I'm not the kind of guy everyone likes and wants to know. It's funny how long it took me to realize that.

In school I was part of many activities (social and athletic) and I sort of assumed that the future was bright. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, nothing clicked, nothing worked out. Well, I'm not complaining, because that doesn't do any good. Besides, I know who I am and we live in a free country so everyone else has a right to associate with whoever they choose.

Perhaps a little family history would clarify my attitude. I'm from a long line of military veterans. On my mothers side, two of her uncles were in World War 2. She had three brothers. Two of them fought in WW2 and the other one (legally blind) made a career at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

By the way, one of her uncles was KIA in the South Pacific and one of her brothers died while on duty performing his job. The other uncle went through the Bataan Death March. Her other brother made over thirty sorties in bombers over Germany.

On my fathers side, three of his uncles were Navy vets during WW2. He was in the third wave of the invasion at Normandy and spent 10 months on the front lines in Europe. He was just across the river from Berlin when the war ended.

My brother and I are both veterans. He served 2 years in the Army (Airborne Special Forces). I gave 8 years to the Navy during the Viet Nam era, though I was stationed on the east coast (Virginia and Connecticut). My nephew (by my brother) was in the Army for 2 years.

Though all my relatives have had careers and families, none of that worked out for me. They say I have no one to blame, but myself and so I don't blame anyone. Still I can't help but wonder what has happened to prevent me from having a more fulfilling life.

Most of my lack of success I think can be attributed to bad luck and timing. Otherwise I would have to believe that this is what I have chosen for myself.

Trust me that is not true.