Happy Birthday, David!

My brother, David, turns 22 today. Gosh, I remember 22. I was a Senior at WSU (Washington State University) and starting to have serious concerns over what my future would be like after graduating. As I only had a month before I graduated, this was a very up and coming future. But David has chosen a slightly different path. One that I am TREMENDOUSLY proud of.

After graduating from high school David chose to become a Marine. This decision steered him away from the typical course of teenage to adulthood as he didn't graduate high school and then immediately spend four to five years in a university getting 'book' learning before graduating and finding out what real life was about. Nope, not my brother. After graduating from Boot Camp in September David headed off to college with the plan to be like everyone else. But the Marine Corps, and our country, had other plans. In February of the following year David was informed that he was being called to duty to fight in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This meant that prior to finishing his Freshman year of college he had to unenroll from Central Washington University and enroll in additional Marine Corps training to get him geared up for Iraq and war. In June, when most kids were heading home for a summer of fun and earning a bit of money, my brother headed to Ramadi to fight for the freedom of many. Nine months later our prayers were answered and my brother returned to us not only of sound mind, but of sound body. And, boy, were we praying hard for both. My Mom required him to stay at home for a year and go to Columbia Basin College (CBC - a local Junior College) just to make sure that being in Iraq and fighting in the war hadn't caused any problems that might surface as time went by and David got readjusted to life back in America. After a year, and Mom's clean bill of health, David decided to enroll at WSU to restart his university learning.

So here we are. David's starting a four-year school well after most student's do and thriving. He's learning 'book' smarts but also has the life smarts that most are missing at this time. He turns 22 and gets to experience, not fear, but excitement as he lives those great years of adult treatment with little responsibility. I hope he has the greatest time!

In the end, Happy Birthday little brother. You make me very proud!