Misty Night
By: William

Was a misty night in October,
The mist rolled across the open fields and hid the trees,
She came through the mist at me,
Her beauty almost drove me to my knees.

Her smile cut through the mist and fog,
Her beauty burned the mist around her,
Making it part,
And from that moment on she owned my heart.

I froze at the sight,
What a delight!

The mist surrounded us and held us tight,
Locked in a stare,
The passions showing in our eyes,
Oh what a misty, October night!.

The Moon was shadowed by her beauty,
The skies parted it seemed to let her through,
Did she know what she could do?

Gently we touched, hands touching hands,
Pulling each other close,
Passions building and hearts beating in time,
I could not believe this beauty was all mine.

For one night in October under the foggy skies,
Through the mist, we touched, we caressed, we kissed.
We let the passions loose, felt the wonder.
Was it a dream or a chance, or a blunder?.

I will never know what it was or how it happened,
But I will dream of that misty October night,
Forever and live in surpise and fright,
For it was indeed, one special October night,
Burned in my heart and mind,
Never disappearing from my minds sight!.

Misty Night
By: William

Was a misty night in October,
The mist rolled across the open fields and hid the trees,
She came through the mist at me,
Her beauty almost drove me to my knees.

Her smile cut through the mist and fog,
Her beauty burned the mist around her,
Making it part,
And from that moment on she owned my heart.

I froze at the sight,
What a delight!

The mist surrounded us and held us tight,
Locked in a stare,
The passions showing in our eyes,
Oh what a misty, October night!.

The Moon was shadowed by her beauty,
The skies parted it seemed to let her through,
Did she know what she could do?

Gently we touched, hands touching hands,
Pulling each other close,
Passions building and hearts beating in time,
I could not believe this beauty was all mine.

For one night in October under the foggy skies,
Through the mist, we touched, we caressed, we kissed.
We let the passions loose, felt the wonder.
Was it a dream or a chance, or a blunder?.

I will never know what it was or how it happened,
But I will dream of that misty October night,
Forever and live in surpise and fright,
For it was indeed, one special October night,
Burned in my heart and mind,
Never disappearing from my minds sight!.

      Tonight the Boston Red Sox will host the Detroit Tigers for the American League Championship Series. Both teams have great pitching and hitting and their fielders are great too. The question is who shall win it to go to the World Series, I say Boston will due to Home Field Advantage.  I am pure Boston Red Sox and maybe one of the teams best fans ever, I have been a fan since I was five years old in 1961 and I am 57 today. I stared at the games for decades waiting for a Boston win in The World Series alongside my dad. he wasn’t as lucky as me to see them finally win not one but two World Series. 

       This year on August 2nd, 2013 I was diagnosed with Lung Cancer and I had Lung Cancer Surgery on September 3rd, 2013 they removed my middle lobe of my right lung and samples of my upper lobe too. Eleven days after my surgery I finally got to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox play the Yankees and beat them 5 to 1. I sat 5 rows back from the field and could count the blades of grass, as Jon Lester went 8 inning and won. I find Boston a great City and a pleasure to visit. It was one of my greatest pleasures in my 57 year old life to see the Red Sox live and see them win over the Yankees.  I bleed Red Sox red every time they play and cheer them on daily. God Bless the Red Sox, go Red Sox, Go! Win, Lose or draw I shall always be a Red Sox fan!

          Major League baseball has a large controversy going on now and I am here to speak up about it and say what I think. Alex Rodriguez, of New York Yankee Fame and formerly of the Texas Rangers should be banned from baseball period for using drugs! He enhanced his performance when no one else can or did and gave a black eye to Major League Baseball period. MLB should ban him as they did Pete Rose who was a gambling addict, one kind of addict or the other should be banned if you ban one side. Pete Rose holds many records in baseball yet he can’t get into the Hall of fame at all or even considered for it. Yet Alex Rodriguez gets to stay in baseball and hold records? Wrong! Ban Alex Rodriguez just as you banned Pete rose, if one gets into the Hall of fame and Holds records the other one should too. Period, wake up Major League Baseball!

