by 13 Stoploss
I know it’s nearly October, but today is the last day of summer for me. For what started in late May, and has lasted until tonight, has been an incredibly fulfilling, liberating, and invigorating experience. I can’t remember ever having as much free time to pursue my own inquiries and obsessions without a sinking feeling of something dreadful to return to. Tomorrow, I return to a dream that, in 2005, started in Iraq. This time, it is a hard-won reality borne of sacrifice, patience, and excruciatingly diligent work.
While I eagerly await the following-through of the VA’s promise to pay BAH for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, I have mostly survived the summer on Mrs. 13’s summer paycheck planner, savings, grants and scholarships, and the credit card. While we should have been thriftier than we have been of late, I can say that my summer contained wonderful surprises, pleasant getaway excursions, new skills, and eye-opening philosophies. The short list includes skillfully mastering a few alternative processes in film photography, the reading of a half dozen books, the shooting and developing of dozens of rolls of film, a backpacking trip above 10,000 feet, having a baby, the start of a wedding and portrait photography business, and the developmental stages of two books. Along the way, I developed a Dionysian taste for Scotch, and a passionate renewal of my relationship and love for Mrs. 13 that could only have taken place by spending every glorious minute of every day with her.
Before we celebrate eight wonderful years together on Saturday, I begin my Journalism major at UC Irvine tomorrow. And, surprisingly, before the first day of class, I am already stockpiled with homework that has been emailed by professors. And, what better way to start my Journalism career than to document the faculty walkout and protest of the California budget cuts to education, including imposed faculty furloughs, and firings of many part time instructors? Aside from avoiding high-pitched, bug-eyed blondes in Uggs and Hoodies in 95 degree weather pitching Greek Life, my morning will start with coffee before starting the structure of Poetry, followed by two Journalism classes.
I’ll share stories, observations, and reports as they happen. In the meantime, pay attention to your other favorite bloggers sometime tomorrow afternoon. I hear there is going to be a pretty important blogger round table with some uppity’s at the VA concerning the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the plethora of problems veterans have endured. I’d be taking part, but hey, it’s the first day of school!
Oh yeah. Be on the lookout for the work of a certain young photographer. He has some pieces being exhibited at the local Fine Arts Center (info coming shortly) in two weeks…
Early Anniversary Gift :)
4 comments:
Hi Jason,
I love that picture of you and the babies. I am happy to hear that you had such a great summer. Take care of each other...that's what families are for. I look forward to hearing your perspectives on the college world, your journalism classes and how the family is doing as you roll into the fall. For myself, I am trying to remember the happy times, but, they are hard pressed to rise through the sadness. You and your family make me smile and I am thankful for that. Hang in there Jason, you seem like you are settling into a nice groove and finding that balance between happiness and the demands of the day-to-day. Take care, Jason
just wonderful Jason.
ditto above comment: image of you and your little ones - priceless.I have a smile on my face, that will probably last all day.
best of luck with your college classes.
Can't wait to see what you exhibit.
_louisa and hedgie
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 09/24/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
Love the pics! Mrs 13 has a way with the camera too - you go Mrs 13!
My first thought when I saw the pic of you with the camera was that you had found a Hasselblad - the camera I coveted back in the 60's.
How do you like the format of the Rolodex? Fun, huh!
..."sacrifice, patience, and excruciatingly diligent work"... separate the wheat from the chaff and will give your life character, consequence, and reward. It's not a one-time deal. It will be required of you again and again.
You're an admirable young man and your work ethic will take you far.
That's not a simple platitude on my part - I've seen it happen to my son. I'm immensely proud of him and all you young people who realize life isn't going to hand you what you want without paying some dues.
Kudos Jason!
~P~
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