Personal

When I was in college - oh, so long ago - I used to wake up at 05:59 every morning... literally, thirty seconds before the alarm clock was able to make a sound. I would collect my towel and toiletries and walk down the hall to the shower, which I always had to myself....

Elaine Margarite Gima was born on March 15th, 1934. On August 29th, 1953, she married a skinny little soldier and became Elaine Badnarik. For most of her life, almost everyone knew her as Mom. It is easy for me to imagine why my father was attracted to her. She was...

In February 1988 I purchased a brand new Pontiac Trans Am GTA. A fighter jet without wings. The engine fit under the hood the way an ice cube fits in a tray. More power than rationally necessary which allowed me to dominate the highway like a Bengal Tiger hunting...

The United States Marine Corps celebrates its birthday on November 10th every year. This year the Marine Corps will be 245 years old, which is interesting because the Declaration of Independence is only 244 years old. I didn't believe it when I was first told that the...

In early October, I drove to a friend's wedding in Missouri, requiring fifteen hours behind the wheel. When I was young, I would have made that trip with only two fuel stops, and perhaps twice that many fast food stops. Leave before breakfast and arrive before...