         No human being on the face of the earth, whether in America or another country should have a semi-automatic weapon of any kind, except the military. Semi-Automatic or Automatic weapons are weapons for killing and mass destruction not for hunting. You want to hunt get a .22 caliber or a shotgun and license them. Gun don’t kill people do yes, but stricter laws on needed on who should have a weapon or gun of any kind. Testing of ones mental capabilities and state of mind are vital. I know all about the Second Amendment and that it states all have a  right to bear arms, but it also states against Militias not just for fun and games. Stop selling guns to just anyone, be more controlling and have greater gun laws and requirements please!

         I leave you this Saturday wishing all a fine Weekend and good health. I will leave you with a link as always to something I wrote:  National Guard Heros

To Serve and protect the military motto of the United States American Armed Services, will forever be a part of American History and the History of many who choose to serve. This is a life many choose to live, to protect the rights we were given under our constitution and democracy in the world. Freedom is what keeps us going and the military is the way we ensure it. Those of us who have served, do not do it for our own personal welfare or wants, we do it to protect the rights and privileges and the families we left behind so they can grow up peacefully and safe. We do what we do in the military to protect home and family.

I served in three different branches of the United States Military, I started in The U.S. Army, but did not like it, nor did I last in it, I ended up leaving it due to immaturity. Then, went on, to join, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and then finally serving in The United States Navy for 12 more years. So Military life, was and is ingrained in me as a Disable American Veteran.

Naval stories I tell all, the time and people laugh at the ones I tell. I have been told some are good enough for publishing. SO I thought I would attempt to tell a story from my time in the Army and Army National Guard. My first job in the Army was as a M-88 tank retriever driver. I hated it, slushing through mud to tow out broken tanks. My second military experience was in the Connecticut Army National Guard and I became a Machine Gunner Scout then. I learned many tricks in warfare and field experiences from some of the best in the business in my mind, who, were actual Vietnam Veterans. These men were the best America had in my book and helped me mature and grow as a man I served proudly with them in the Guard and would do so again if I could, for they represent the best there ever was.

But like many Veterans, these proud men, suffered from the same thing I now suffer from PTSD, Post Traumatic Shock Disorder. Nightmares, flash backs, inability to sleep and certain circumstances that will make grown men not be able to sleep normally. And yes, I say men, but as we all know, the fact is women are included all so, so I shall say my fellow military Veterans of all sexes and ages and races. Sadly, war, and military life can affect all of us and in the end it also proves we are all equals no matter what gender, race, nationality or any other damn thing.

The National Guard Unit I served in is a small one in a small Connecticut town. We were called weekend warriors, playing war games in case we were ever attacked on the home front. But each, drill meeting or two week camp, each year brought all in the unit closer together and we depended on the senior members to lead and teach us. Among these men, were two, who to this day stand out in my mind and will forever more. Armand and Louie I call them, they were two Sergeants who served in Nam, and knew the ways of war, and suffered for it in many ways.

Once a month we would meet at the Armory and drill and take apart and clean our weapons, and clean jeeps and equipment. Listen to lectures and lessons in war and learn tactics we would need if anything occurred. A typical weekend drill would start on a Friday night for many of us, we would meet at the Amory, and hang out together even sleeping there. Fridays were for the men of the company to get together and have fun, card games and drinking then war games on the weekend. It was fun indeed at times and at other times very serious indeed.

For Armand and Louie, the drills were serious things and put them back into war mode when the real war games began. I remember starting one such weekend on a Friday evening and learning more then I needed to know about these two men who served so proudly and took the time to teach us younger solders things that would save our asses later. It began on a Friday at the Armory with beer, and drinks and cards. As I said we all stayed there together and had fun.

We gathered and ordered in pizza for the evening, laid out our equipment for the next day, and settled in playing poker. As the evening wore on, I lost money and they laughed about it and I didn’t care I was with real men who had served and I learned from them even at cards But I learned even more about these men by the things they mentioned about being in Nam and the nightmares they talked about at the time. At first I didn’t believe them and thought they were messing with my mind till that Friday night.

