Every week I re-evaluate my decision to attend college at a less than traditional age.  For me, it comes down to two things: my family and my heart.  I want to set a great example for my children so they pursue higher educaction and work toward rewarding lives for themselves. I also want to have the means to provode for my wife and children to the greatest of my ability. I want to have those memories that last a lifetime, and a college degree will hepl put me into the financial position to do so.

The other, perhaps equally inportant reason is that I believe I have found my calling in life.  I want to be a health care provider at Mayo Clinic, an institution that I believe does and will continue to lead the world in health care.  I truly want to be a valuable part of this institution, and feel that I have much to offer.  Beginning college after my tenure in the military is the first step.

While I was a medic in the Army, our motto was:"so that others may live."  Dr. Mayo's words "The needs of the patients are the only ones in which to be considered," move me deeply, and serve as one of my may motivating factors for entering college.

Well, I finally made it through a weekend that I have been dreading for 18 years, my daughter's senior prom.  When the day came, al of the nerves seemed to give way to feelings of joy.  This was a special day for her, and the smile on her face will be etched in my mind forever. It served as one more reminder that my little girl was growing up. AND I STILL AM NOT SOLD ON IT 100%!  However, this is't about me, its about the fine young lady that my daughter has become. I am so proud of her, and it seems the older she gets, the more the things my dad told me makes sense.  It's funny how that works.

To my daughter, Natasha: I want you to never forget how much you are loved, and how blessed I am to have you as my daughter.This is going to be a year of endings, and of new beginnings. You are about to graduate high school, visit Europe and begin college.  There are going to be times that you feel alone, but you never will be.  I hope all of your dreams come true!  -Dad

The celebration of the 100th anniversary of birth of Kim Il Sung, the man that brought communism and the resulting famine to North Korea, has proven to be an example of faulty logic.  Following World War 2, the United States and the Soviet Union had a dispute over which would control this stregic penninsula.  It was the United States that decided the nation should be divided by the 38th parallel. The South Koreans would be a democracy while the North Koreans would turn toward a communist dictatorship led by Kim Il Sung.  To the Koreans, either was an improvement over the 35 plus years of Japanese rule. However, in order to keep the North Koreans loyal, the regime of Kim Il Sung would need to isolate his people from the rest of the world.   

In time, the people of North Korea were indoctrinated to consider Kim Il Sung as a sort of demigod.  As someone sent from the heavens.  It was even tought that the man was born atop a mountain and never went to the bathroom. For decades, this fanaticism persisted.  It has survived through the rule of his son, and now grandson.

But the threads appear to be unraveling. With widespread famine and increased difficulty to control social media, the truth is certain to sweep across this nation soon.  It was over this past weekend that the regime had yet another catastrophic failure when it defied the United Nations and attempted to fire a ballistic rocket.  This rocket failed after two minutes.  It may take some time in certain circumstances, but faulty reasoning will ultimately come back to the perpetrator. And when it does, credibility is destroyed.

The Glass Castle

While reading The Glass Castle, I experienced a wide range of emotions.  When I began reading, I wondered how Jeanette could allow her mother to dig through a dumpster.  I initially had the impression that she was ashamed of her parents. As the book progressed, I developed a feeling of sadness for Jeanette and her siblings and a genuine disgust for her parents. I wondered how any parent could treat their children with such disregard as Mr. and Mrs. Walls did. I could not figure out why the Jeanette maintained such affection for her father, even when he treated her with complete selfishness.  As I read further, Rex Walls spoke to Jeanette in such a way that it was apparent how much he did love her.  On the other hand, Mrs. Walls maintained a sense of apathy toward her children throughout the book.

The Glass Castle was a great story with a great message: Through hard work and motivation, children born into poverty are not condemned to this life as adults.  These hardships can serve as the driving force behind their success.  I would definately recommend this book to others, and have.  I believe that we can all get caught up in self pity, and this book is a good reminder that people can rise above anything.