Ralph (Mac) Magee

7-7=18 UPDATE: Still residing in Cane Beds, Arizona with Vel. It was just a while back when we both took a fall while unloading groceries from the car and I stripped on the bottom step. Vel was just coming out the door and saw me. She reached down to help when she lost her balance then she too, fell. I was lucky. She sustained heavy damage to her right upper leg and it broke in here places, bone protruding, etc. It took me almost two full minutes to get to my feet, go inside to a phone and dial 911. She did about a week in the hospital, then to a rehab facility in Hurricane, Utah for six weeks. She now has home health rehab visits three times a week and must at least temporarily use a walker. Things are slowly getting better though.

I just completed the manuscript of my second book in my trilogy, "From Sand to Sea and Distant Shores: Book Two - The Motherland." It'll begin production this week and be out and distributed prior to year end. I've written and published three book now. Although I'm a late entry into authoring, I think "Better a Late Bloomer than a Dead Bud!" Writing has become a fantastic outlet for me in these "latter days". This latest writing covers my three years ashore with the Navy in London, England during the Cold War. Secrets, Sex and Sins, to encapsulate! That's about it for now. you're updated. Oh, I also have been published in the national Quarterly "The Tin Can Sailors" or DESVETS mag.

update on 1/25/18:

Most of the previous profile is accurate and current. Since that posting, w've both aged, of course and along with that comes some ailments, creaks, groans, etc. My latest "challenge", was that yesterday, I saw a specialist upon the recommendation of my GP. After a 30 minute encounter, he declared me in Stage Four of Five, for Kidney Disease. (Stage Five means you'll need the machine, etc.) A bit of a shock, both to Vel and I. So, Diabetes was the cause and I've had that (Type II) for many, many years. Of course, I've taken the meds and (tried) to be a good boy along the way, staying away from fast foods and sweets (Sort of). Well, the damage to the kidneys is a done deed and there's no Majic Bullet, no meds, etc., that would stop nor reverse the damage. it is; what it is now.

Diet, appears to be a crucial thing in the way of trying to delay, postpone or otherwise slow, the progress towards Stage Five. I'm in tune wit that and Vel immediately shopped for the recommended fruits, veggies, etc. I'm trying.

The Hospital will call me in for more lab work and some imaging for the doc, so he can see how things are going or not going, and I'll meet him again on the 28th of February. I can't see that there would be an improvement, but I"ll play the game anyway.

Activities? Vel continues to be active in her Red Hat Chapter and their social and fun things.
I have rejoined Ham (Amateur) Radio again and with a new antenna, have been a bit more active there. As for writing; the news of the kidney issues have caused me to accelerate work in that category, in as much as I have no idea with regards to my longevity these days now. I have published two books, The Woman Board (2015) and Book One of my current trilogy, From Sand to Sea and Distant Shores; To Sea. The 2nd in the trilogy is in manuscript form, but I lack funds to afford publishing now. So, it might be mid-to late this year before that happens. (Self-Publishing). Writing has become my primary efforts these days and my regret is that I entered that arena too late in life, but to that I say, "Better a Late Bloomer, than a Dead Bud!'

I write articles for the Tin Can Sailors (DESVETS) quarterly rag, published back in MA and dedicated to all Destroyer Veterans.

If you have any interest in my books, they may be had from my publisher: The Friesen Press Bookstore, online. (Vancouver, BC.) Most current books are available through Amazon, Kindle, Google and such common outlets or ordered via bookstores. I Write for Vets, and that means that a third of my book royalties goes to the S. Utah Vets Home in Ivins. So, if you buy one of my books; you help a vet. A second third goes towards funds to finance the nest book and the final third is for Vel and I. (We like to eat regularly)

On February 9th, I'll become an Octagenarian (80) and probably will celebrate at an Applebees likely in Cedar City, Utah, as a past friend of mine and his wife (rather seriously ill now) will be able to at least travel that far to help with the festivitites? hah! So, that's all that is anything approaching worthy of reporting ... oh yeah! a week ago, I became a grandfather at last. My son is 45 and his wife is 43, so they'll be "senior First Time Parents". Thanks for reading. I might make the next reunion. Y'all take real good care now h'yeah?