As the night wore on, we slowly got drunk and the card game ended. We all decided morning would come soon enough for us, and we cleaned up all the garbage and headed for the old sleeping bags and rest. We all slept in the same locker room and it was a team thing.

As we settled in to sleep I remember seeing Louie in his special hat. It was unusual and different then al the ball caps we wore, I only saw it in shows on tv, in movies and that was it, it was a camafloge hat with a wide brim. Louie love dthat hat and even slept in it and I wondered why. I found out that night.

We all fell asleep around 11 pm, drunk and out of it. But, we didn’t sleep long. Around 2 am it began, first with shouts of Run, Down, Hurry!. I woke in a flash when I heard it coming from Louie that night, but I didn’t move,.Louie, was asleep, his hands grasping his hat down over his head laying there, his legs moving like he was running in place. The sweat was running off his forehead, and the lights were on. I didn’t know what o do, he got louder and louder and moved more and more. It had woken me but it also woke Armand, his friend. Armand waited a bit longer laying there like me in silence watching Louie. He told me don’t do anything, don’t get close and whatever you do don’t try to wake him. So, I watched Louie run an dthen finally wake up in a cold sweat, trembling and soaked in sweat. His eyes popped open wide and he jumped straight up out of the sleeping bag ready to kill someone!. I was scared and shocked, but he opened his eyes and I could see it dawn on him slowly as to where he was. He finally relaxed and started to calm down. When he was normal I asked if he was ok, he said yeah, happens all the time and climbed back in his sleeping bag and fell fast asleep. I looked at Armand who, gave me a grin and said I will tell you later sometime.

That weekend we went North to New York for training in the field, as we drove up, we managed to take a side trip at Armond’s suggestion. The neighborhood package store, we took a army trailor pulled by a jeep, loaded it with ice and beer. We had to have something to drink after war games. We set the tents up and lite fires that night and gathered round before sleeping. Drinking the beer and booze we each bought, relaxed us to sleep after training all day. And I was about to get Louie’s full story that night.

Turns out like this, in 1968 in Vietnam, Louie was in his base with is unit. All was quiet and fine in the field that nite according to Louie and no one knew what was coming. So, they set out the guards for the night, and all went to sleep. Louie was in his sleeping bag in his tent when it all occurred. He never knew it at all. Till he awoke and came out of his tent he had no idea.

At dawn the next morning Louie awoke and climbed out of his sleeping bag all dressed and grabbed his rifle to head out. When he came out the tent flap, it hit him, he was alone it was dead silence. Scanning around there were bodies everywhere, his whole unit was dead! Louie had slept thru a slaughter of his whole unit and he was the last survivor!. Sadly, the unit was wiped out, while Louie slept and for some reason they missed him!. Louie survived yes, but would never be the same.

In the end, this is why Louie could not sleep in the dark at any time. He had to have light at all times when he slept or he would awake thinking he was under attack. Armand had known the story far before me, because they were both Vietnam Veterans, Armand told me now that Louie told me his story, he now trusted me and all would be fine, next time. I learned then as I know now, military life can get you in the end and affect you forever.

      It is time, for Congress, both the House and Senate, the Democrats and Republicans to sit their asses down, stop the finger pointing and name calling and blaming and settle this crisis. America has been long enough now without a Budget and we are headed toward a default on the Debt Ceiling too.  How far can you push something before it falls over a cliff, well this is it folks! Pass a Budget, Raise the Debt Ceiling and lets get on with business, or you all can be removed from office in the next election and no one wins!  Rand Paul said it, we can win this, win what asshole, the wrath and hatred of the American People maybe? It’s sick and crazy, because you politicians all think this is a game to win, all of the American People and the world must suffer because you want to play mind games and toy with it all! Sad indeed and each Senator and Representative should now be hanging their heads in shame, because it went this long.  It’s a shame to the American people, and you are losing respect for America all over the World right now and that doesn’t help anyone! We lose status, position, power and economic strength while you all bicker and fight and verbally jab at one another and nothing gets finished and we are stuck in limbo. Veterans, Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare all at stake and more and yet no one compromises or talks, it is Time damn it, Talk, compromise and lets move on. Maybe we should do recalls on The Tea Party Members, and write down names of those keeping this shit going and vote all out next election.

