Bound for Glory chronicles the writings of Gary B. Zelinski. Gary has long blogged about his travels with his wife, Lillian. After his father passed away due to complications of dementia, Gary started drafting his memoir, Aim High: A Love Story. He has just completed his book A Walk among Heroes: Searching for America’s Better Angels, which was inspired by the beauty, pride, and solemnity of Arlington National Cemetery. It contains touching and inspirational stories about a number of our nation’s heroes—some famous, some not—and looks beyond their extraordinary deeds to the folks whom they loved and who loved them. Gary has written numerous magazine articles and was selected to contribute a chapter to the 2023 Military Writers Society of America anthology, Snapshots. Gary’s flash fiction submission, “Then She Walked By,” recently won first place in the Camarillo Acorn’s Fiction in a Nutshell contest.
Memorial Day
An excerpt from my upcoming book – A Walk Among HeroesAn excerpt from my upcoming book – A Walk Among Heroes Who started Memorial Day? Is there a simple explanation? Was it the South to commemorate its Confederate War dead? Was it the wives and daughters of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)? Some … Read more
The Price of Beauty and Other Ridiculous Stuff
Before you comment– this was a display at our local Target. Talk about the third rail of human relationships! Let’s spend a few moments on women’s beauty care and their corresponding products. To get an idea of my perspective, allow me to start with my view of beauty care products for men. The personal hygiene … Read more
Homelessness
As you travel the train northward from Los Angeles, scores of forgotten Americans huddle together, lining the tracks. Their tents and makeshift shelters, complete with shopping carts and discarded tarps, give little relief from the wind, sun, heat, and, more recently, record rains. The tempered Amtrak windows provide just enough separation, allowing passengers to stare … Read more
You can look but don’t touch
Beautiful scenery, a relaxing ride. How about attendants and employees who are civil? A ride on the train is a wonderful experience not to be missed. Train travel is a great way to explore America. Bring a book, enjoy a snack, and don’t forget your rose-colored glasses. The glasses will help you ignore the sadness … Read more
Air Travel
Traveling by Air? Are you going to see a distant loved one in a faraway state or country? Most likely, you’ll join the millions of others who will experience the joy of air travel. Today, however, there is nothing enjoyable about traveling by commercial airline. Let’s examine the entire miserable experience from packing, getting there, … Read more
Everything is fine – until it’s not
I wrote this letter some time ago but thought you might find it interesting. Dear Captain Philip Corder, Southwest Airlines Flight 2911 on November 15, 2023, was a remarkable experience. I wanted to share with you my perspective on what could have been a dire situation. Shortly after takeoff, a male passenger located … Read more
Today
Today, the military-civilian divide is greater than at any other time in American history. The percentage of Americans who have served in the military is lower today than ever since the end of World War II. While fewer people in uniform seem like it means fewer wars, it is, in reality, a symptom of a … Read more
Interesting Stuff
In case you were wondering. Here is the place Lillian and I now call home. Camarillo is a city in Ventura County, just north of Los Angeles County, along the California Coast. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 70,741. Camarillo is named for brothers Juan and Adolfo Camarillo, prominent Californios who … Read more
Packaging and Recycling
Packaging and Recycling These are two subjects I know little about. But you don’t have to know much before you know you don’t like something. And I don’t much care for either of these. Often, one leads to the other, but one often fails because of the other. I’ll examine one before the other as … Read more
Pasadena
Jackie Robinson wore number 42 during his Major League Baseball career. It was his number when, in 1947, he signed on with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was named MLB Rookie of the Year when the season ended. He was the most valuable player every year for the next 6 years. His number was 42 when … Read more