Sad week

A friend of ours died last week. A decorated United States Air Force Master Sergeant and someone I've known for almost 20 years, Bob was a Purple Heart recipient and a survivor of the Khobar Tower bombing in 1996. He was 41 years old.

An avid outdoorsman, Bob especially liked to hunt and fish. While stationed in Alaska, he participated in Iditarod activities, and was like a wide-eyed kid playing in all the beauty and splendor Alaska had to offer. He had a perfect deadpan delivery that would make me bust out laughing. And, he was a good husband to his wife.

Bob was buried in Tulia, Texas yesterday. The US Air Force had an Honor Guard there--complete with taps, a 21 gun salute, and flag-folding at the grave site. It was a moving tribute to a man who has spent almost half of his life in service to our country. Even the crustiest of cowboys--and there were plenty there-- had tears in their eyes.

Side note: There was a sign at the entrance to the cemetery. It said "Watch out for rattlesnakes." Only in Texas, right?

After the service, we drove to Las Cruces, New Mexico--a six hour drive. Later this morning, we'll drive over to Holloman Air Force Base, where Bob was stationed last. His unit wanted to remember their colleague, so they are holding a Memorial Service this afternoon for him.

We've all been so terribly sad this last week.

Godspeed, Bob!