Pride

Last night an old friend of my brothers came over for the night with his wife and 2 kids. Within 5 minutes he reminded me of the time in college he came to my dorm and I helped him with his English paper. Every time he's seen me since he gives me credit for his success today because of that one silly English paper. Of course I wasn't really responsible, but it's become a running joke between us.

He went on to finish school and work for a major airline in the finance department. After a few years he quit and became an entrepeneur, buying up land in our home town. Now he owns a service station (with his brothers), and a hotel complete with water park, restaurant, day care, bar, and fitness center out on the prairie outside of town.

Great things to be proud of. Not so many of our schoolmates went on to be so successful.

But do you know what he seemed most proud of? The fact that his two boys write well. His youngest dug through their packed mini-van looking for his schoolwork. When his mother asked why he was looking for schoolwork on a Saturday night, he blushed and said that he was looking for a sample of his writing to show Sandy.

I am so proud.