Where do I start with summarizing the entirety of 2021? The last post I wrote here on my blog was at the end of 2020 and for a new beginning of 2021. Well here we are, at the end of 2021 and what a new beginning it has become. I’m truly looking forward to 2022 and continuing this journey that has taken place this past year. Let’s dive in – there is a lot!
2021 was a loss of love, yet a beginning of another – let me explain. The beginning of this past year was tough for me; it was tough for Marilyn; it was tough for our children. At a certain point the previous year, we decided to go our separate ways, because what we were doing wasn’t working. I truly feel, once trust is lost, it is hard (yet not impossible) to be gained back from the perspective of both sides. At the time, it seemed pretty bleak – I had once again ruined a marriage. A woman whom I had known for quite some time came to Hawaii to visit in early March and wow – a heart changing moment was right in front of me. I would end up marrying this woman, Samantha Rae, on September 6th of this year, but I’m jumping way too far ahead here!
My current occupation and the adventure it’s provided has been nothing more than amazing this past year, even through this continued Covid bleeeeeeeeeep…..something that we thought back in March 2020 would be done and over in 2-3 weeks if we could just ‘flatten the curve.’ Yet here we are, nearly 2 years later still trying to get back to some normalcy of life. It hasn’t been all bad, I was given the amazing opportunity to work fully remote and I am doing so from my home in Las Vegas, Nevada and enjoying every moment of it. I have had a couple work trips this year and two scheduled for 2022. I was in Alaska – back to previous base I was assigned to, Eielson Air Force Base outside of Fairbanks for a week to complete an infrastructure assessment for the base’s fuels systems and for a fuels related conference in Washington DC. This coming year, I have trips planned for Andersen Air Base in Guam and Kadena Air Base on the island of Okinawa in Japan. I thank my employer, Encore Support Systems and its leader Ms. Kay for your leadership, for your kindness, for your compassion, for your support through these past 2 plus years and hope to continue on far into the future.
Last year, I stated I wanted to get out and travel more, and even with what’s going on in our world, I have been able to do so and would like that to continue in 2022. This past year, Samantha and I have taken trips to Seattle, Utah, Washington DC, Michigan, Oklahoma and back and forth from Hawaii to Las Vegas before I made the move here in June. We went and saw Toby Keith, Chris Jansen, Lainey Wilson, and Jason Aldean. I’m certainly looking forward to more traveling and concerts this coming year!
I married my best friend here on September 6th and along with that gained 4 amazing bonus daughters, Payton(9), Noel(7), Emma(6), and Makenna(4)…..to say I have my hands full is an UNDERSTATEMENT, but I completely and totally love it! This year has been one of following my heart and not concerning myself the negativity and pessimism out there. Life is way too short not to be happy. I have made many mistakes in this life, but I hope and wish to move forward making far fewer mistakes and certainly not making the same missteps over again. I want to continue pushing my wife to follow her dreams; she will be finishing her associate’s degree in early education this spring and continuing on with her bachelors program at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas in the fall with the aspiration of becoming a kindergarten teacher. I don’t tell her nearly enough how very proud of her I am, but I truly am; she deserves this long awaited opportunity to chase her dreams; I’m honored to be by her side through it. As a teacher-as many know-it’s not for the money; it’s for the love of children. These children will become our nation’s future doctors and lawyers, and forthcoming Presidents of the United States, and military members, and teachers and so so many more professions out there. Our teachers are truly this country’s unsung heroes, so yea…..she’s got my utmost respect and dedication to see her dreams through.
Marilyn and I are in a good place; she’s got a great guy in her life; Josh treats our daughters with the utmost respect and I am truly thankful for that. Samantha surprised me with an unexpected trip to Oklahoma to be with my Norah Belle on her 4th birthday and I couldn’t have been more thankful. It was only a couple weeks ago, as her birthday is the 18th of December, so I am still smiling and running through my head how happy Norah and Avery were to see daddy!
