** I am sure you are aware that the effort is being made my take is that some people don't want to reminded. I have sent several e-mails and received no reply. Not even a no such address. That tells me that the e-mail address is still active but the person does not want to respond. **

Tom, we think alike. You are right. This is not necessarily in response to you or to the above, but related:

I think we all earned the right a long time ago to answer or not answer.

I think we all earned the right to participate or to not participate, as we choose.

I think we all paid our dues and we all reacted differently to actions and situations that we were thrust into. We cannot judge anyone based upon when they were there, or what we understand they did or did not do because, doing what we did, a heartbeat could easily change EVERYTHING. One bullet snapping by a man's ear could change everything; we simply do not know how each of us might react on a given day.

Something that your or my personality allowed us to somehow get through and deal with on one day may have sent some other guy into the next galaxy on the day before or the day after.

Something they cruised through may have ended up sending me into an annual heebie-jeebie fit. Nothing wrong with that, it's natural; but it's also just effing different. We are all different.

My point? We should reach out. Quietly, nicely, regularly. Guys who don't respond, that's okay, we'll be back. Nicely, quietly, etc. Guys who don't feel like chasing old ghosts, that's okay too. They know where to find us, and if we do it right they will all understand that they are always welcome, anytime, whenever they are ready, no conditions.

We've all got baggage we don't share even with each other. That, sir, as we all know all too well, is life.

Just so's you don't think I just put on pink legwarmers, if I happen to see some SOB reaching for yer baggage, he's toast. Damn, I wish there were more Crocs around here. I always felt safe when there was a whole bunch of Crocs around. Even if they did smell a little bad.

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