The best decision I ever made

Today is the anniversary of the best decision I ever made in my life. That decision was to join the Army. I was out of college, working at a pizza joint, and not getting a lot of encouraging responses on my job hunt. I had applied to officer candidate school several weeks before, and March 16th was the date I received news I was accepted. The recruiter told me that I pretty much had to make the decision that day. I did, and signed my name. The reason it was such a good decision is hard to explain. First off, I never became an officer. I finished basic training as an honor graduate, and thought that I was well on my way to my career as an Army officer. After two weeks of OCS, I knew that this was not what a wanted. When I dropped out, I served the rest of my hitch as an enlisted.

What made it such a valuable experience for me was the whole package. In basic training, you learn lots of common sense, practical stuff. Because I was stationed in Germany, I got to see and live in Europe for three years. I met several of my dearest friends in my life in the Army. The experience is really something that has to be lived, and can't really be described. I guess, maybe, what made it such a good thing is that I really felt like I did my duty for my country. It helped me get into law school, the G.I. Bill helped me through law school and helped me get my job after law school. Lots of things, if given the chance to do over, I'd do different. Not this. I'd serve again, and am proud and thankful for all of my fellow citizens that serve as well.

March 11

March 11 is a memorable date. The reason why I remember the date and the event that goes with it, well, let's say it is probably one of the big mysteries of the human psyche. The great film, Citizen Kane has a timeless line in it that, when I heard it, made me understand why I do remember this date. During the film, one of characters, Mr. Bernstein, when being interviewed about remembering past events, said this memorable line:

"A fellow will remember a lot of things you wouldn't think he'd remember. You take me. One day, back in 1896, I was crossing over to Jersey on the ferry, and as we pulled out, there was another ferry pulling in, and on it there was a girl waiting to get off. A white dress she had on. She was carrying a white parasol. I only saw her for one second. She didn't see me at all, but I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since, that I haven't thought of that girl."

My first crush was in sixth grade, on a girl named Anne. I can't remember how, but I discovered that her birthday was on March 11. Sixth grade boys being sixth grade boys, I was, of course, too scared to give her a present or card to her face. So, after much espionage/tradecraft worthy of John leCarre, I made sure a neatly wrapped paperbook of "The Island of the Blue Dolphins" found its way to a place where she, and only she, saw it. She picked it up and, before I could see if she opened it, I determined that it was too dangerous for me to stay around. Later on, in the days that followed, I heard titters and snatches of conversation that gave me reason to believe that she had, in fact, opened it, liked the book, and did not have a clue who gave it too her. It is possible that her phantom gifter remained a secret all of these years.

Anne and I were good friends and I still crushed on her throughout junior high and high school, but not as bad as sixth grade. I don't have a clue where she is now, or if she is even still around. I'd like to think that I'll see her sometime soon, and, if I do, will admit to what I did. March 11 will always be to me the day that is Anne's birthday, and every year on that day, I think fondly of her and hope she is doing well.