[Books]

Let's see. . . before I finally tightened my shot group and went to Selection I did a few random things, to include:

1. went to college, studied lit.
2. got kicked out of the Navy (I had to see about a girl; dumb move).
3. did Americorps (like a domestic Peace Corps) for a year contract.
4. ran a non-profit, wrote grants. Started climbing mountains.
5. quit the phone company and went to sea for a couple of years as a Deck Seaman. worked the west coast, Alaska mostly.
6. worked as a carpenter for historic registry apartments.
7. got a wife, managed a printing company.
8. got back into the Navy (Reserves) as a PAC clerk.
9. Pre-nursing classes.
10. Bored with typing NAMs for undeserving pilots. Found out about Guard SF. Switched services to WAANG.
11. Managed a Fire Fighters Union. Went to SFAS/Airborne.
12. Went to SFQC (in the middle of phase three).

My first exposure to the Army (other than a few weekend drills) was SFAS and I fell in love. I can't believe it took me until I was 31 to figure that out. . .

Pretty varied. . . I guess the only consistent element to this story is how fast I bore with routine. I like physical challenges, mental challenges, people committed to goals, new experiences. I am interested in just about everything and read more than most people I know (except for a few buddies in the course, my wife and I suspect most of the regular members on PS.com). I was the smart kid in High School who got in a lot of trouble. I've since realized that compared to REALLY smart people, I'm just smart enough to get into trouble. . .

Since coming into this community, I've felt more comfortable with/committed to what I've been doing since before I can remember. It's as though every day I go to work is a step closer to "home."

Something I wish I knew when I was younger is this: just because you are skilled/talented/smart enough to do a job doesn't mean you should. I believe there is a specific vocation/avocation out there in this wide world for each and everyone of us. It is incumbent upon each of us to figure out for ourselves what that job is. So sayeth the t-shirt, "Don't die wondering. "

Books