Never mind that the hour was 5:30 in the morning. As a matter of fact, this morning as I write about the travails of my travels. Yes, it was, indeed, another one of my patented road trips, and it was a Saturday drive in Central Texas, some 100 miles outside of the city of Dallas. I got up extra early just so I could be in KVET's range by 5 in time for the Country Gold show. After the sun rises, there will be great scenes to look at, but I'll get to that some other time....

A friend of mine died today. I saw his death a few years back,not because of his health,but because he stopped living. He worked long and hard,got drunk after work. Day in,day out the same thing. This post is not so much about his death but more about my way of thinking. When does one really die? If we are alive but have no life,no dreams,hobbies,no ambititions,no future,ect. didn't we die already? The body might be strong,but is that enough if we stop dreaming? What good is living without risk,fun,love....

I just found out my 17 year old daughter is pregnant with my first grandchild. My emotions jump from elation to "god she has no idea what she's in for". She will start her senior year this August, but the baby is due in Feb. Are there any programs for her to finish high school? She lives in Dallas.

Yesterday while walking Burlington, VT's commercial district, I looked down and noticed a young man reclined against the wall of a building with his feet out in the walkway, begging. Bemused, I asked him why a strapping young man like himself was begging, rather than out working.

He replied that one had to eat before one could work. Odd, but that wasn't how I'd learned about life.

I walked on, but the situation remained with me. I was feeling pretty irritated,...