Sarge Charlie, final edition.........

2 Timothy 4:7,8

7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8) Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

I have quoted 2 Timothy 4:7,8, in comments for years when one of my friends would lose a family member or friend. I suppose it is appropriate for me to use it here today.

If you are reading this post, I have finished the race.

The old sarge lived a complicated life, easily dividable into two parts. The first 28 years cover my childhood, living on a farm as a share-cropper's son, learning to respect those who men who served our country during WWII and Korea and developing my desire to spend my life as a solder.
Just out of High School I married at age 17 with our first child born prior to my 19th birthday. It turned out not to be a good marriage and ended in divorce in 1967. I had three daughters that I love. That is about all I have ever told you about that part of my life.

Phase one ends.....

Phase 2 begins.....

THE SOUL MATE

Finding my soul mate is the best thing that has ever happened to me, it was like a rebirth, a new life.....

Yep, in 1966, my life started over. I met the person who would become my soul mate for the balance of my life. We were both on the rebound, Miss Bee was in the process of getting ready to move back to Baltimore. Yep, the old sarge was smitten, I even tried my hand a poetry.....

Well folks, let me tell you a little story about a girl named Bee

She was in the Arizona desert for all to see

While the guns were blazing on the Old Tombstone streets

With my hat in my hand I jumped to my feet

She was a cute little thing and I’m sure she meant me no harm

But I was smitten by her and all of her charm

She left me in the desert which made me so sad

But I followed her to Baltimore and then I was glad

I courted her with vigor and we had lots of fun
And a year or so later we became one

January 4, 1968, Miss Bee came to Okinawa and we were Married in the post Chapel of the Machinato Housing Area. This past January 4th we started the 44th year of love and devotion that grew from a relationship that no one thought would last when we were first married. What can I say about that, we knew......

(L: Okinawa, C: Lake Tahoe, R: Podunk)

As I write this post I can hear Madonna singing "Don't Cry for me Argentina" since as a poker player I know you have to play the hand you draw, I will sing "Don't Cry for me America."

You see, I have lived a full wonderful life, I came from a Share Cropper’s son to a very comfortable retiree. I was unemployed once in 1958 for about a month, other than that I always worked, I made it the old fashioned way, I earned it with the help of my soul mate.

I was able to retire at age 62 with a reduced Social Security, since life is unpredictable I must admit that I made the best choice. Retire as soon as you can afford it, do all the things you want to do and see all the places you want to see while you are strong enough. There are so many places left on my list that I will not get to see.

I know Miss Bee is going to be very sad when this is posted, stop by and give her hugs, over the years I learned that hugs are the most comforting thing one person can give to another. I may not leave comments but I will be checking in on all my favorite blogs.

My one regret is that I will not be able to vote President Obama out of office, I request that all my friends be sure to cast that vote for me........

Good by, Adiós, Arrivederci, Catch-you-later, Auf Wiedersehen,Aloha, Shalom, Caó mun'g chè, Sayonara, Annyong-hi kyeshipshio