The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

Just a week or so ago, I was informed that an uncle of mine had been involved in a serious motorcycle accident. Broken bones, deep bruises, staples in the skull and all, it sounds as though he'll be okay when all is said and done. Sadly, I had to hear about this news through the grapevine, as this very uncle of mine has kind of alienated himself from the rest of the family over the past decade (or so). I always worried about something like this happening - that he or another family member would get seriously injured or, worse yet, killed, and he'd be forever left with guilt, allowing grudges to be thicker than blood. For as awful as this incident had to be, I sincerely hope it was a wake-up call to him and that the family can be united once again due to it. Regardless, I wish him a full and speedy recovery. Trust me, no matter how awful the disagreement may have been, it's never worth sacrificing your entire history, relationship over said grudge. Life is short. We ne...

It's being reported that Hurricane Harvey will go down as the costliest such storm in this country's history at approximately $160 billion. Millions have already been raised, blood has been drawn, thousands upon thousands of people are attempting to do all they can to help the recovery-and-rebuilding process in Houston, Texas and surrounding areas. While, as sad as it is to say, we should all be on the lookout for scams, here is a list of reputable and trusted organizations to which you can donate your time and money to this cause. No matter if you live in the area and want to volunteer some of your time, you have some old clothes you'd be willing to part ways with, or you are able to donate even just $1, every little bit helps. American Red Cross ($10 donation minimum):  https://go.crowdrise.com/donate/project/arc-hurricane-harvey-relief/americanredcross?scode=RSG00000E017&utm_campaign=Harvey&gclid=Cj0KCQjw557NBRC9ARIsAHJvVVOuUs039DGadUBwjCNB_2ctt8cPVadXQdGJS-b8Y...

Valentine's Day was a tad surreal for me this year - even more so than usual. My last remaining grandparent passed away three weeks ago, and after he was cremated, the rest of the family and I were able to schedule a memorial service in his honor this past Saturday, Valentine's Day. For as sad as it was to lose my grandfather, the man had been struggling for quite some time, so his passing wasn't nearly as shocking as it could have been, and in an odd way, I was happy to see him no longer have to endure such great pain, anguish, and frustration, and to finally rest and be at peace from all of his hardships. What saddened me most at the funeral wasn't the realization that my 83-year-old grandfather had passed, which while quite sad, wasn't greatly shocking. No, what saddened me most was seeing how broken apart the family was and wondering if we'd ever be able to truly come together again like we had prior to my grandmother's passing ten years ago. One of my...

I wrote this just now in dedication to a friend of mine who has been disowned by his parents, his father in particular, due to the fact he's gay. "Blood Before Principle" Born into this world, A different kind of guy, An uphill struggle from the start, Not accepted by the majority, Not wanting to admit to this world, What makes me different, Dating as many girls as I can, To try and change myself, Not wanting to admit to myself, What is inevitably true, I deny myself of reality, Hoping to please you, The moment finally comes, When I can deny no more, Out to you I reach, For acceptance and love, You turn away at my admission, Tell me to never step inside the house again, As I walk away homeless, Forever shunned by my family, In denial again, Hoping I can change myself, Pills and drinks consumed in abundance, Wanting love and acceptance, I wake up, Nothing's changed, I reach for the bottle, To erase the pain, Please take me back an...