I still have so many aspirations for this upcoming year and beyond with both my professional and personal life. Last year, I stated I wanted to get back in and pursue my Master’s degree. Something that I looked into over this past year, but truly has not been my focus and I don’t know that it ever will be. I graduated with an associates in Logistics Management in 2007 and a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Development in 2015; I am more than pleased with that, I am proud of my accomplishments in the education realm as well as my 23 year military career and what that has provided me to get me to the amazing profession that I am in at this moment, continuing to serve my country in a different capacity. I am still a lifetime learner and want to continue to grow, but in different ways. I am pursuing my Project Management Certification and feel I should be able to test to a successful completion by June of this coming year. I have also started a 20 module program to become certified as a Nevada Veterans Advocate. I really want this year to be one of helping veterans; whether that be with our young men and women searching out the pros and cons of joining a branch of the military, active duty with concerns on continuing their service, separating/retiring members, veterans who have been out some time yet still need some guidance. This going from military to civilian life is much harder than many believe. It’s not a just a job that you just switch and move on from. It’s truly a lifestyle and sometimes feels like you’re making a complete break from your troops, from your responsibilities to this nation, to life as you’ve known for however long you served. I woke up daily and would eat, drink, and breathe military life because that’s what I knew. Even 2 plus years later, I still struggle with certain aspects. I am grateful to my military service and even more appreciative that I still have a small part in the forward momentum of our troops in the career field that I grew up in. This year and forward, I want to be that advocate and support veterans in any aspect that I am able to do so. Let me rephrase, I want to campaign for those who have or are going to serve; you can ask many if they are a “veteran” and some will say no, but ask how many have “served” and you will see the pride swell for a job well done. I think I write a pretty good resume, so if you need assistance with that, whether you’ve been in the military or not, I offer my services!
Personally, I have some goals this year as well. First and foremost, I want to be a better husband and a better dad (of 8 crazy kids; well 1 ADULT and 7 cray cray kids!!). I have a lot to learn in that aspect and I’m certainly dedicated to putting in the work to make that a reality. Something else I’ve always wanted to do; I’ve always wanted to roast my own coffee. So, I am saving to buy the equipment for that – don’t be alarmed if I put out a call for free coffee samples as I get it up and running(possible future small coffee roasting business?!) And finally, home ownership is always something I look forward to again, though I don’t believe it will be this year; I look forward to the day that I can carry my bride over the threshold in our own home once more.
I’m going to finish up this blog with a few photos of this past year. I want to wish you all a very happy 2022; I hope life continues to gain some normalcy this coming year and that you follow your hearts and dreams and aspirations. Life isn’t about being perfect; it is however about treating each other with dignity and respect. As I get further in this life, that’s what I want to afford and someday leave behind as my legacy. My friends, I don’t want to take a political stand (too much of one), but I do want to send my own thoughts of caution. Many will agree; I’m sure many will not. But think of this, President John F. Kennedy stated at his inaugural speech on January 20, 1961 “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” We really need to get back to that sentiment – yes, our country has provided much needed support where needed these past two years. But I reiterate, “Where needed.” I implore you to go out and read this entire speech as it bears so much of what’s happening in our world and country today, even some 61 years later. It’s time for us to step back up and take our lives back. At this point, many of our state and federal government officials have a tactic of far more control in our lives than is needed, desired, or wanted; whether that be with shutting businesses down, requiring us to show “papers” to be admitted to events, limiting travel or making it difficult to do so. This sometimes reminds me of my time in the military, hurry up and wait & reprimand the masses for the actions of few. Instead of taking personal accountability (staying home when sick, doing what we as individual citizens can do) we are letting the government dictate what we will, should, and won’t do. To that end, on today, this first day of yet another new year, I wish you a blessed, healthy, and prosperous 2022. Until my next blog, the journey continues……….
My Blog History
www.leewatros.com
JFK’s full inaugural speech
https://www.ushistory.org/documents/ask-not.htm
Syracuse University Onward to Opportunity – IT and Project Management Programs (free for Veterans)
https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/getting-started/
Nevada Veterans Advocates (NVAs) Program
https://veterans.nv.gov/community/veterans-advocacy/
If you want to know more about coffee roasting OR help me with my coffee roasting aspirations J
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO_YpdhJ5DA
https://thecaptainscoffee.com/collections/roasters/products/fresh-roast-sr800