        Ok, my health has improved as far as my operation is concerned with a few problems lingering. One is my rib cage under the surgical wounds. It aches daily and I can’t lift anything at all or I stretch it and it is painful. then I also have my back going in and out and spasming all the time. I can’t sleep on my stomach as I used to , yet if I sleep on my back it goes out due to herniated discs, I have six in my spine from service days. So I suffer daily waking up and wondering how the hell I can even roll out of bed, never mind walk around all day. The Veteran’s Hospital saved my life I am sure by doing my lung cancer surgery and removing the tumor in my right lung.  I still hurt from it today at five weeks after, but I am getting better, on that one. 

           Tomorrow the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers will play for the American Championship Series, and I am sure it will be a great one too. Boston I ray for the Red Sox to win again and get to the World Series and win or lose I will always be a Red Sox fan. I started at five years old with my Dad watching the Red Sox. God Bless Dad , for he lived his whole life from 1932 to 1990 without seeing the Red Sox win a World Series, but I saw them do it now twice and I want to see them win again. Go, Red Sox Go——Boston Strong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

             I leave you today with my story I hope you will like it:

                                                                     Mackey 

                                                        William M. McCurrach                                                                                                                                              

           Hidden inside every human being is that desire to be loved, wanted and needed, but, some never get that attention do they?  Such is the case for Mackey Storm, a boy born to parents in constant confusion and pain, Mackey believed he was alright, at least that is what they always told him, yet as he grew older Mackey knew he was different, then everyone else. His mother seemed to pull back from him when he was around 5 or 6 years old. Why Mackey never grasped or understood and his father well he never got close anyway, always busy, working and doing his own things.

             Mackey began to notice how he was different not from his looks that’s for sure, cause Mackey was always a handsome lad, with bright eyes and dark ebony hair and a smile that made others smile back. No it was when people started to talk to Mackey that things changed. Mackey always seemed to be one step ahead of all conversations and knew what others were going to say, why, Mackey never understood.  Mackey was a straight A student, but he was shunned by the other kids, they sensed he was different.

             Mackey began to realize he was different himself at 5 years old, when his mom told him no about something he wanted and less than 5 minutes later after Mackey stared at her, she changed her mind and gave in.  Mackey got the candy that day and every day.  At least it was so easy for Mackey he would laugh at anyone having trouble with anything. The other kids would try again as Mackey said to and the next thing they knew, as Mackey stared and watched them they flew through it and finished it all correctly. Mackey had that kind of effect on people, he would reinforce them by telling them they could do it and wham it was done. Mackey did this to whoever, he could, never hurting anyone, because he was a good kid.

                  By the time Mackey hit ten years old, he stood 6 feet tall and he was an imposing figure. Many thought he was tall for his age and they were right.  What wasn’ t  normal were those days when Mackey seemed to control everything around him and everyone too. It was like a magic spell fell over every person within Mackey’s eye sight.  He would just watch and see things done the way he thought they should be. Amazingly, he would stare and his brow would furrow and his eyes became like two pins of light. The next thing Mackey knew, no matter what it was, came out Mackey’s way.

                    When Mackey hit his teenage years at 13, and he noticed girls, he could have anyone he wanted,   they swooned for him and hung on his every word.. It was wild to watch for sure, but Mackey or those who knew him never questioned it, they just assumed he was a popular kid. Never a question was asked why it was all so, it was just accepted by all.

                     Then at 16, as most kids do, Mackey began to mature a bit and see things a little differently and he began to understand this weird power of control he has.  By concentrating, Mackey could make almost anyone do anything and he seemed to see into the future too, he could tell people not to do something cause he could see bad events in the future, in his sleep.

