Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

I called my brother this morning to sing happy birthday as is our family's habit. Ever the critic, he first said my rendition was like Marilyn Monroe's breathy, Happy Birthday Mr. President. So I pumped it up a bit and he decided that it was pretty pleasant. I caught him waiting with the wildland firefighters in Duncan, Oklahoma to be called out to fight a fire as they have for the past month. He flies lead air attack (leads the aerial firefighting tankers to the fire site) on the grass wild fires that part of the country is suffering.

My brother has been a great source of content for my novels. We've had some excellent, if scary, adventures together over the years and have survived them pretty nicely. If it's about flying, Colorado rapids running, fast cars and faster boats, and it's in my book, I've gotten the idea from one of Gary's adventures, which I may or may not have shared with him. He's one of those rare people who decides they are going to learn and do something, and actually gets it done. He jumps in and goes for whatever he wants as if he's on some sort of short turn and possibly out of here any minute, which drives my mother to worry and my dad to shake his head. I'm just amazed at his determination and ability to overcome fear, or whatever would try to hold him back, to achieve his goals. And perhaps the most important thing he has that allows him to do his thing is his wonderful, supportive wife who makes it all happen to a great degree.

One thing about us three Rucker kids, we're all blessed with spouses who probably should be canonized . . .

Happy birthday, Gary. And many, many more, brother of mine.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMmelinda