Proof of Life

By Mike Nelson

It’s been a long time

since the telephone rang.

But only a mother or father would

 understand that certain twang.

It never rings in the midday

 or any other time convenient to say.

No, it’s late at night or in the early morn.

and whenever it rings, it’s never the norm.

It’s a son or daughter calling from Iraq

and I always worry who’s got their back.

You see the war has changed

and the safe places are gone.

It’s just a phone, a loved one’s voice

 and a prayer to hang on.

The waiting is left to a husband or wife,

a mother or father who need Proof of life.

"What Drives Men Crazy"

Book Summary

“What Drives Men Crazy” is a fictional story about a young married man who moves to L.A. after leaving the U.S.M.C. during the Vietnam War.  Through only a fluke of luck, he is removed from his unit and forced to transfer to another non-combat unit. 

After moving to California with his wife, Kathy, he goes to college where all he meets dope smoking druggies and smelly hippies who hate the ex-soldiers and the feeling is mutual.  The soldiers have no problem hating them back.  He runs into a buddy from the crotch (slang for Marine Corps).  After a few beers, his old buddy informs Mike all his buddies are dead along with his best friend, Snaggs.

It starts a slow but eventual drop to the end of his emotions.  While rebuilding his life, Mike sky dives and becomes a reserve deputy, anything to help his mind gain some separation from his ugly past that he blames himself for; his friend’s deaths in the most hated war in history.  Because Mike spent some time in the woods as a kid he never got lost even in the U.S.M.C. as a point, he was the perfect man for the job.

His mind stays guilt-ridden until he wears out so much his mind and body must sleep.  Now as a reserve deputy, he gets into every serious gun battle with this crazy suspect.  After Mike kills the bad guy who should’ve by all rights have killed Mike.

God intervenes.  Why?  Mike cannot figure it out and more things happen to Reserve

Deputy Mike.  Next a beautiful ex Hollywood actress fast falls in Mike’s lap on a radio call.  But she’s stone crazy.  Mike cannot say no to her even though he has a wife and a new son.  No, Mike cannot say no to this beauty.

You must read the book to find out what happens to Mike and the beautiful actress who has terrible addictions and a bad cutting problem.  As she cuts, she cuts her way into Mike’s heart.

On the second of each month, I will write another summary of the book starting from Mike’s heart.  The only way to appreciate this story is purchase the book.  Price is $25 excluding postage.  Please pre-order by posting comment.  We are currently 3 weeks out on printing and mailing copies of the book.

Boots in the Ground

I cannot bear to stand or kneel

for boots all in a row.

It reminds me of the friends

I lost and some I needed so.

Each time I say I’ll cry no more,

how wrong can this soldier be?

These are my buddies who fought

and died and sometimes next to me.

The boots are just a number

for a nation to recall.

Except for the soldier who strapped them on

and that day gave is all.

To his family and friends

there is no end.

The pain becomes each day a breath,

a voice now gone, but will never go away.

I cannot stand boots in a row,

but I will still fight and pray

to God for the soldiers

who filled them so.

What Drives Men Crazy

By Mike Nelson

What drives men crazy is not what we did
as much as what we didn't do.
What was never said that needed to be spoken.
What could have been fixed,
We left broken.

We let work, friends and other forces drive us,
believing we could leave it at the door.
And as we fell, we never saw the floor.
We clawed our way back on our feet
and left nobody close.

Everybody knows they're
the one who loves you the most.
We destroyed lives after lives
because an old love owned us.
and we ran so fast
there was not much left of us.

We were proud of what we'd done,
but not always how we did it.
And we saw the end of our lives
With no love in it.