My great grandfather on my dad’s side emigrated to the US from Eastern Europe and was blown up, at the tender age of 39, in a coal mining accident in Pennsylvania. They never found his remains.

His son, my grandfather whom I never met, became a violent alcoholic and took it out on my dad. My dad wasn’t an alcoholic, but he took it out on me…though he made sure there was always food on the table. Sh*t rolls down hill, as they say.

I forgive him for his excesses. He did what he could. In some areas he could have done better. He had many great qualities and taught me a lot about history and politics. He worked hard, wrote many books and was a patriot.

My mom is Michael Savage’s age and grew up in Garfield, NJ not far from him. I suppose they both could have run into each other along the way, on a hot summer’s day, somewhere on the East Coast and never have known it. Perhaps at Wildwood Beach, NJ.

Yes, we should all strive to keep on truckin’ at all costs. And sometimes the costs can be very high… What other reasonable choice do we have? If not for ourselves then for someone else. And if not for someone else then at least for something higher and separate from ourselves: God, an ideal, a pet…

We are all God’s chosen people–if we chose God. We aspire to him because he inspires us. But you have to look for him first. He likes to play “Hide ‘N Seek” and “Hidden in Plain Sight.” He’s got a funny sense of humor, this jealous God–but plays for keeps, for all the marbles, in this turbulent game of life…

Close your eyes at night knowing this: you’re blessed to have been born in the USA. So thank God and your lucky stars, if you like…