take responsibility for your own actions and choices, why should the government or the company you work for take up your slack? Essentially, what those opposed to this decision are saying, is that they want Hobby Lobby to pay for their contraception, so they can be free to have sex whenever and with whomever they want, with no consequences. Sorry, ladies, it doesn't work that way. What you want to do with your own personal life is certainly your own business....until you are asking me as a taxpayer or me as an employer to pay for your indiscretion. Then it becomes my business. Sexual promiscuity and the universal acceptance thereof is the culprit in all of this. Society has deemed promiscuity as the norm. While you are arguing against the violation of women's rights, and the exploitation of women in this country, you may want to take a look at the cause of it all. Which brings me to the second issue at hand.
   Everywhere you look, be it television, film, billboards, magazines, etc., women are exploited sexually for profit. Apparently, we can no longer sell a hamburger or even a bottle of drain cleaner without sexual innuendo or scantily clad women in the ads. Hollywood perpetuates the image of sex everywhere, and it's all being marketed to our children. The key demographic being targeted are young girls aged 12-20. What they wear, the music they listen to, the movies they watch, the people the associate with, the food they eat or in some cases, don't eat, is all geared towards their sexuality. Everything revolves around them being "hot" enough. Sexuality is their currency in the free market of acceptance. Girls at the lower end of that spectrum are at their most impressionable period in their lives. Everywhere they look, they are told they're not "hot" enough, or they're overweight, or their skin isn't tan enough, their hair isn't the right color or style, and so on. They come away from their middle school years with low self esteem and poor self worth issues. So, what do they do? Anything they can to gain acceptance. Anything they can to feel wanted and loved. Anything they have to do to get attention from the boys. And in todays' warped society, that means sex, and lots of it. The pressure for them to be sexually active, promiscuous and to dress like it, is incredibly high. So, choices are made to do things to fit in. Society is telling 11 and 12 year old girls that in order to fit in, they have to be sexual beings. Age 12! The pressure is high for the boys, too, but nowhere near the level of the girls. They're the ones who have to be "sexy". They're the ones who have to ask their parents for birth control. Oh wait, sorry. I forgot the laws changed under the current administration. young girls no longer need their parents permission for birth control or abortion services. So they don't have to ask mom and dad anymore. Which is good, because mom and dad don't really want to deal with any real issues anyway. They'd rather the schools raise their kids so they have time to purport their own sexually deviant behavior without being disturbed by those pesky kids! Is everyone paying attention, yet? And when all else fails, and they just can't seem to gain acceptance through sexuality, they cut themselves, or commit suicide, or start using heroin. Eventually, you have an entire society that bases it's self worth on sexuality. Add to that the entitlement complex that has arisen in the last 15-20 years, and the recipe becomes what we are seeing today. The average twenty-something woman believing that it's the taxpayer's, government's or her employers responsibility to provide her with the ammunition she needs to fight off the consequences of her chosen lifestyle. Oh, if it were only that simple..... What does this all have to do with the dirty word "Christian"? Find out in Part Two......to be continued.......

Thanks for reading,


LOL, BFF, TTYL And Other Modern Tragedies

   Welcome one and all to 2013!!! I hope the New Year finds you all well!

