Dennis Marks:  

Revision: January 29, 2019 A lot has changed in the last 3 years. Biggest tragedy was loosing my male German Shepard very unexpectedly at the age of 8. A tumor on his spleen he showed no signs of having, ruptured and he bleed out internally in a few short hours. Vet said no permanent fix, so we let him go peacefully as possible. I miss him every day as he was my buddy. He was by my side, no matter how hot or cold regardless of what I was doing. His sister was really devastated but after a year, she is doing better, but I see her looking sometimes. Breaks my heart. She has taken up a lot of his traits and taken his place by my side. (She was always out searching and checking things out because she knew he was always watching her. They had an amazing non-vocal form of communication) Their relationship always reminded me of a lion and lioness. They were really a great team. Got rid of my Shelby GT500 simply because I did not drive it enough. Good thing about it is my wife got a new Chrysler 300C out of the deal and I took her 2005. That is like a new car for me as I was and am still drive a 2000 GMC Yukon I bought new in 2000. Keeping up with the guy next door is not my thing! Unfortunately my love for the outdoors, gardening, yard care, and building things has drastically been reduced because of rapidly increasing medical problems from my extended vacation in 1967 and 1969. Five years ago I felt I was 35, now I feel like I am 95. That is a drastic change, especially for me, in a few short years. All of you Vets know what dealing with the VA is like, but they now rate me 100% total and permanently disabled. (In VA math, I now have a total of 260% disability rating for my various ailments.) I am not complaining and still smile every morning light shines on my face. The alternative is not very good. I do as much as I can outside and have resorted to putting my garden in 11 raised beds and many 20 gallon pots to keep it simple and as easy as possible. I will continue my update another day. Before closing for now I wanted to share something with you. I enjoy writing and wrote this the other day when remembering one of our younger classmates, Larry Watkins, who was killed in Vietnam, in case you did not know him. A Friend Remembered I knew you before... You were a rubbing on my wall. I knew you as a friend before... You were a rubbing on my wall. I knew you as a fellow teammate before... You were a rubbing on my wall. I knew you as a whimsical entry in my yearbook... Before you were a rubbing on my wall. Now I know how short your life was. Now I know all the things in life you never knew. Now I know you had a family you never got to see grow. Now I know you as a picture in a 52 year old book. Now I know...Expand for more