Grandma_Ruth

Hi Jim, How are things? If you think I don't read your stuff--you're wrong.... more »

Hi Jim, How are things? If you think I don't read your stuff--you're wrong. I do! When I have the time of course. The Holidays were really crazy for me since I'm IT for everything and everybody! Not that I mind, just does not leave much time to do the things I desire.
Want you to know your stuff makes me laugh! all the time! and if not it makes me think ;-)! Well, I was thinking about you and since I have 5mins (it's raining and ice in VA) I just thought I'd touch base. Hope someone grabbed you and your skills and paying you handsomely! My best to you and your familly for 2009! GMR (not dead yet!);-)

Dear Betsy, This was hilarious! Great! Wonderful! and I want to thank you... more »

Dear Betsy, This was hilarious! Great! Wonderful! and I want to thank you as a mother and a grandmother for doing such a wonderful work with your boys—They are the greatest and they definitely have minds of their own!! So, my hat is off to the Franco Family—my family is into the whole Franco experience you are a great example! Thank you for who you are!! GMR

Incredible loss Jim. I felt bummed out because of it too. At first, when I... more »

Incredible loss Jim. I felt bummed out because of it too. At first, when I saw his pix w/the dates… I was like… what do you mean? Total disbelief!—He can’t be replaced… somebody else will come but will never be like him!! GMR

(Second Try)Jim, You are a good writer!-I am a bit concerned about the... more »

(Second Try) Jim, You are a good writer!-I am a bit concerned about the story re your 20 yr old marine encounter. I’ve spent a good part of the last ten years working for DOD agencies. On 09/11 I was working at the Defense Logistics Agency in Fort Belvoir, VA-it was a day of horror for even those far away from the Twin Towers. Also, my daughter went to school in Jacksonville, NC – home of Camp LeJeune, Marine Corps base. I have mingled with young Marines, they come from all places… the rigorous training that they go through is mind/body transforming… and it has to be because they have to be in the front lines, before anybody else to face the enemy. Now, after 10PM in Downtown Manhattan I doubt that any of those boys were sober (although I know some that wouldn’t drink). What kind of an education would a 20 yr old boy have even if he came from New Hampshire? With probably more than a couple of beers in his system… I suspect there was not much thought to what he was saying. Add to that two previous tours where he had to spend at least six months at a time sleeping in mud mattresses, eating MRE’s full of sand, and watching his buddies die… So, he was trained to kill, and his great call to fame is to prove his manhood…and to save this country of ours…whatever comes out of his mouth is going to be macho, scary. Here is the difference though, between him and any Al Qeada raised young man. Our 20yr old marine probably had a mother who nurtured him, and was not raised to kill or hate, and when he sees a child in danger he will run to save him regardless of who the child might be or if he sees a woman in danger he will do the same. I know of many stories where our boys have been shot in the back of their necks after turning to save Iraqi women and children. Our war fighters are NOT cold blooded killers that is why we have so many with psychological problems and not until now are we trying to educate these boys that going to seek counseling is not sissy but a very good idea. (Just check the suicide rate in the Marine Corps last year and where it’s going this year.) I know where you are coming from in your well written piece but there is no comparison between our brain-washed marines and an Al Qeada raised young man who has been taught hatred and killing from the cradle. Your generalization scares me because you seem to be a well educated/rounded person. I am not for this war. I want them all to come back home and I agree with you when you say that you cannot push democracy down the throat of those who do NOT want it. It’s going to take many years to get our country back on track after eight years of political disaster—I don’t envy whatever democrat wins this election(and I hope the best one does!) The cleanup is going to be horrendous.