



| We have five beautiful daughters, mine biologically, Marilyn's by marriage. This picture is a bit dated, but it's one that's very special. They had it done for me. I think it was around 1987. |
| A coal miner's family - 1935 Blair Savage sits on his daddy's lap |
| My name is R. Blair Savage. The R is for, Russell. That was my dad's name and I was always called by my middle name, Blair. I was born in Monongalia County, West Virginia in 1934. My family moved to Ohio in 1951 and I remained there until I retired in 1995. After retirement, my wife, Marilyn and I lived in West Virginia and Naples, Florida until 2006-2007 when we settled into a new home in Hendersonville, North Carolina. From the time I was a small boy, living in a grimy coal mining hollow in West Virginia (Dad was a coal miner for 31 years) I wondered where my Savage family had originated. We knew the name of our great, grandfather, Nelson Savage, but that was it. In the mining camps, as they were called then, I played with boys who were of various ethnic bloodlines and I was intrigued that they knew their nationality, while I hadn't a clue as to mine. So it was natural for me to, one day, begin the search. Now we know that my Savage ancestor came from England - and I'd like very much to determine from where in that country he came and who were his parents. After years of research I traced my Savage line back to Thomas Savage and recorded in book form as much information as I could on each one of those Savage guys from me back to Thomas. Marilyn's dad was also a coal miner. She spent her childhood in a small mining community in Clay County, West Virginia. Her family moved to Ohio in 1964. She and I were married in 1980, a second marriage for us both. |


| The Cost of Freedom I was a young boy when the world was at war World War II it was called; the fanatic Hitler its core School history taught me about World War I And when I was a teen the Korean War had come 117,000 boys were lost in World War I 405,000 more before World War II was done Korea 54,000 and Nam 58,000 more Which makes 634,000 the total score Today, war in the mid-east adds 4000 to our fee High cost in 100 years to keep America free Through much of my life, young men have died To maintain my freedom and keep me alive Yes, today our young soldiers do battle again They fight the insane who blow-up their own kin The insane that will kill both woman and child Slaughter the innocent, like animals gone wild These feral beasts bring their insanity here Invade our America, spreading angst and fear How do we fight them? Where do we start Shall we let them train others in their murderous art Should we keep our young soldiers safely at home Guarding our shores against terrorists who roam That range far and wide to maim and to kill To carry-out their madness, to break down our will Should we isolate our country from the rest of man-kind Must we build a high wall that will crumble with time Should we hide in the hills and wait for the strike Must we gather in caves – cower in fright Should I write to my government, shout in its ear “Bring home our troops, fight the terrorist here” Fight them here on our soil if they dare show their face When they poison our water and our buildings erase Fight them here in our land where our children can hide As mom loads her gun and stands by their side Here on the beaches, the borders and such We could watch for their entry as an Uzi we clutch Or, should we send our young soldiers to root out their den And capture or kill the heathens within Should we track them and slay them - is that the right call Wipe out their nests – their teachers annul It’s hard to decide what action to follow When the