William Zimmerman:  

Note: My story keeps changing because my editor, (Barbara) keeps telling me I need to change or drop things. I hope to someday get it just right) Before I start I need to inform those who remember me as being conservative that over the years I have slowly evolved into a Tree hugging, handgun hating, equal rights for everybody, tax the crap out of the rich, bleeding heart liberal. The final straw was when a NO GOOD LIAR(and You know who I'm referring to)sent a bright, wonderful, good hearted kid that I had watched grow up in my Cub Scout Pack and then My Boy Scout Troop off to Iraq and got him killed for absolutely no reason what so ever. This Young man's only crime in life was needing the Military's help(GI Bill)to go to college. I cannot forgive this no matter how hard I have tried. I DO SUPPORT our President 110% and anyone who makes racial slurs or insults about him (or anyone else) and thinks that I find it amusing or entertaining insults my intelligence and I don't appreciate that. The time for that kind of behavior, and there really has never been one, was long ago and racial hatred has no place in our society and certainly no place anywhere around me. Thank You for your understanding. I retired on disability on December 1,2002 due to severe heart disease. I had Open Heart surgery (Bypass 5 grafts) in May 2001. In addition, since then, I have had 4 stents implanted into my heart. Barbara, my best friend and beloved wife, and I have been married for 31 years. We have been through good times and bad times but have always been there for each other. I cannot imagine anyone else that I would have wanted to spend my life with(OK, Jacklyn Smith of Charlies Angels but what chance did I have there??). We have 3 wonderful children who are now adults. My youngest son, David (Named after David York), and his wife, Samantha (Sam for short) presented Barbara and I with our first grandchild, Orion, on May 15, 2007. (Ironically, While he was being born, I was in the ER with a Blood Pressure of 59/23. This was when I was first Diagnosed with Addison's Disease.) We are doing our best to spoil him rotten. Barbara bought him his first Car when he was 6 months old. David was driving a 1989 Volvo whose AC, among other things, had ceased to function years ago. She went right down to the Honda Dealership to buy him a new car. Fortunate for me, there was a Hyundai Dealership next door and she ended up getting him a Hyundai Accent(at considerable less damage to my checking account). She made it clear,(To David) that the car went where Orion went. I find that David is very much more likely to take care of Orion on a hot day now. After graduation, I went to the ARMY and served in Wiesbaden, Germany until my Separation (DD214) in December 1973. After that I went to work for TVA and worked there for more than 30 years (Federal Service including Military) before my heart forced an early retirement in December 2002. My Cardiologist has told me that my heart failure is in the final stage. He has told me this for the last two years and I'm still here so I just live day to day. My health has actually improved somewhat the last two years. After I was diagnosed with Addison's disease, I was prescribed medications that have made me feel much better. There are only two people in Owensboro who have this disease and I am one of the two! In a strange but true story my pet, a beautiful Golden Lab named Buddy, was also diagnosed with Addison's disease this past April. He died after a good fight at the end of...Expand for more