dusty wrote:I am really curious, Steve. In what part of this great country did you grow up and where do you now call home? FFIW and because I asked you....I was born and raised in Montana, I grew up in the military and I now live near an Indian reservation in Arizona. I lived for 6 years in Biloxi, MS in the 60s and a few years in CA, OH, IA and WA. What I am trying to say is that I have experienced first hand much of what makes this country tick.
Dusty:
I love this game. I've always loved
"Can You Top This." Well, I was born illegitimately to a 16 year old and became a ward of the state immediately after my birth. The first four years were spent in an orphanage (yes they had them then) then another year with three nuns who ran an Indian school and then in foster homes. From age 10 to 14 I lived in a very abusive house, ran away (twice) and was told by a judge to go back or go to jail. I chose jail. He couldn't or wouldn't do that (idle threat?) so he turned me loose (on the street). Got a job (2), rented a place for $40 per month, and kept going to school. Was pegged to be a dropout and a HS counselor told me to join the Navy. I persisted and graduated (barely) and it took another 8 years to earn a BS degree, 4 more years for an MA and another 3 for a Ph.D.
No, I didn't do it all on my own. I was blessed with good intelligence, a pleasant demeanor (not so pleasant as I age) and and a kind family I met at age 20 who mentored and nurtured me. Everybody needs somebody.
I've been in every state except SD, RI and ID and lived in CA, LA, OK, NM, NY, TX and VA while at Quantico (USMC not FBI). All listed alphabetically.
Along the way I learned that everyone has a different opinion based on experience. No one has the experience I have so no one has the same opinion I do; however, thousands of people have vastly different experiences but have very similar opinions. How do you account for that?
I already have an hypothesis for that but have no way of proving it is false so won't assume it is true; therefore I'll not offer it.
So Dusty, while it may not be readily apparent I just reinforced your comment - with additional minutia.