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Living A Bit Outlaw

Posted On November 27, 2019

One of my handmade trail signs on my property’s private trail system

Have you ever passed in a no passing zone? Ran a Red Light…. On purpose? Exceeded the speed limit….After Dark….While driving your Dad’s boat? Checked out in the “Express Lane” with too many items? Made a wake in a “NO WAKE” zone? Called in sick when you weren’t?

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had to sneak back into the barracks- Military or Mom’s – after “Lights Out”. Missed “morning formation” because you were too busy the night before out howling at the moon. Been “creative” with your taxes. Cursed the world. Asked forgiveness from God.

We are all a bit Outlaw, down deep, where it counts.

My Adirondack Outlaw hatchet. I found the hatchet head near our Middle Saranac Lake camp. It’s nearly 100 years old. I cleaned it up and sharpened it. I hand hewed the handle myself, from Adirondack striped maple. The book is my U.S. Army Ranger handbook. My bible.

This blog shares my journey, testing boundaries, pushing limits. From the Adirondacks to the Army, raising a family, beating cancer-3 times, through life on the other side.

Life is choices. The ones we make. The ones we don’t. The Outlaw in each of us respects the rules. The Outlaw in each of us respects free will. The Outlaw in each of us lives life on the lam, balancing the two, without fear or guilt.

I am an Adirondack Outlaw. I’ve lived life to it’s fullest. Ridden with some great posses. Survived a few shootouts. Been on the lam.

But with Father Time as Sheriff, and God as my Judge- I’ve stopped running. Turned myself in. Done my penance. Served my sentence. Made my peace.

I now live in the day I am in. Beyond fear. No regrets.

I am an Adirondack Outlaw.

These are my stories.

I hope you enjoy them.

**********

Until Our Trails Cross Again:

I love big rocks. They hold great energy. They teach me many things. Sometime in the past, someone cut this granite rock. It has a big vein of rose quartz through its center. I harvested it from my old farm lot’s original stone boundary fence.

ADKO

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About The Author

rdmonroe5

Lifelong NYS resident. Raised in Saranac Lake. Cornell graduate(ROTC). Army veteran, Airborne/Ranger qualified, 10th Mtn Div, stints in Honduras and with JTF VI. 3rd degree Black Belt; 3x cancer survivor; published writer with several featured stories in Adirondack Life Magazine. Residing in Watertown NY with wife Robin & our 3 adult children. Loving Life. Living in the Day I am in.

5 Comments
  1. Sheila

    Aw, Dick, thank you!! Thank you for bringing the Adirondacks (my favorite recharge place that I so long for) alive to me here in Dayton while I can’t be there physically! Please, please keep writing! You have made me laugh out loud! I can so easily picture your facial expressions and even body language as you write. And, I’m hearing family stories I’ve never heard beforehand!!
    Again, thank you, and Keep Writing!
    Love you, looking forward to seeing you all in June, and wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! 😀😂❤️

    • rdmonroe5

      Hi Sheila! Sorry it took me so long to reply. I’m still figuring out all this high tech blog stuff. I just now figured out how to read comments and reply. Thanks for reading, glad you like it thus far. Looking forward to seeing you in June. Is it legal to play Euchre at my daughter’s reception? Oh Hell- I’m an Outlaw! Bring cards. I’ll deal. Love, Dick

  2. Robin Monroe

    Comment

  3. Susan Shavit

    Great reads! Thank you for sharing!

    • rdmonroe5

      Thank you very much. I am glad you enjoyed them.