In response to FEAR

I don't do fear... it focuses on the negative... I have learned that fear is the opposite of love... and I am all about the LOVE! I choose LOVE as my religion.

What can I do in these times for my country I ask myself [daily]? I can continue to live the life that many have died for me to live ... I can continue to believe in the fact that I live in a country where my choices are my choices ... I can smile at my fellow Americans and those who are here visiting our great country each day I am out in the world, and be kind in thought word and deed ... and remember to live each day like it is my last ... for now, that is all I can do ... but FEAR is not one of the things I choose.

We are in a GREAT transition ... for me, it is important that we stand together as countrymen and women with a consciousness of the freedom that we've earned with our history ... Yes, things are really different today than we've known in the past, but all I can do is the BEST that I can do with my individual life... I talk to God every day about my life and hand it over to him/her once again... and it makes it easier for me. I do trust that God has a higher plan... a better plan than I could ever imagine... but sometimes it looks like God has screwed up, and then I remember that it isn't always 'pretty' walking through the muck...

Thinking back in my lifetime, it seems this President has had a lot more muck to deal with from the get go... more than any other President in the history of my life... I do not envy him at all. I wouldn't want the job, and don't understand why he would either... but I choose to lift him up rather than to beat him down ...

The last President wasn't my choice, and especially not one of my favorites... but he was our President ... I had to learn to lift him up for the bigger picture. HE is the reason I can do that today.

I once thought about a political career... I was very young (late teens)... but that was then, and this is NOW...

TODAY I am just living for today...

Change of Command

I was invited to attend a "Change of Command" ceremony for my childhood friend Major Alfred Navarro at Fort Campbell, KY. I also was the Official Photographer for the event - with clearance and all - an interesting experience in a military atmosphere.

As a side note, this was my first time on the Fort Campbell Army Post - it is HUGE! It's like a world within a world - they even have their own Burger King!

My husband and I stayed to visit the museum on base... it was amazing! We saw artifacts from Hitler's private home. Wow!

If I should die before I wake...

An email is received on Friday night that a new friend has died... a man that I only met twice - but who forever will remain with me and the funny story that he created on our last meeting.

FINNEY, Michael Dean "Rick" Was born in Nashville, TN June 8th, 1946, and died there on September 29th, 2009. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Sol Schulman, and beloved mother-in-law, Peggy "Me-Mama" Whitworth. Rick is survived by his wife, Eleanor Whitworth Finney; son, David Charles Whitworth; birth mother, Velma Dean Finney; father-in-law, Charles Bosley Whitworth, Jr.; brother-in-law, Charles Bosley Whitworth III, and his cousin, "Aunt Alice" Zimmerman. Mr. Finney attended old Woodmont Elementary School, Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, TN, The Bellefaire School in University Heights, OH and University of Tennessee. Rick lived his life in Technicolor. He adored the Whitworth family's "Gin Farm," and managed it with a true love of the trees, flowers, streams and animals, as well as the Turnbull Sports Club members. But Rick will surely be best remembered for his truly incredible voice and songs. From singing bass with Johnny Cash, to many voices for Disney and commercials such as the Pace Picante Salsa classic "New York City ... Get a rope!" to movie roles in Jim Varney's Ernest Goes To Jail and Ernest Scared Stupid, Coal Miner's Daughter, At Close Range (starring Sean Penn and Christopher Walken), Sam Stumpf'sThe Misadventures of Amy Everhart (Winner, Best Children's Film, Long Island Film Festival) and NBC's Elvis: The Early Years, as well as appearances in music videos with Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings, John Prine, Keith Whitley, Dr. Hook, "Cowboy" Jack Clement, Hank Williams, Jr., John Hartford, Roy Orbison, Moe Bandy and Tammy Wynette. Many of his compositions were recorded by artists like George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, Charlie Rich, Bobby Bare, Freddie Hart and O.C. Smith. Rick's velvet voice and larger-than-life personality made him the hit of any party. He even shared the stage of Nashville's "Night Train" with acts like Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Bo Diddley, and Chubby Checker. He still holds the record for being the main opening act at Nashville's Exit In with his humorous songs and friendly stage presence. While there, he met and performed with such artists as the B-52's, Dobie Gray, Clifford Curry, Johnnie Rivers, Jose Feliciano, B.B. King, Steve Martin, Asleep at the Wheel, Del Shannon, Johnny Winter, Bobby Bland, Linda Rondstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Willie Dixon and many more. As one of his multitude of friends said, "What a beautiful human being!" And as Rick himself wrote, "We will meet, but we will miss him. There will be one empty chair. We will linger to caress him when we breathe our evening prayer." Indeed, know that your Lambie, Pikachu, and all of your countless friends love and shall miss our one-of-a-kind "Ramie" ... A Memorial service will be held at St. George's Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Pike, at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 3, 2009 with family visitation and luncheon afterwards at the Finney home on Cornwall Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice. MARSHALL DONNELLY COMBS, (615) 327-1111.