[Hal Copple]

Sal, when i came back from a year in the Bush in IV Corps in Vietnam, my wife had run off with a lawyer, sold everything i owned, even the wheels off my VW Squareback. I got back the "Land of the Big PX" wearing jungle fatigues, with my Pentax around my neck, a dozen knives, my captured Chicom carbine, and absolutely nothing else that was mine. Not so much as a Kleenex to blow my nose. I had to pay child support.

I had not dated since i was 17, and not a tiny idea of what dating was all about, and wondered if any woman would have any interest in a solder without even a pair of shoes.

I soon found out that there were a lot of nice women the world, although i remained single for the next 7 years. At first, i didn't know how i was going to get thru another day, then another week, but in time, i focused on my own goals, and set a relentless path towards achieving them. I worked whatever i could to pay my child support without fail.

In time, i met the right woman, and now have three kids, four grandchildren, and more than i could ever hoped to have, back when all was so bleak and hopeless for me.

It is hard, really hard, but what i found for myself, was that if i kept trying, and kept wanting to have happiness again in my life, and if i worked for it, and remained patient, and let some things just run their course, my life came to have reward in so many ways.

Every day, for a long time, i told myself that i wanted to be happy, and without loss and pain, and i would try as hard as i could to achieve it. Even when i had to sleep in the back of my Squareback, or live in a rotten rat infested apartment. I just kept making myself look to the future, and not the past. I made sure my priorities and goals remained very clear, and made the sacrifices necessary to achieve them.

So, look to the future, not back over your shoulder, and be relentless in your persuit of happiness and success. You can do it.

your friend,

hal copple MD