                       At 18 Mackey filled out and his weight went up to 220 lbs. and pure muscle. He never exercised a day in his life, it was natural for him.  Mackey was now a young man, he was strong physically as well as mentally. Mackey’s predictions of the future became more intense and clearer for him. He could now make out faces on the people in his dreams and he heard names and sounds too. His dreams were now, as good as being awake.  After a night of these dreams, he had to go out and find the people in them and try to prevent harm from happening to them. Mackey saved many a person this way in his 18^th year. He would run to the places he saw in his dreams and find them in real life and sit and wait until his dream started becoming reality and then step in and change it, stopping the person from getting injured or killed. Mackey begin to believe this was his purpose in life, his destiny to help others with his gift of future sight and control and intelligence. It had to be thought Mackey, why else would he be able to know and do all he did?  But, it grew tiring after a few years for Mackey. Something was wrong with Mackey now, but, he couldn’t tell what. The pattern of seeing, reacting and fixing was slowly wearing on Mackey’s nerves

                        On Mackey’s 21^st birthday, he awoke in a peaceful manner, his eyes opening slowly as the light from the window hit them and he adjusted to it. He lay in bed, just relaxed and no aggressive moves or actions did he take, just   lying   there. Mackey thought finally it is over, no more dreams, or sights, no one close by I want to control or even will try to. A peace hit Mackey that day. In his mind all Mackey could hear or see were his own thoughts, no one else’s.

                         Mackey’s parents now older and in their 50’s gave Mackey a 21^st birthday party that day, they invited all his friends and relatives, spending a good grand on it all. Mackey got presents and money and lots of hugs and kisses and Happy Birthdays. The party lasted most of that evening and into the night, not ending till 1 am. Mackey was now 21 and he was dead tired, he trudged off to bed now, and fell asleep.

                          The next day, for Mackey was weird, he had no more control over others, his intelligence seemed just normal not high anymore, yet Mackey felt normal in all other ways. He wasn’t dreaming of anything, anymore, Mackey felt scared too, for the first time in decades.  Mackey knew then he needed  help, someone who could answer what happened to his abilities and powers so to say, why have they disappeared? Mackey wanted to know but had no idea where to turn for help, he floundered around looking for reasons and help,  no one came to help him at all.

                          Mackey awoke on his 22^nd birthday and climbed from bed, his hair a mess on his head, his eyes half open, and stumbled into the bathroom, looked in the mirror and froze in surprise. The man looking back at him, looked like an 80 year old man!. Mackey screamed and his body shook and shuddered as he screamed and yelled, help me!  But no help was coming, Mackey knew it now as he raised his hands to his face and felt the creases and wrinkles of old age and cried, I am only 22!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         That afternoon, Mackey laid in his bed, tired again and no place to turn to, he closed his eyes and prayed to dream, but, no dreams were to be found for Mackey now.

                          6 am, the next morning, Mackey’s friend and neighbor came knocking on his door, no answer so the friend kept knocking for the next few days, after three days and no answer, the neighbor got worried and called the police, they arrived within 30 minutes of the call. As the neighbor explained   his worries over Mackey’s disappearance and not answering the door, the police listened. They told the neighbor we will check on him before we leave, then, headed to Mackey’s apartment.

                          Knocking on the door and no one answering the Police decided they needed to look in on Mackey and make sure he was ok. Sending the neighbor for the key from the landlord they waited outside Mackey’s door. When the neighbor gave the key to the police, they went in. A smell came from the apartment as soon as the door opened, causing the police officers and the neighbor to gag at the smell. 

                          In the bedroom they found Mackey, sprawled across his bed, a skeleton was all they found. Mackey was dead at 22 years old and all that remained was his skeleton in his bed. Mackey had burned himself out, by dreaming his dreams, following them and controlling others, his futuristic visions and powers had eaten Mackey to death.  Mackey self- combusted from the inside, out, is what the autopsy found, and they never found the cause. He lived his short life helping others with his futuristic visions and his power of controlling others, Mackey will go down in history as a helper and mankind will miss him.

      Entertainment these days is so far spread and wide and comes in so many varieties it is hard to group it all together in one place. The entertainment I am speaking of  is television and the fact cable and others have provided so many channels it is crazy to try to watch them all. You get over 180 channels with cable boxes and have everything from sports to old movies and old television shows to boat in reruns. Xfinity now has a box to allow you to record 4 shows while you watch a fifth as does Tivo, but who has time unless you don’t work to watch it all?  Choice is what the cable and satellite companies are betting on to stay in business each day and nite. It seems to work for Americans!

