Comments on: The Veteran View

By: Aliza

Aliza — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 06:50:26 +0000

Spectacular result will be obtained by no mean but simply for hard working….keep on doing this incredible work.

By: cyma

cyma — Tue, 22 May 2007 09:13:01 +0000

good work

By: Harlan

Harlan — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 12:45:19 +0000

Hey John, what are you drinking these days? Your posts and the last rant are just first rate. Some of your best stuff.

Keep it up.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 10:45:30 +0000

And the beat goes on… Man, if that doesn’t sound familiar to me, I don’t know what does. If I didn’t know better, I’d say I was traveling in well worn shoes. The heartbreak, the years of sadness and self pity. What a bunch of shit it all is. But, I survived as well, only to be struck with a daily living hell illness called Type 1 Diabetes. Up to 12 injections a day.

But you know what, it’s all good. Because it’s made me be more disciplined about my life than I ever was up to that point back when I was turning 33. Now I’m 41. I know, it doesn’t make sense, but it happened. And I wake every day with a greater thankfulness for life and also my wife and daughter. Although, I do get pretty grumpy and down on the “unfairness” of it all, but them’s the cards I was delt. So I gotta’ play ‘em.

And as the others have said, that was one hell of a touching post. Guts, whining and all. And I also believe it couldn’t have happened any other way. Because if it had, you wouldn’t be who you are today. And we all wouldn’t have such a masterful teacher to follow in the footsteps of. Thanks John for the blog.

Andrew, aspiring and inspired copywriter

By: Karen Callahan

Karen Callahan — Sat, 15 Oct 2005 05:58:02 +0000

John,

Wow,I am blown away…

I feel like I have just re-experienced my past. I remember the song, the guy, and being lost in the abyss.

I too recovered, and went on to accomplish much. I had a great job, met a new love, now have 2 kids, a dog, a cat, gerbils, hamsters…well, you get the picture.

So, much to be thankful for–

Seemed perfect, and then I was forced out of my job. Quite a shock/adjustment for me after 20 years…those bastards!

It has taken me about a year to drag myself out of the ditch, again, but I made it.

You know…life presents many challenges to all of us.

I am hoping that the next period of my life will be as interesting and rewarding as the past.

Thank you for sharing your story.

By: J

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 13:33:55 +0000

Phenominal. I feel luckier to be alive just by reading that. Definitely printing this off.

Really moved me.

Thank you.

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 12:32:30 +0000

“There is nothing so exhilarating, so mind-blowing, as to experience other lives through the same sensibilities, the same curiosities, the same inclinations, preoccupations, moods and responses as one’s own - to say nothing of finding one’s half-formed thoughts expressed and confirmed. Reading a novelist who is the same sort of person as oneself (plus genius) is like going on a world tour without leaving home.”

Stephen Vizinczey wrote that, and it applies to your stuff, John. Thanks for expressing and confirming many of our “half-formed thoughts.”

For those of us getting old enough to feel the passing of time - sonofabitch, it flies! - share some of those ideas about “shaking out the jams” and reactivating those grand adventures.

By: Matt Gallant

Matt Gallant — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 10:54:29 +0000

John…

This is the hardest hitting blog post I’ve ever read.
My mind is blown. I was with you on with every word.

Also, I really want to thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.You know what they say? 54 TO 82 is the WISDOM YEARS! I’m happy to be “tapping” into your wisdom. I hope you keep doing this for many, many years.

Thanks to you I’m living my dream life.
Matt