media informs us with messages hollow But here is my answer, sitting comfortably at home In relative safety while scripting this poem From the earliest days of this country we love Our troops have defended our flag with their blood As a young man I found my duty clear Join the reserve in spite of my fear Eight years in the reserve preparing to be Ready to fight if the General called me Not wanting to go – other things I held dear But history whispered my duty was clear There’s a price to pay if I am not to exist Under the thumb of a tyrant, my freedom missed To guard that freedom, young men must train To repel those who would steal it, set my home aflame Again we face the challenge, as we have before And the action we take regarding this war Will determine the future for my children dear Shall they enjoy lives secure, or live in fear We must take the fight to that cauldron in the east To protect our homeland from the fanatic beast Tis better to take the offense I say Than to sit in our shelters, fold hands and pray Pray that our defenses will hold back the throng Of suicide bombers who do not belong Carefully watch for the serrin and anthrax As we bolt doors and windows, never relax My answer is, yes, we should attack where they hide Across the water in their own countryside Carry the fight to child killers over there Find their haven - dig them out of their lair Equip our soldiers for battle and train them well Send them after the heathens where they dwell Some of our boys will be maimed, some will be lost War is outrageous and high is the cost But to keep America strong and free I hope my reader will agree A strong offense is the best defense It’s a strategy proven and it just makes sense To sustain precious freedom our forefathers have proved It comes at high cost, mountains must be moved America was formed by courageous men Who battled great odds, tyranny to end Iwo Jima and Normandy took a heavy toll Our brave boys who died there kept America whole It’s now World War III, you can bet the farm And only force will keep us free of harm So, how much do I owe all those brave young warriors Who give of themselves, who must act as our couriers Messengers who deliver this word to the enemy “Threaten our freedom and you’ll pay a stiff penalty” What do I owe those who’ve already seen hell Those with memories too horrid to tell How much do I owe those who died over there Died in the trenches with courage to spare Do we give a quick thought to how much it means To still have our freedom – wear designer jeans To live in a country where opportunity can lurk And comfort is ours, if we’re willing to work I owe much to those who for me fight To protect my country, keep my future bright I give praise and pay tribute to all those troops Who slog through hot sand, burning their boots My debt to them is great I tell you quite clear And I pray for the safety of young lives so dear I pray for salvation for those lives lost to insure That my children are safe and freedom will endure Yes, this war and these troops I readily support As they offer their lives in order to abort The radical extremists who hope to abate This wonderful country, state by state On land, air and water our troops are on guard They protect me daily – go the extra yard Again I say they have my full support As I search my soul and give my priorities a sort It’s easy for me in my comfortable chair To suggest we send our young over there To grind and sweat and death to face As they fight for me and defend my case But if I were young and strong once more I’d expect to join in this righteous war And I’d kill the heathens without regret As I paid my forefathers my freedom’s debt R. B. Savage 12-15-2007 |

