2010: A Year In Review

So we meet again.  It's December, the month of my birth, post the holidays, on the last day of the year.  I often think about blogging/writing more notes but life happens and time gets away from me.  A lot of times we take this time of year, the birth of the New Year, to make resolutions, promises, etc...About things we're going to change or do or do-over.  I'm not going to do that this year.  Sure I have goals, things I want to accomplish and do in the up-coming year but I'm not going to make promises to myself that I'm not going to keep.  You just never know what will happen and I think by getting boxed in sometimes, we cheat ourselves out of experiences; and really, that's all that life is.

It is almost impossible to encapsulate what this past year has meant to me - good and/or bad.   This was my final year in Las Vegas.  What a town.  I really felt at home and connected.  I played a lot of music.  I’m grateful to all the fabulous musicians I had the pleasure to play with.  Rob, Brett, Bobby, Terry, Alvin, Chris, Buzz, Johnny Garcia, Jim, Mitch, Dave and all of the others – thank you.  And of course, all of the fans who came out to see us and support live music – wow!  That makes it worth it.  There were a few times when it felt more like work than fun, but how could I (or anyone) complain about getting paid to do what you love, and in my case, it’s making music.  Once you get connected with other musicians and it all starts coming together – there’s nothing better.  I don’t know where I’ll end up after I’m done with this whole military thing, but if the road leads me back to sunny Las Vegas, I won’t complain.

Speaking of the military… as of today I have 1260 days until I can retire.  That seems out of reach and yet like it’s crashing in on me all at the same time.  I have spent the last decade teaching and instructing and I can tell you unequivocally, that teaching is my single most favorite thing I have done while in the Air Force.  For the last year or so, I was doing a different job and not teaching and I could tell that a. I missed teaching and b. It was time for me to move on.  Like any other job, they have their pluses and minuses and Silver Flag Alpha was/is no different.  I can tell you that unless you’re actively teaching and interacting with the students, you’re missing out.  There’s a line in a Vince Gill song called “Young Man’s Town” that I think says it best for me anyway.  The line goes “Sometimes you got to stand back, and watch them burn it to the ground.  Even though you built it, it’s a young man’s town.”

So why would I want to leave a place I really enjoyed?  Well the military told me it was time.  So of the entire places to send me, I was sent to Minot, ND.  I guess the irony is when I first joined the AF almost 17 years ago I was here in North Dakota at Grand Forks AFB on the opposite side of the state doing the same job I’m about to do again.  This time, at the end of my career.  Full circle.  From Grand Forks, ND to San Antonio, TX to Las Vegas, NV and finally back to Minot, ND.  I’m sure I’ll meet new people and make new friends but I have not and will never forget the friends I’ve made from all the places I’ve been.  That’s one thing I am grateful for – good friends.

I’m proud to say that some of my friends today have been friends for a long, long time.  Military friends from every base I’ve been to… Joe, Bruce, Chuck, Sherb, Nooch and many many more – friends.  Good friends.  And the people at these various towns and cities I’ve lived in… Stefan, Roy, Jason, Bob, Gene, Rick, Redd, Rob, Barbara, Jesse, Brendon, Mike, Bob, Dennis – damn good people.  The list could go on and on… I do feel blessed and lucky to known them.

And how could one not include their family if they’re lucky enough to have one?  Mary has been my running partner since my last days in Grand Forks through now and even at times when I didn’t deserve to have her stick around, she has and I am forever lucky and grateful.  I’m not the easiest dude to live with.  I can be moody and not share what’s on my mind a lot of the time and that must be frustrating!  I know it’s not been easy for her to pick up and move on the whim of where the Air Force tells me to go either.  Some people have figured out how this whole military thing works but I haven’t been let into the “secret club” so I’ll just continue to do the best I know how to do.  We lost our cat in Aug of 09 and while that may not be a big deal to some folks, ol’ Rosco was with us for 10 years and when you’re in the military and move every couple of years, you appreciate what you have around you and his loss was a big blow to us.  He is and will always be missed.

My kids are almost grown and it doesn’t seem real.  I know I’m not the father they wanted nor am I the father I think I could have been but I hope that someday I will get an opportunity to share some life experiences with them.  I am very proud of them and wish them only the best.

I can tell you that North Dakota is cold.  Damn cold.  Negative temperatures cold.  I think I had forgotten just how cold it is, but once you are back in it, you remember pretty quick!  Why people choose to live here still baffles me, but I guess home is where you hang your hat and if your hat has never left… well there ya go.

I look forward to what this next year brings.  Like I said before, I’m not going to over plan life and forget to enjoy living.  So that’s my plan – to enjoy life.  Happy New Year!