   Well, it's been quite a while since I've written, so I've got quite a lot on my mind. Forgive me in advance for my long-windedness, but here goes.
   Technology, friend or foe? Well, both actually. Taking a look around my little slice of the planet, lately, I've noticed a few things that have really got me bent out of shape. Not the least of which, is our society's apparently intrinsic need for mobile communication and social media. Everywhere you look, someone is on a mobile device of some kind, texting, checking facebook, checking in to a location, surfing the web or "googling" something. That's not all bad, though. Today's technology has afforded us many different ways to stay connected to friends and family, and to manage our daily work and lives. It can be a great thing......in the hands of the right person, with the right set of motives, and the ability to separate it from real life. Here are just a few examples of what I am talking about.
   While sitting around the house the other day, my youngest son Daniel (who is known for his high intelligence level, mind you), actually used the non-word LOL verbally. No, seriously. He actually sounded it out "L-A-W-L". I have to admit, I got a bit of a chuckle out of it, because it was Danny, who has a knack for making anyone around him LOL. But upon further review, it became very clear to me, just how strange this was! Apparently this is the newest trend in a long line of sad trends. Thanks to the era of text messaging and social media, our teenagers are now verbalizing the acronyms they use in messages!!! Laziness has reached an all time high.... or is it low? He goes on to inform me that the commercial he just watched on TV was "TOTS CRA CRA, it made me LOL". Allow me to translate from my new 2013 Webster's Teenage version Dictionary: "That commercial was totally crazy! It made me laugh out loud!" Why didn't you just say that, then? I wondered.
   After giving this minor little incident some thought, a much bigger picture began to unfold before my very eyes. Today's generation of teenagers are tomorrow's leaders of America's government, corporations and families. How will they manage? Today's youth are so fully immersed in their technology, that many of them have never even learned or practiced the basic social skills necessary for them to carry on a normal face to face conversation. They don't know how to physically interact with their peers. They have no concept of what it means to go on a real date. They have a hard time interacting with anyone, without some kind of electronic interface involved. Try this little experiment. Go to the mall, find a bench and just watch. Virtually every single teenager you see will be typing on a device of some kind. Even in a group, they are typing to one another instead of talking, even when their friend is standing right next to them!!! Better yet, try to carry on any verbal conversation with a teenager. I guarantee that you'd have a hard time getting them to even make eye contact with you! That's a little scary, isn't it? It is ultimately our responsibility as the parents to make sure our kids have ample opportunity to practice these very basic skills. What does that mean? Well, maybe it means we need to set some boundaries in regards to their use of social media, texting, etc. Maybe we need to set some limits. Perhaps, we need to interact with them ourselves!!!!!! Have you sent a text message to your kid lately? Probably. I know I have! Try giving them a call instead. Have dinner together as a family, while verbally discussing your day. Ban devices from the dining room. Do whatever you have to do. Let's get back to talking to each other!!!
   Now, having said all of that, I want to be clear. I'm not completely against all technology and social media. I can't be. In fact, I am employed by a Fortune 100 company, whose entire mission is to insert as much technology as is possible into our daily lives. I live and breath technology every day. Notice, I'm not writing this all out in cursive in a notebook! I can embrace technology when it is used correctly and for the common good. Here's an example.
   A colleague of mine from Texas was in town recently for a series of meetings, the last of which he announced he was cutting short, due to a dinner date with his daughter. I asked if his daughter lived here in town. He chuckled a little bit, and stated that he would be joining his daughter for dinner via FaceTime. "I never miss dinner with my daughter" he said, "even when I'm out of town. It's too important."
   So, you see, it's not all bad. We, as the adults just have a responsibility to ensure it doesn't replace the basic, everyday social skills required for us to still call ourselves a society. Otherwise, we're all  just binary digits in the grand social experiment.
   To conclude, I'd like to paraphrase from an old buddy of mine. An old telephone man I used to work with passed away a few years ago from cancer. In the months leading up to his death, he spent some time making preparations for his soon to be demise. One of the things he did to prepare, was to write down some final thoughts to be included in his obituary and eulogy. In it, he talked about what he thought of today's culture and more importantly, today's youth. In his summary, he wrote something similar to the following:

   " The very best thing we can do for our society, of course, is to go outside and play catch with a kid."

Well said! Maybe it's time we all found a kid and threw the ball around for a while. Slow down, take a breath, and take some time to look around. What do you think?

   There's the first rant of the new year for all of my BFF's!! LOL! I hope you give it some thought. Well, I GTG! TC! TTFN! and TTYL!

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
                                                                                                                   - Ferris Bueller


Thanks for reading.......