Though I was told lots of freight was available, I have ended up sitting a full day on New Years Eve. I do have good miles ahead and clear roads with adequate time now to make my delivery in Springfield, Mo by tuesday afternoon. So with a bit of time to reflect and stay off the roads which can be so potentially dangerous with celebrants out risking it all in the pursuit of good feelings, good thoughts, and good company. I got to thinking as I scanned the tv channels seeing presentations memorializing the old year and anticipating the New Year in celebration, that I didn’t really want to look back at the old year. At times, and this was one of those, one reflects and can gets melancholy about the mistakes made in the past year, or just the disasters whether large or small, to ourselves or to our fellow men. As I grew tired and stepped out to clean the bit of snow off my TV Satellite Dome so I could continue to watch tv and crawl into the comfort of the sleeperberth I got to thinking that I didn’t really want to look back on the past. No, just give me the future! It’s got to be brighter than this, right?

Then I have to ask, what would be the point. For if we don’t learn from the past, how can we possibly have a good future? For the deeds of men, give us yes, sorrow and fear as well as joy and hope. And we must not forget the past in our efforts to improve our future. Men and women who have fought to protect our freedoms in this country as well as others. Soldiers who fought with sword, gun, pen, microphone and video camera have sacrificed themselves so that their families and loved ones as well as total strangers, yes fellow citizens could continue on in the pursuit of happiness that our Declaration of Independence has stated IS one of our unalienable rights. It is my strong conviction that we should not forget these men and women and the courageous, yes heroic acts they have done by falling to shameful acts of cowardess that bring us down to the level of our enemies. Who are those enemies? Those that would seek to destroy the freedoms we enjoy and undermine the very government that strives to defend our constitution and our bill of rights. Sad that at times that enemy appears to be supported by our own representatives in some of the highest offices in the land. How could they be supporting the very enemy they declare to be fighting? By seeking the right to invade the privacy of its citizens, to hold men without representation or without the basic unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the very pursuit of happiness endowed upon them by their very Creator.

Yes, it could be argued, when one discards those rights in favor of harming others then he has no rights. It is a challenge to uphold these unalienable rights we have and the laws we hold dear in the effort to defend and protect this country and the freedoms we so effusively enjoy. I do not disagree, but that challenge is the smelter that molds men and women into heroes.

So, though I have petty personal problems to deal with in my daily life, like paying bills getting home to my wife, finding time to see my family, planning towards a retirement and working to leave some sort of mark in this world, I can’t help but ask myself, What kind of mark do I want to leave? Remembering the past, can only lead to a bright and wonderful future. One I want to be proud to be a part of.