| I believe the role of the government is to protect the citizenry through the administration of laws according to our constitution. It is beneficial to the citizenry to have certain services provided by a central government, i.e. National defense, police protection, fire fighting, utilities, roads, etc. The government has become gargantuan and is infiltrating every facet of our lives. Too many people now think the “government” should “take care of them”. I grew up in the hills of West Virginia where, in many of those steep and rugged hollows and valleys there are frequent floods that destroy private homes. Many of the owners then want the government to “bail them out”. Through taxation, I am then forced to pay stupid people who choose to live beside a river that historically overflows its banks. I encourage industry. Industry provides jobs and enables parents to feed their children and keep their houses lit and warm. I reject extreme environmental policies that destroy industry in favor of marsh insects, scrap fish, and obscure birds. Animal species go extinct. They always have, with or without man, and always will. But there are new species evolving every day. I reject the idea that animal life trumps human life. However, I also dislike waste and destruction and believe that man should protect his environment. If we could live on solar and wind energy, I’d be all for it. I believe safe nuclear energy is entirely feasible. America should be directing more research there and building new plants. I care about the environment, but not to the point of earth worship. We should be wise stewards, good managers of the earth. Dumping raw sewage in the rivers is bad management. It is also bad management to allow deer to reproduce to such great numbers that they overgraze and then starve en masse come winter. It's dumb to turn thousands of acres of productive farmland (home to animals, waterfowl, and humans) back into desert in honor of a trash fish. It’s dumb to stop the harvesting of trees in a well managed, renewable forest because its home to a little owl with spots. I believe that anybody who wants to live in America should apply for legal entry, and if accepted into our country, should become nationalized and learn English within a reasonable period of time. They should embrace American culture and values. I believe in a very strong national defense. I also believe that the fittest have a greater chance of survival. In my view, a well funded, well equipped, well trained military is, unfortunately, essential to an enduring society. Being conservative does not make me a racist. Perhaps some conservatives in the 1960s rejected desegregation, but I did not, and I certainly was not alone – and there were professed liberals who ignored segregation. Today, many conservative minorities hold places of high respect in government, in law, in medicine, in movies and television - and conservatives enjoy and appreciate their talents. I believe that Martin Luther King would be outraged at the “give me my share” and “what’s the government going to do for me today?” attitude of some minorities, and many non-minorities. I reject the concept of affirmative action that is, of itself, racist. Martin Luther King's desire was that a man should be judged based on the content of his character and not based on the color of his skin. I want people, black or white, to take responsibility for their own behavior and be decent, law-abiding citizens. I do not want to steal from the poor to give to the rich. At the same time, I don't want to steal the rich man's money. He has demonstrated that he can create jobs with it. I want everyone who can work to do so, and I want the honest man to earn a decent wage for his work and not have it snatched away by the government. I have absolutely no problem with a man being rich. In the process of getting rich and staying rich he creates jobs. What will the rich man do with his money? He can spend only a relatively small amount on himself, so he re-invests it, usually in his business, and this creates jobs and wealth for everyone down-the-line. Bill Gates created millions of jobs and is also doing a wonderful job of philanthropy, as did Carnegie, and numerous others. A dollar generated by a successful business turns over multiple times and thereby enriches many people. I want to get ahead based on my own ability and hard work. I don’t want the government to take my money and manage it unwisely for my retirement. I don’t want the government to assume that it can manage my life better than I can manage it myself. I don’t want a handout as long as I can work. I don’t want the government to take my money and give it to someone else. I would like to make the choice myself as to where I want to spend my money to help others. And I don’t want to pay for someone’s twelve kids to go to school when I have limited my family to a size that I can afford. I would like to keep some of my tax money and send my children to a privately owned and operated school that is competing with other privately run schools. This would force up the quality of education and force down the price. I believe the family is the backbone of a healthy society. I believe parents have a primary responsibility for the health and welfare of their children. In general, parents know and love their children best. Parents' wishes should therefore be given top priority. Parents should be involved in decisions that affect their children, such as which materials public schools expose to them, and whether their children undergo potentially dangerous medical procedures, like abortions. I do not believe in abortion except in cases where the mother’s welfare warrants a termination. This would include rape and incest, as these certainly would impact on the well-being of the mother, and also the child. Unlike many conservatives, I no longer believe in the death penalty. It has been proven that too many innocent people have been wrongly sentenced to death. Our justice system, while better than most, is far from perfect. I believe all people have value. We should, through local government, churches and private social organizations, reach out to help needy neighbors who should not need to depend on the inefficient and bureaucratic federal and state governments to care for them. I, as a conservative, do not hate homosexuals, contrary to leftist propaganda. In fact, many conservative groups offer ministries to reach out to the homosexual community. Some conservatives believe that homosexuality is not necessarily inborn, that environmental factors contribute to the development of same-sex attractions. I do not agree with this view. I believe it is a direct result of something going awry in the development of the fetus, and therefore the individual has no control over their sexual persuasion. I do not believe in gay marriage. I see nothing wrong with prayer in school and I strongly advocate it. R. Blair Savage 2007 |
My Love I Must Touch As I walk thru the kitchen, my love is there A glint of sunlight brightens her hair I love this woman so very much And as I pass, her cheek I touch We meet again in a little while In the hallway she tosses me a smile There’s room to pass within the space But I crowd a bit and I kiss her face She rests on the couch at the end of day And behind that couch is a passage-way As I trod that path to our bedroom lair I can never resist, I must touch her hair Why is it that I cannot pass Without a touch for my pretty lass I find it impossible to pass her by Without a pat, perhaps on her thigh Or, a stroke of a finger, across her back Perhaps a rub on her arm, there’s never a lack Of places to touch my beauty fair Who rushes my heart with a passion rare R. B. Savage 6-22-2008 |




