One Down

Three moments in the past months have rendered me speechless. The first two moments were when different Doctors confirmed the same diagnosis. The third was when I got a message from Kip Zechman last night.

Ring Figure, borrowed from marchingpost.wordpress.com 

Kip, a Junior at VMI, had noticed the fifth item on my list. In short, Kip invited Amanda and I out to dinner with his roommates and family. Invited us to the Ring Figure Ball. And then asked that Amanda and I be the first couple through the ring.


As a VMI grad, I've had my doubts about what the Institute is doing, how it prepares its cadets for the world outside, and - on occasion - doubts about the type of person it spits out every May. I used to sum up my views by telling anyone who asked that, for me, VMI seemed like an unsupervised boy scout camp. In my mind, that atmosphere changed with the appointment of LTC Eric Hutchings as the Commandant of Cadets. As commander of the 4th Ranger Training Battalion, it was obvious Hutchings had what it took to turn things around when he arrived back at his Alma Mater. 


I'm proud to count these cadets men as my friends, and I'm awfully proud to have a ring that bares the same name as them.


Now, important question: tux or kilt?