I'm Getting Older, Too

This past saturday my little brother Nick moved to Ft. Benning, GA, to begin his career as an active duty Army officer.
Just for reference, this is the same guy who once geared up to defend himself from his older brothers using a Wiffle Ball Bat and Milwakee Brewers baseball cap, making for the best baby picture ever. He was like 4.
Now he is a second Lieutenant, training to be an infantry officer and eventual Army Ranger. I could write a long post about all the things that this means to him, to his family, and especially to me (as this is my blog and consequently my perspective). But I'll just say that I am both scared and proud.
That combination of emotions has been pretty common with my friends and family as of late. Liz and Josh are moving from the good old Birmingham to Washington, D.C. Peeg and Stacy live in Japan! Will and Meghan have a beautiful son. My dad is back to his globe-hopping ways. All of these things make me immensely happy and intensely aware of getting older. Not older as in sign me up for the early bird special, just older. I am 25 now with a real job (I teach college!), and all of my siblings are moving on up in the adult world, too. Danni is a reporter and has a baby for goodness sake (Maddox isn't too bad, either :). Sometimes I wish we could all go back to the days of Tennis Racket Wars in the rain and football games at Sacred Heart and Goofy movies with Pizza and Chocolate Milk on friday nights. But then I think about the awesome things we are all doing now and can't imagine it any other way.
I helped Nick move on friday; in two weeks I'm helping Liz and Josh move. Three weeks after that I am moving. The times, they are a changin'. But it seems that its always for the good.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Mighty Forgetful

The word "belated" is a funny one. But at times, it is necessary to use it in a very serious way.

Today I wish a belated happy Anniversary to Will and Meghan. They were married my Junior year of high school. I am now a PhD student and my car insurance just got a lot lower due to my age.

They have been married a good long while now, and that is a good thing.

So congratualtions, Will and Meghan. I know this is way late, but at least it is still the month of May :)

I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Memorial Day of AWESOMENESS

Why hello.
It is Memorial day and I am at work.
"Why?" you might be saying to yourself.
Well, UA does not recognize Memorial Day as a holiday, thats why.
Now look, as all of you know, I am not a man with strong opinions. Ummm, yeah.
But this is one holiday which should be recognized and respected. I am very thankful to have a job here @ UA, a job that I thoroughly enjoy (I am now working at the Center for Mental Health and Aging while continuing work on my PhD), but I do not feel right being at work today. I called my dad this morning to just talk for a little while and thank him. I prayed for Grandpa, and thought about all those Tigers he wrestled in India :) I thought about all the vets I've ever known, both related and otherwise. As soon as I gt my lunch break I'm going to call Nick (who thank God is not a vet, and Heaven forbid that he ever becomes one) to thank him for taking on such an awesome responsibility during a time of active war... for accepting a commission as an Army officer. I know that you can say to yourself: "what am I really doing by taking the day off of work, grilling, and drinking beer?" It can seem silly, actually. But after knowing Nick's friends for the last three years (not to mention Nick), I have discovered something. All the clichés and Lee Greenwood songs have their base in something both noble and admirable by nature: the propensity to allow others to act freely. We can take today off because, in an abstract and ideal manner, the individuals we honor today wanted us to be able to do so. The details and political motivations of war are debatable and often less than pure, but the ideas harbored by those who actually fight those wars are, more often than not, truly heroic. So, as much as it sounds like a made-for-TV special, I say thank you to all those who have risked and / or lost their lives defending my right to live the way I do. Nick once told me that he does what he does so I can do what I do. He's right. And the tradition of people doing just that in my family generation after generation makes me genuinely proud to be both of member of an amazing clan and a citizen of the United States. For all of the apathy, deceit, power-driven motivation, stereotyping, greed, unnecessary nationalism and thanklessness, there is an equal portion of basic good in people like my brother.
I hope everyone enjoys whatever they are doing today. If you are a member of one of the armed forces, past or present, and you are reading this, thank you for what you believe in.
I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe

Back FROM THE DEAD!!!

Well, not really. But I do believe this is a new record for not having posted. I am sorry. I ran out of gas, I didnt have enough money for cab fare, my tux didn't come back from the cleaners, an old friend came in from out of town, there was an earthquake, a terrible flood, LOCUSTS! look it wasent my fault I swear to Goooooooddddd!!!"

So much has happened that I can't really talk about it all. Nick, Josh, and I all graduated, and Nick is now a 2nd Lietenant in the Army. My whole family and various friends were over for the celebration, and it was cool beyond words. Yesterday Nick got an award from the Governor, too. Wow. I have pictures and some detailed stories, but I am going to go home now. I'll post more later. Really! Stop looking at tme like that. I really will. Geeesh.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe