Going Home for the First Time

Description

Baby Boomers are still relevant and hot. Miller Townson has retired and moved to Atlanta, but he’s no longer interested in being relevant. He wants to forget the betrayals, gunfire exchanges, and twisted romantic entanglements of his last forty years so he can quietly research his ancestors and enjoy his sexy, unconventional wife, Elizabeth.

Miller meets Gerald Martens, an African-American business owner, who also served in Vietnam. Both of them come from racially prejudiced families, but they become friends, play tennis weekly, then sit on Miller’s front porch and learn about each other’s lives and values. Elizabeth often participates in their conversations. Although Gerald is trying to quit smoking,
he bums cigarettes from Elizabeth and develops an independent relationship with her. The two men discover that they have met before. Miller is reading old letters found in dusty footlockers
about his ancestors’ participation in the Civil War. Gerald also has a Civil War ancestor, but he doesn’t have time for research.

Ultimately, Miller can’t escape the past. His psychotic ex-boss in Vietnam wants Elizabeth. Meanwhile Gerald winds up in a strange place with Miller’s wife. “Going Home for the First
Time” is about Miller’s return “home” where his research makes him realize that his Atlanta forebears struggled with many of the same issues of war, love, and trust he has faced.

“It’s rare that fictional characters can get me worked up, but Dr John Turman has created two villains whom I really dislike. I hope they get what they deserve before the series ends.
And by the way, if someone ever wanted to come after me or my family, I want Miller or Pod standing between him and us.”
– Carl McCobb