Thanks Giving

This year will be a particularly poignant season of giving thanks for all we have. Mom and dad are both gone now. We miss them dearly, but the gratitude for the life they gave me, for the course I eventually found myself on, will never end. I am thankful for my family, for my wife, and the family I married into...I am thankful for my work family, and for the city of New York. Finally I am thankful for life itself. There is nothing more precious. I am thankful for my voice, and for the freedom of speech I am about to exercise.

With that in mind...I just want to ask can we, as a nation, commit to not having one more unarmed person of color die at the hands of our police? Can we commit, in the coming year to take a step back from shooting first and asking questions later? Can we go through a year without violence dominating the headlines? Can we stop giving anarchists and rabble-rousers the fuel for their hateful flames?

Can we say no more: Amadou Diallo, no more Sean Bell, no more Trevon Martin, no more Eric Garner, no more Michael Brown, no more...the list goes shamefully on...For their families and loved ones I pray...there is an empty place at all their tables.

Happy Birthday Daddy.

Day 6…again. November 4, 2014. Happy, Happy birthday to my father. I am so happy he was born. Obviously. I love life and he helped give it to me. He would be 84 today. I miss him. The good, the bad, the seventies!

Just came off of the 22 hour shift. I earned my money. 3 Incidents in the span of my tour. We handled them all. Just as I was drifting off to Kalimba by 46 Bliss, Damon barges in and I spring into action. Rather fell. Into action. It is so autumn. It’s time to vote.

Is it any wonder why I lover her so? Wouldn't trade her for gold!

My wife and my dad. 2005 at his 75th.