The 80 Year Dash

There is nothing about me during my early years that is remarkable. Almost any lad can relate to these years. But WW II split my sister and me apart from each other and from our parents. Though not deprived of excellent academic institutions (boarding schools) and summer camps, we both felt abandoned, unwanted, and unloved by our parents. Our lives changed dramatically from being carefree, open, and fun-loving to being guarded, suspicious, and resentful. I became rebellious and disrespectful of authority. I got in a lot of trouble, some instances being quite serious. Then, coming as a surprise to many people, I joined the Marine Corps and became a career Marine, fighting in Korea and VietNam. These experiences changed me dramatically. Married and divorced, I lost respect for women and had no intention of ever marrying again, that is, until I met a very special lady whom I married within two months of our first meeting. She softened my outlook on life, and, for the first time, I felt loved and was able to love. When I finally accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord, that love knew no bounds. The 80 year journey hits many bumps along the way, but there are many funny times also.