A(nother) "New" Start

This month, after 23 years, 8 months, and 27 days (they counted), I retired from the Army. This week, we finished moving out of our last "PCS" house. Next week, we begin the "settling in" process in what we call our "forever house."

I was able to celebrate my retirement with family, friends, and co-workers. We were not able to track down some we wanted to invite, and others we did invite were not able to attend. I want to publicly thank everyone who celebrated with us, apologize to everyone who didn't get an invite and would have wanted to attend, and assure everyone who could not attend that you were there in spirit and in our thoughts.

I owe so much to so many to have reached this milestone. None of my achievements were mine alone. I was never the best among those with whom I served and always better for having served with them.

To my family and friends:

I also wanted to dedicate this post to four people, whom I will never forget:

Jackie Wertman
Dan Winchester
Mike Adams
Joe Sullivan

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.”*