Happy Father's Day - Be Courageous, Men!

Aloha,


To all the Men who are, I say: Happy Father's Day

To all the Men who want to be, I say: Happy Father's Day

 

To all the Men who positively influence a young person in their life, I say: Happy Father's Day.

And, to all the Men who, for whatever reason have chosen not to be a father in their child's life, I say:

...It is never too late to be the Father you were meant to be.

 

 

 

Men: Be Courageous!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Bloggers! Don't Quit - Keep Writing - Followers Ahead!

Aloha,

All this week, I tried valiantly – but unsuccessfully – to personally respond to the 171 comments stemming from my recent D-Day post.

I ground to a halt and my mindset shifted gears when somebody replied to my comments and said they were “honored” that I stopped by to comment on their “baby blog.”

While I appreciated their very kind words, it shouldn’t be an honor to receive a comment and a new blog is only a Alex J. Cavanaugh-type blog in waiting.

My point is that I am no one special and there no magic tricks to the (perceived) success of my blog, so anyone starting off needs not to feel worry, but excitement.

I wrote my first post on 9/11/11 – but only because I’d been struggling to find a topic to write about.

And on the 10^th anniversary of the worst attacks on our soil, I knew I felt passionate enough to share my feelings.

I wrote, rewrote, edited, sat on it, rewrote it and sat back with a satisfied sigh.

I garnered one comment – from my pastor.

Point: I didn’t know what to write about – and I still don’t sometimes – just look at my labels, but the point is to be just YOU.

It cracks me up no end to see all the different direction I have gone with this blog and that’s fine.

MY point is your online “voice” has to be the same as your real voice. As in real life, we all have a unique voice, so have a conversation with us – don’t share your thesis.

These days, my “writing” blog seems to be much more about Parenting and Patriotism than Prose and Parenthesis, and again that’s OK. It’s working for me.

PS. And, be patient – pay your dues.

I’ve been blogging nearly three years and have just recently finished WIP#1.

I have no agent and my book isn’t published – but boy what a wonderful internship I’ve had here in what I jokingly call the Blogisfear.

So, comment on other blogs, promote a cover reveal, enter a bloghop or tweet a new release. Keep doing things like this, and we will find you ;)

Finally, never, EVER give up.

IF writing is your dream – don’t quit – there is no age limit to being a published author.

Remember… Failure is not an option – it’s a choice.

Can anyone add to what I’ve mentioned and share any other tips with new bloggers?

D-Day Update (& How I became a Kid in a Candy Store)

Aloha,

U.S. Army CSM (Ret.) Bill Ryan (FL, 2006)

I have a neat update, but first can I say a very *Special* thanks to everyone who contributed to the more than 165 comments on my recent D-Day post about D-Day veteran and friend, U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) William “Bill” Ryan.

 

 

 

(I felt quite Alex J. Cavanaugh-ish for at least a full day and even wondered if Elise Fallson would make me a Mini-Mark… until I realized I would sound like a small store :(

From those in the Blog Blitz army who answered the call of Allied Supreme Commenter Gen. Donald L. Hammons – to the “civilians” who follow my blog on a regular basis, your response was amazing – and Bill was truly appreciative when I talked to him.

I didn’t mention it, but for the last seven years, I’ve made it an annual tradition to call Bill on D-Day. (Normally, he’s in Normandy or somewhere else – he’s always invited to related events in France, England, and Holland – but at least I can leave a voicemail expressing my appreciation for his service.)

When I called this past Thursday, I was batting .142 (1 for 7), but I scored a home run when, to my delight, Bill answered the phone.

However, instead of being happy, I immediately asked why wasn’t he over in Normandy? (I’m such a dork, sometimes.)

“Well, it’s only the 69^th anniversary, the big one is next year,” Bill said. “But I’ll be heading to Holland in September.”

U.S. Paratroopers drop into Holland, Sept. 1944.

 

Now, I’m nobody’s big gurl’s blouse, but I gasped (just like they do in the movies.)

“No way,” I said, holding my breath, because there was no way, was there?

 “When are you going to be there?” I asked.

“I’ll be in Nijmegen the second week of September. Why?”

(I skipped the gasp and went straight for the high-pitched squee… which may have perturbed this old warrior, but he’s a good ol’ sport, is our Bill, so he ignored my extended use of the higher decibel table.)

“Bill, I’ll be in Amsterdam the same week (my dad and I have a long-standing vacation rendezvous.) Nijmegen is only a couple of hours away by train.”

“Well that’s great to hear. We should plan to me--”

I ran over his invitation like a starved ‘80s groupie at a Depeche Mode concert.

“Bill, would it be OK if I tagged along to observe some of the official events you’ve got going on? Promise I won’t be a pain,” I said, snapping into full-on reporter mode. “Just me, my camera and a notepad. Two notepads. Max.”

“Mark, it would be a pleasure, especially after hearing about your post – and that so many people responded,” said Bill from a phone in Melbourne, Florida, as we contemplated meeting in the historic Dutch city of Nijmegen, which is more than 7,300 miles away from Honolulu.

After a few minutes, we agreed to swap travel itineraries and call again soon to firm up the plans.

After sending Bill my best wishes, I put the phone down – and the first thing I did was do the giddy dance made famous (for me) by Laura Linney in Love Actually.

So, now, thanks to all of YOU who responded to the post, I’ve the chance to spend the day with “the other Private Ryan” (and hopefully a bunch of other WWII veterans) as they participate in official ceremonies remembering Operation Market Garden, (September 17 – 25, 1944.)

I flopped on the couch and contemplated the possibilities as a kid-in-the-candy-store smile spread across my face like a slow Hawaiian sunrise.

This is going to be fun.