You can find me posting often on FaceBook: Mac Magee


Vel and I live on our "Happy Endings Ranch", in Cane Beds, AZ. (This isn't a town, and the Fredonia address is for mailing only.) We moved here in early 2004, from Newbury Park, CA. I am an Amateur Radio Operator ("Ham"), and build wooden models of trains, stagecoaches, ships, boats, etc.

I enjoy the "new" technology, and within this past year, finally joined it getting a Black Berry. How neat it is!

In July of 2015, I published my first book, "The Woman Board through Friesen Press. It's a memoir mix about spousal and personal abuse, which led to a separation then online datingadventures with 63 women culminating in the discovery of my current wife, Vel. It's sexually explicit in part....not for evweryone. Currently finished Book One in the upcoming trilogy "From Sand To Sea and Distant Shores. That'ts tge update as of 7-24-16.

Published The Woman Board 7/6/15. Available Amazon, GooglPlay and Friesen Bookstore in print and ebook.

So much has happened between 1957 and today, that it'd be a book in itself, if I tried to even make it a short story! :) If we ever meet, then I can elaborate some.

Let me hear from you.

Mac (Ralph) Magee

Also: See my blog for life stories on "macmageeincanebeds.wordpress.com".

I think I'm probably most well-known for two sporting events; football and basketball. This ISN'T because of my expertise either. In a game against Kingman, (basketball) we were so far ahead that the coach (I think Mr. Nelson) put me in.

Determined like Hell to make good, I began with a jump ball, leaped into the air, got it, turned, dribbled rapidly and did a layup ... in the wrong basket!

The resultant laughter from the crowd, players and the coach, sealed my fate in BCHS sports history: The boy who shot in the wrong basket ... and MISSED! The favorite chant when my classmates saw me was, " JUMP, MAGEE! ...JUMP!"

In football, not any better ... near the end of the game we again were way ahead of the opposition. Coach put me in as an end, I ran on the field, the ref. blew his whistle, shouting, "Too many men on the field...get off!" I ran for the sidelines.

The coach hollered, "Magee! Get back in there!" I ran back in.

The Ref. again shouted, "Too many men on the field; get off!" I ran towards the sidelines.

The coach again hollered, "Magee! Get back in there!" I turned and ran in again.

Before the Ref. could blow that damned whistle again, the gun went off and it was the end of the game.

Well, I ended up getting a letter in basketball for "Manager". Coach Nelson apparently thought I had SOME use in the sport!

7- 29- 17: Update. It's just about a year since my last profile writing. Time, Isn't something I seem in short supply of, with the best awaeness I have. Most of that time, I write ... books that is. These books are nonfiction as I do have a lot of experiences to write about. No one knows those experiences better than I, so why not write about them? In July of 2015, I pubkished my first book, "The Woman Board". In mid- March this year, I publisjed my second book, "From Sand to Sea and Distant Shores". It's the first book un my trilogy. These three books detail my activities and experiences over ten years of naval Service at sea for 3 years, ashore in England for 3 years and finally 2 years in San Diego.

Writing and publication have been a sobering time. Writing is one thing, but publishing another. The latter is the least desirable. In selling my books, I decided tomake a third of my royalties go to a xharitable cause, the S. Utah Veterans Home in Ivins, Utah. A second third goes to savings towards the cost of publishing Book Two, of the trilogy and finally, a last third Vel and I get because we're sort of used to eating and look forward to more soon. Nothing else is noteworthy. Recently, Carol Strong Adair Prudhome has been hospitalized from a serious strike which has left her left side paralyzed. She lives very nearby, but at this time, is existing in the old hospital in St. George.


I entered authoring at an old age, but I believe "Better to be a late bloomer than a dead bud." If you're interested in my books, please follow me on FB or email me at macmager1957@gmail.com.