A good movie isn’t the one you talk about right after you watched it, a great movie is the one you talk about years later. I want people to have stories about me after I’m gone. When I retired from the Army, I kept in touch with guys I served with and found out they were still telling Sgt Monahan stories. The kind that people would use as examples of how hard or weird things were. The “No shit, there I was”, version of fairy tales. Same thing when I left the police department, with a little more “he was crazy”. My daughters have grown up being embarrassed by me in public. I admit that I enjoy telling those more than they do.

I just want to leave good stories behind, memorable for years after I’m gone.

Daily writing prompt

What is the legacy you want to leave behind?

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I’m retired. I don’t have to balance anything except golf and housework. Of course, even when I was working, I didn’t balance things very well. Being self-absorbed, narcissistic, asshole doesn’t help.

Free advice: You will never miss the time you didn’t spend at work.

Daily writing prompt

How do you balance work and home life?

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I started with insects, mostly using a magnifying glass. Then I moved up to frogs and small birds. I stared on larger animals, like deer in my early teens. I mean if you want me to count everything, we’ll be here all day.

(BTW, this is sarcasm. It’s a genetic trait.)

Daily writing prompt

What sacrifices have you made in life?

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The abusive alcoholics, child abusers, liars, thieves and fake friends, thank you for teaching me what I don’t want to be. Thank you for teaching me that I am strong enough to expunge you from my life.

I am better because you were an asshole. So, thanks.

Daily writing prompt

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

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I have old clothes, some dating back decades. A US Army OD green over coat from the end of WW II. My riding leathers are at least 20, tattoos date back nearly 40 years, and uniforms at least as old as my ink. To my daughters’ dismay, I still have shirts that I wear they remember from their childhood.

It’s the scars that tell the tail. The big one in my calf comes from basic training and doing dumb shit with the other guys and earning a trip to the hospital. We hid the knives after that. Three more from Iraq, four if you count the ones from my body armor wearing holes in my sides. One my elbow. More around my eyes from fighting for years. And the oldest, in the middle of my forehead that is probably fifty-five by now, from playing with my brothers. There are dozens more that have faded away, from work or play.

Yep. It’s gotta be my scars.

Daily writing prompt

What’s the oldest things you’re wearing today?

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Trust me it’s funnier with the Mexican accent.

I’m semi-retired and like it that way. I’ll probably pick up something to keep busy, but I’ve already had two careers, thanks. To those just starting out, you’re going to have to do the time anyway, just find something you don’t hate.

Daily writing prompt

What is your career plan?

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With almost forty years of military and para-military leadership (read Police) under my belt, I can say even leaders have leaders. In the moment, you may be the final authority and make decisions, but there is always someone you will answer to.

I hear someone saying Elon Musk doesn’t have a boss, but he’s still responsible to shareholders, laws and regulations. Somewhere in the back of his head is a voice that shaped him as he was growing up, still leading him. I have the same thing, it sounds remarkably like my grandfather. I also have a debit to my mentors, to pass on what I’ve learned.

In the main though, I’m a leader by default, inclination or disposition. I have little reservation about stepping up.

Daily writing prompt

Are you a leader or a follower?

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Harley-Davidson – This goes back to my first bike that leaked, the chain and rear tire would slip going over track and it was uncomfortable to ride. They fixed the technology, and I found a bike that fits me. I like sport bikes and Kawasaki makes a decent lite cruiser, but Harley just fits.

BMW – I know. It’s not made in Germany anymore. I prefer the way they handle to other sport cars. I don’t care about cars that much, but I appreciate performance. I’ll drive a truck until it dies, but this is the only car I’ve ever kept after paying it off.

Macallan – If you’re a whiskey drinker and haven’t tried a good scotch, this is the one. Don’t bother with the 12-year-old. It’s going to be rough. The 18 is good straight, with a water back. I don’t like ice or to water down the flavor. Any of the special casks are excellent. Just don’t blame me if you spend a car payment on a bottle.

Glock and Ruger – Nothing fancy or flashy. They work when I want them to, point and shoot.

Daily writing prompt

What are your favorite brands and why?

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Why vote? Our political system has crowded out real statesmen and left us with choosing the lesser of two evils. If we just look back at the past fifty years, it’s easy to see how the corruption set in. Strangely, it can be identified by the millionaire politicians, who entered office with little wealth, but managed to earn millions on government salaries. A feat repeated with the new crop as well.

The most controversial members have been the most productive and served the nation the best. Regan was constantly criticized for his age and being out of touch with modern ideas. “Rocket Ronnie”, was supposed to get us involved in World War III and launch nukes at everyone. Trump, for all of his personal faults was a good leader as well. Bill Clinton, comes to mind as another example of performance over personality. Got caught with his pants down and lied about it. Who cares? The Bush’s were simply plodding and boring, not accomplishing much either way. All of the grandstanding and inquiries were excuses for professional politicians to avoid their real work and waste taxes on building strawmen to slay.

I vote. I’m not choosing the best for the job so much as the lesser of evils. Besides, if you don’t vote, you can’t really complain about who is in office. It might be easier to complain after the fact, but it doesn’t change anything.

Daily writing prompt

Do you vote in political elections?

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“No regrets.” Words to live by, especially if you’re making hard decisions. You can spend the rest of your life looking back and saying “If only…” or “I should have…” Why? I refuse to beat myself up over choices I made, that I thought were the best at the time.

You know, don’t shoot that guy in the face, no matter how much they deserve it. Good decision. She’s hot but crazy, I can take a little crazy. Bad decision.

There are a lot of things I regret all the same. I missed a lot of my daughters growing up, personal and career choices made at the time. I would be lying if I said that I could have lived with their mother. We did the best we could and worked out a way to care for them apart. Still, no regrets.

Daily writing prompt

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

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