"But when I pulled on one of those threads...I unravelled the tapestry of my life."

Ok, now a break from our regularly scheduled "horrific news from New Orleans" or "somebody died" posts.

I was thinking the other day. It's now September 2005. A little over 10 years ago, I acted on a HUGE decision in my life. It's one that shaped my (then) future and continues to do so to this day. I went to NIU.

After high school I had always figured I would go to college somewhere. I just didn't think about where. A guidance counselor mentioned that NIU was a 'good accounting school', and since I had liked my HS Accounting classes (mostly due to my teacher, Mr. Booth) I decided to go there.

I had some thoughts about joining the Navy. The silly thing is, if JAG had been as big back then as it later turned out to be, I might have joined. I've always had something of a fascination with the Navy...I figure it to be the most 'civilized' of the Armed Services anyway. I took the ASVAB in High School along with some friends. It's the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. At the time, I remember it got me out of a study hall or something. It was full of real 'does this square peg fit in a round hole' type questions. I'm not sure if it even still exists in that form. At the time, it was basically a coin flip as to what I would do. A Navy recruiting Chief came to our house to talk to me and left some information. They were saying that with my scores they could send me to Nuclear Training School in Orlando, FL. (ironic)

I later found out they tell that to everybody. :)

I had sent my ACT scores to NIU, UofI, and Notre Dame, just for grins. I heard back from all of them and responded to NIU. After finding out how to deal with their financial aid stuff, I chose to forget the Navy and go to NIU. It was as simple as that.

That one decision, admittedly one of the most important in a young person's life, made me the person I am today. I don't know how I would have turned out had I gone into the Navy. I'd like to think I would have excelled and advanced and all that. I'd probably be in much better physical shape.

But I wouldn't have met my wife, who I love. I wouldn't know my brother and sister in law, two of my best friends in my life. I wouldn't have my dog or my cat. I probably wouldn't have my job with my good friends from work and all that has brought me, financially and otherwise.

I decided to go to NIU. I wouldn't have it any other way.