We have a Grandson who is with the Navy SEALS. We are extremely proud of this young fellow. He's been to Iraq twice and will be returning to the mid-east soon. He's a career guy - been in about 14 years now. |



| I am a Conservative |

| Me Tawnia Marilyn Trina Tracy Tricia Tamara |
RANDOM PICTURE SECTION |
Where Goes The Wind? I stepped on the porch this morning, coffee in my hand I looked aloft at tree and sky, poised above my placid land A poplar leaf jumped from the tree, directed by the breeze And as it floated to the east, its golden hue my eye did tease It was captured in the laurel bush across the rippled stream A hundred yards from where it died, a pity it would seem I’m sure it would have hoped to fly a little further yet But wind did ebb just slight enough, so leaf and laurel met Where went the wind that grabbed the leaf of stunning autumn gold? That dropped it in the laurel bush, where it waits the wintry cold Where goes the wind when it is through with the tangles in my hair? Does it swoosh away in secret? Does it vanish in thin air? Will it come again today, to pluck another autumn view? Will it strip the poplar’s branches before they see the morning dew? I have a fondness for the wind, but it’s a mystery I declare It comes here from the northwest and where it goes I’m unaware Sometimes it creeps in slowly, barely whispers that it’s here Or it crashes in with thunder, in a vortex one might fear If it’s warm I truly love it, but when it’s cold it makes me numb In the harshness of deep winter it can strike me rather dumb At dusk the evening thermals chase the sun into the west The breeze is stiff and bold as it tries to do its best To dust the pollen from the trees and lodge it in my nose I wheeze and cough and shudder from my head down to my toes But the answer still evades me; it’s a conundrum I declare When the wind decides to leave me, it goes I know not where It whistles past me suddenly, or trickles by quite slow And where it finally settles, I simply do not know RBS 11-30-2008 |
| Do I believe in God? Is there a God above me, watching over my welfare? Is there a God around me providing tender, loving care? Do I pray to God each evening after turning off my light? Do I ask he bless my loved ones - keep them safely in his sight? Yes, there is a God above me; I know it in my heart Yes, he is all around me and he’s loved me from the start Yes, I pray to him each night and sometimes in the light of day Yes, I pray for all my loved ones, who mean more than I can say From where God came I know not – where he lives is mystery Science claims eleven dimensions of which only four are real to me Could my God be in a dimension which I simply cannot breech? Am I close enough to touch him if only I knew where I should reach? Theoretical physics theory is far more then my mind can grasp Conceiving eleven dimensions is a daunting and formidable task And they theorize many universes, some so close we might step through Might one of them be heaven and it’s just beyond my view? They tell us that our universe is made of seventy per-cent dark matter What it is they know not, but it causes much scientific chatter Perhaps this is where our heaven is, where God sits on his throne This matter which reflects no light, could it be where God calls home? So many possibilities, so few answers for mankind We spend so much time searching for solutions we cannot find I have a hunch we’ll find the key when this dimension we abort And cross into God’s kingdom where we’ll stand before his court R.B. Savage 2-8-2009 |






| Here's the newest member of our clan; Nola Jane Savage Clay. Tamara and Ben are the proud parents. |





| Here's a bit of my Mother's ancestry. |



| Dennis Rick Linda, Bob, Nancy, Marilyn Blair Elsie Karen Couples are; Bob and Nancy; Me and Marilyn; Dennis and Karen; Rick and Elsie. Linda's hubby, John was at home being a sickie. |



A few of the Savage clan circa 1977. |
| Margo |

| While on a recent cruise I penned this little poem about a taxi driver we had on one of the islands. The Old Taxi Man Knurled hands wrap around the old taxi cab wheel Knobby knuckles harbor pain which the old hands feel But the old timer still carries a twinkle in his eyes Eyes as blue as the blue in the Caribbean skies His head juts forward as his eyes cast about His neck stiff and bent – the joints worn out He coaxes the old cab as it chugs up the heights His eyes scanning the road for interesting sights His tales are as colored as the churning sea below Stories of adventure, of glory and woe Some yarns are his own and some borrowed I’m sure But all are told with enthusiasm heightened and pure It is Creole he speaks as he zigs and he zags And as he tells of his island he boasts and he brags We allow him this pleasure to show off his land As he points out mountains and long stretches of sand His love for this island comes through loud and clear And if he ever must leave her it will be fatal I fear Though he complains of the roads, high taxes and such He is staunch in his support of the French and the Dutch The island is split down the middle – one half to each Two countries share it – both mountains and beach There’s no guard at the border with sidearm on hip Just small signs on each side which read; “Have a nice trip” My dollar buys well on the Dutch side of the land While only the euro will the French take out of hand Still the islanders are loyal to this small haven in the sea Their unity is remarkable and marvelous to see With our tour over the old cab limps back to the pier I pay the wrinkled hands as I hold back a tear I’ll remember this ride with a remarkable guy On a sunny December day under a St. Martin sky RBS 12-12-2009 |