Superlatives rule when someone doesn’t really know what to say about something. I could have made that an I-statement, but I generally know exactly what to say, and still use superlatives. I have a superlative sort of life.

Further proof of the truth of MY great life is that MY son wrote me a great letter for my birthday. Most fathers will understand immediately that a long personal letter from any child is a great gift, but a long personal letter from a beloved son, is in addition to being manna and a cup filled with wild honey, a rara avis.

In my personal case, a long personal letter from my son is even more of a rare bird because this son has had ALMOST NO contact with ME for nearly twelve years. The modifying clause above, In my personal case, appears to be why this missive is in my personal news and not where it should be in the community general spot. Making that assumption would be a drag to YOUR understanding of this sweet story.

Like it or not, I am a powerful general in this community, but I am happy to indulge myself in MY personal news, so as not to offend YOUR dignity and majesty: Real, or imaginary.

MY children are all the offspring of genuine American royalty. This is not my imagination, active as it is. All five of MY children have Mothers who are both fiercely royal and majestic. This is not hyperbole, or boast, it is a fact. MY kids and MY wives come from right good stock; I marry well.

This particular son, Jorden, has been as sorely missed as ANY favorite Son, as any of you who are parents would rightly know. I know that as parents we must never talk of favorites, as we should never speak of favorites between our lovers and friends. MY favorite is, generally speaking, the one that I am with at the moment. I have a real Van Morrison attitude about the one I’m with.

MY attention is just that short.

I love you, Jorden and I thank you for your email, after so long, made only more welcome.

Yes, my life is transparent. I can feel some of YOU cringe even as I write this, but MY life is MY own: Community and cooperation, be damned, in the final analysis.

I forget MY conscience quote at the moment. Some Marine Drill Instructor (MDI) thing. Oh, yes . . . “Loyalty above ALL else, EXCEPT honor.” I do not know who said that originally, maybe Norbert, or Harry could look it up, but I have used it for years and years.

Ain’t had to use it very much lately, or I woulda remembered it better. Maybe?!?

Anyway, I am transparent. Mostly because I have sworn to the Canton Group that I would be MY AVP-Self I was talking on Sunday in Canton at OUR last meal together, with Sebastian Herrera about not seeing MY children and Sebastian said, "You should do something, so it's not another ten years before you see them again."

I am posting Jorden’s email, MY response and MY other son/nephew/brother, adopted Clan-Chieftain-Viking-Samurai Brian’s unrequested response to Jorden’s letter, after receiving my email telling that fool to stand-by; I might need some help.

Brian's response was, "Way ahead of you, Old Man." Have I impressed ANY of YOU who have met ME as an "Old Man?" Maybe that's the general thing kicking in again? Some warriors do not do the stand-by thing. A real general would kick Brian's skinny ass!

How do I get real enough for that sort of thing?