        I can remember back to the 1960’s, when television was still black and white, and television station we got were, ABC, CBS, NBC, and the New York Channel that made it here, by way of antennas.  The old shows like The Munsters, The Addams Family, the Original Batman (campy one), Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, the Wonderful World of Disney, McHales. Navy, My Favorite Martian, and more filled the air waves. There were no swear words or vulgarities allowed back then, the censors controlled what came on and parents controlled what their kids watched. What happened to those days folks, and why can’t entertainment companies and producers, come up with clean comedies, clean police shows like Dragnet, or old style westerns like GunSmoke and Rawhide? What happened to the industry, now it is blood and guts, killings and stupidity on Television, why?

          Next Subject, ShutDown, why? As the American people, veterans and more suffer due to Congress shutting down our government, the Senator and Congressmen and women, get full pay, full benefits and a gym to play in too? Sadly, this is wrong folks, the Republicans and the Tea Party think this is a game of one upmanship or winner take all, it’s not? It’s turning into the worst disaster in American Political History fast. Oh we are spoiled little brats and we lost the fight on Obamacare, so lets make Americans pay, by shutting down the government, taking away social security payments, disability payments for veterans and closing parks and more. On top of it they furlough medical personnel from Va. Hospital and cut back needed care.! Are you people sick, people can’t refinance their homes, they can’t get loans, they can’t pay rent and electric bills, why, because the Republicans act like spoiled children! Wake up! It’s time to end this before we default on our bills period, pass a damn budget, fund the Government, open it up to run and raise the damn debt ceiling, stop blackmailing the American People and President Obama and lets go, you lost, admit it and move on!

         As The Red Sox and their nation await the winner of the Oakland and Detroit Series, I yell go Red Sox!!!! I don’t care who they play next and win or lose I will always be a Red Sox fan, I bleed Red for them!  The Red Sox Nation will support the team no matter what and we are the greatest fans in Major League baseball period. Boston is a special town in many ways and its teams and people deserve the best, take it from a Boston Red Sox fan from age five till 57 and further on. Nothing better than to see the Red Sox win!

As a disabled military Veteran who served his country honorably, for many years mind you, I don’t plan on fading into the woodwork or disappearing. But as time goes on I get more and more hobbled and need more and more help to walk.  The injuries from my service time are  now mounting up more or less and removing some mobility from me, now and then. For a person who ran track and played sports in High school days, to one who now needs a cane to walk.

Injuries come in many shapes, sizes and forms, and believe me I have more then a few. I suffer from chronic back pain, caused by degenerative disc disease. I herniated 3 discs in my lower spine, and three in my neck also. Walking is becoming painful and I have had to start using a cane now at 55, which is actually a young age. Never thought I would look at a cane in my life as a device I needed or would even think about using but I am.

Injuries come in many shapes and sizes as I said, sleep apnea starts up, then I get around to PTSD bouts, and then the back goes again. Endless cycles of pain and suffering make me want to disappear from the world in many ways.  I hate high stress and tensions and any pressures being placed upon me, and ultimately this leads to short bouts of depression. Who am I, I am an American Veteran who served his country is who I am!

As disabled veterans all over the country will tell you, we do the best we can under the circumstances we have and normally we do not cry. We have our pride, and we would rather suffer in pain and silence then cry out loud for help, unless we really need it.  Sadly though there does come a time, when we do need some form of help to carry on. It happens to all of us in the end, I believe.

You can only deny or ignore or push thru injuries for so long, before they make you ask for pain meds, muscle relaxers and more. And once you do ask for the help of these drugs, physical therapies, and more, it becomes a spiraling circle of back and forth and in and out of Veteran’s Hospitals. Sadly you can’t escape it anymore, you need the help.

Pride and Determination can only carry a Veteran so far, and we veteran’s we do not like to cry in pain. Each day we survive is a victory in and of itself for us. I am no where near as bad off as many other Veterans out there who lost limbs and more, but it doesn’t mean I don’t hurt, it just means I don’t cry!

       Thank You for reading my Blog! have a Good day all and Best Wishes!