I am a sixtysomething librarian, husband, father, grandfather, Vietnam veteran, author of three published volumes of poetry and one novel, and a lover of old radio, old books, old dogs, and Tex-Mex cuisine. The name "Stawicki" is an homage to the man who was my company commander in boot camp in the 1960s: a tough, profane little guy who was greatly feared and respected by legions of raw recruits. He was half my size, but I trembled when he stood before me.