On Monday, June 15th, 2015, my friend and mentor, Ralph Hardy, was laid to rest, after fighting pancreatic cancer for nearly seven months. He was born on November 25, 1936 and died on May 25, 2015. Ralph was always ready to lend a helping hand to others. Most of all,... Read more →

"Good words are worth much, and cost little" (George Herbert) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sometimes we don't realize how our words, although crafted effortlessly, can have such a significant influence on a person's life, especially those who are facing a life-threatening disease like cancer. As I look back on what I've went through,... Read more →

This morning, I was informed that the pathology report of the extracted lymph nodes was negative, with no indication of any cancer cells traveling through my lymphatic system or bloodstream. So, I can definitely breathe easier now! Despite the new 2 1/4" scar on the right side of my neck,... Read more →

I can still vividly remember that day. Following 13 weeks of Marine boot camp, one of most difficult experiences of my life, I stood at attention on the parade deck in front of my Drill Instructors ... waiting to hear "ON THIS DAY, WE’RE PROUD TO CALL YOU U.S. MARINES!"... Read more →

In “The Veteran in a New Field” (1865), painted only a few months after the Civil War, the artist Winslow Homer evoked the complex mood of the United States as it embarked on reunification. One of my favorite notable paintings is called The Veteran in a New Field (1865), painted... Read more →