A former student stopped by my office yesterday. Juan graduated in May and went immediately out to San Diego to begin his new job; his new life as a Marine.
When I saw him (a smaller, stricter version of himself) I shook my head and blew through the list of questions I'd been saving since last we met, including, "Are they feeding you enough?" (Yes.)
He answered each question with all possible professionalism and dignity I've come to know in him. So sure, so calm. He re-enacted for me his graduation stance and rifle-handling bit and gave me a copy of his unsmiling picture.
I remembered our conversations for the last three years and how had I steered him toward university (because apparently I hate America).
As a first-generation immigrant, he has a special stake in this country and its freedoms. And it's not because he wanted to go to Iraq that he signed up. I will try to remind myself of that when he gets called into active duty.
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1 comment:
i would try to be at 11 am mass on sunday if i were you, you might have a really fun time ;) i'm just saying...
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