Long, long ago, in a land far, far away (little dramatic) -- I wrote a Short Story for a National High School Competition and won second place. At that time I got it stuck in my head that I wanted to be a writer when I 'grew up'. Of course reality had a completely different course in mind for me. Or maybe it was Fate - with her mischievous little grin and playful (read vicious) temperament, she would give someone the ability to change anything into gold by mere touch and then make it impossible for that someone to touch anything they care'd about (read Midas Touch). It is like how a fish can fly but it would die if it stayed out of the water for more then a few brief moments. The temptation of flight is always there but the fear of death would always dominate.

    So Fate decided to turn me around and point me in every direction except the one I wanted to go. I had planned to get into College through a Football Scholarship. I even had scouts from a couple of middle size Universities contact my High School and Parents. So Fate had me buckle my knee mid season in my Junior Year to make sure I had no future in Football. Then Fate made sure the Doctor did a pour job repairing it, causing me to need two more surgies (and 4 years) before the job was done right. During this same time period Fate helped me become addicted to Alcohol and pain killers.

    Finally Fate decided to cut me a break, she helped me realize that I was never going to play Football again and that I had a serious drug/Alcohol problem. She also had a Marine Corp Recruiter knock on my door. So I lied thru my teeth on hundreds (over exatration) Medical Papers I had to fill out and joined the United States Marine Corp. Of course my knee wasn't to happy about that but I gritted my teeth and pushed. My Drill Instructors thought I was a lazy fat-body, I never let them knew how much pain I was in everytime I took a step. After awhile I was actually able to block out some of the pain. Then in my third year Fate decided She had been nice to me for too long (if you can call Marine Barracks Lebanon nice) and out went my knee again. Of course right when you just want to totaly hate Fate (if it is possible to hate something that has no corparoral form) She does something really wonderful. At the time I blew my knee out there was a Reserve Medical Officer Servering at the Naval Hospital there on Camp Pendleton where I was stationed. In His Civilian Career He was doing advanced research and surgery on knee repair without replacement. He told me He couldn't understand how come the previous repairs didn't last longer. He did a repair job on me that made my knee feel great. It was as good as knew and most of the pain and weakness was gone after only a three week healing period and He didn't even put me in a cast (previously the doctors would keep me in a cast for about six weeks).

    Of course Fate wasn't done with me - yet. I went back to school and got an education in Computer Science. I own a house, have two Dogs, two Harley's (one doesn't run) and a few good friends. So now I have decided to go back to my first dream and try writing again. Good or bad - well I guess you will be the judge.

    You know, maybe Fate isn't such a Bitch after all!!!