ACK!!! no pressure... no pressure...

[Childbride]

all y'all... you don't know what it means to hear your words of encouragement [and i am so wanting to whine right now instead of centering] and Plank [and SVL... and Robert] ... i think that when you invoke my inner tiger about achieving under pressure, you are right.

although i am hearing the chords of dichotomy in my soul between being overwhelmed and being thrilled at the challenge, i remember a favorite story of my Father's.

"you were three. i took you to the local playground at Turtle Creek. i was talking to another father while you were playing at the play ground. apparently, at some point, an older boy challenged you to go stand in a fire ant hill, and you looked at him. you said no. he apparently [this is after the fact, with the respective parents] told you you would be chicken if you didn't do it. darned if you didn't square step in that fire ant bed and stand there, squalling, until i realized what was happening... i ran to get you, ran home with you, got the ants off you... but you never moved."

[NOTE: THIS IS NOT ANY DEGREDATION AGAINST MY DADDY]

'i knew then that anything you put your mind to, you would do. and you have'

and the one question i asked him before he died was if he was proud of me. and he said 'of course'

so i do this, for my Father. i remember the Face of my Father, and i don't care how hard it is, or how many fire ants it takes. [or rumdrinks in the bahamas]

y'all are awesome for your support. thank you.