As the year ends

Spent Christmas with our daughter and the grand children, and not long before the end of the year. In the little down time, between all activities and seemingly endless meals, I've been thinking about the greats and the grossly abysmal from 2018.

Greats

• Faith
• Wife, son, daughter, grand children
• Extended family
• Friends
• Health and fitness
• Our great nation
• American freedom
• Strong, unshakable values
• Patriotism
• Marine veteran status
• 2017 Toys for Tots event success
• Patriot Guard Rider missions
• Middle America
• Giving voice to veterans' stories 
• Motorcycling
• Freedom of the open road
• Baseball
• Cycling
• Rule of law
• Superb writing
• Biker lifestyle
• American military
• Service and sacrifice
• Police, fire/rescue, EMTs
• Traditional country music 
• Pick up trucks
• Beer
• Neighbors
• Our nation's natural beauty
• Watching sunsets with my bride
• Profound belief that 2019 will be better

Grossly abysmal

• Continuing attacks on my values
• Attacks on Christianity
• Politicians
• Elected officials
• Government dictates constraining freedoms
• Lack of ethics and integrity
• POTUS
• Financial markets
• Mainstream media
• Ignorance
• Demise of principled journalism
• Scurrilous social media 
• Democrat/progressive hypocrisy
• Public education
• Higher education
• Unions
• Activist judiciary
• Obscene pay for professional athletes
• Obscene pay for "entertainers"
• Professional athlete perpetual whining
• California
• Taxation and fees
• Congress
• National debt
• So called social justice warriors
• Identity politics
• Greed
• Narcissism
• Divided nation

 

When others slack off or moan and groan

 

When others slack off or moan and groan, three phenomenal Americans tirelessly worked in supporting the Marine Corps Reserves Program in San Diego.  From left to right, retired Marine Mike Harris, Sheryl Kerstiens of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, and Staff Sergeant (now Gunnery Sergeant) Jeff Cantu of the USMCR 4th Medical Battalion.

Countless hours expended in absolute dedication from these three folks produced the largest Toys for Tots event in the San Diego region.  More than 1,000 toys and $17,500 were donated because of their superior efforts.