Mark Horst:  

Life Served In both the Coast Guard (Still screwing me) and the Mich.Army Guard. 10 yrs. active 4 inactive. I joined the army after being told I would never walk. It took some time but I finally made it. Qualified for anything but Infantry which was fine with me. I saw enough in Nam already. I was the best DOLLAR VALUE either ever had. NO BRAG! FACT. We can be Grateful to those PAST and PRESENT for OUR FREEDOMS. Many a FINE person I worked with. BUT there is always a few??? (Even Prayer couldn't help. Though HONESTY is the BEST policy it's not always the Safest. Full Birds don't like others knowing just how LOW they and there chosen others can really be. Power Corrupts if YOU DECIDE to let it. Then again it affects all walks of life. It's called CHOICE. I have been BLESSED with an UPBRINGING of DUTY!! It's ONES Duty to RESPECT those who do what needs be done, and either you can't, won't, or feel your above. I hate SNOBS, BIGOTS, the Self Righteous, and those who think they are better because of what others before them Accomplished. Paris Hilton (best KNOWN example) We all know them. Some we even shared a Classroom with. They miss out on so much in life. Never knowing how much FUN a Barn raising can be. Or the feeling of a Homes for Humanity project that can over whelm you with the joy you brought to someone with less. The untapped History learned when Visiting the Home bound or homeless. A few by choice, but way to many because of POLITICS or ???. Not ashamed of the many FAILURES in my Life ! I always reach for the BRASS RING. There is a tremendous amount of KNOWLEDGE in failure. And Knowledge often outweighs MATERIAL Things, My Dad always said that for every 100 ideas you have only ONE is GOOD. I worked very hard getting those 99 others out of the way. Also BLESSED with a GOOD Handle of FOOD Prep., and COOKING I hope to finish a book lost to a FLOOD, then again to Fire. Much like Alton Brown it covers more than just heat and serve. My Talents with FOOD,MUSIC, and the respect of other CULTURES has allowed me Access where many were not tolerated. Taking me around the WORLD. COMMUNICATIONS! Nothing is more Powerful on this PLANET. Other than knowing the V.A. can make me homeless for whatever reason (we all know how WELL GOV. keeps there PROMISES). I'm O.K. with my station in life. After all is said and done the Choices were mostly MINE, GOOD or BAD. I do wish I had someone to share time with though. Someone to hold, someone to share with!. Not making their dreams come true ! But supporting there journey REACHING Their Goals. Far from perfect! I'm Safe,and Loyal. Wish I were a better writer. I've got some good stories in my life. Now that I claimed that! I don't know what to say. OH WELL. I never claimed being GOOD!! ONLY consistent. School Lets see? BIGGEST crush was Nancy Adams, but there were many I liked. Most inspiring teacher Bob Motly, Bob Roulette, Ms. Germany. Would I do it over? Oh Yeah. Craziest was the Rummer mill that had me and Miss Engles as a Item. I didn't care much for her in the classroom, but she was a great Lady on the outside. She was my acting mentor, and introduced me to the Theater, which led to a life time LOVE of the Stage, and other forms of Entertainment. GOD Bless you Nancy where ever you are. AND who can forget UNCLE Ralph Ericson? It is a shame we don't have his kind around today. Dam_ UNIONS. I guess I would have to say my best 3 yrs. in school were at Burton. Even if they were all the 9th grade. Jackie DeMolder sent me a picture of the old school, but I remember it LOOKING more like the one in " A CHRISTMAS STORY" and Ralphy's BB gun. I often think about the walk to and from school. A pretty good walk after the short cuts were built over. Had I lived in the house behind us I could have taken the bus. I remember ONCE getting to school (SNOW UP THE YING YANG) and the only person there was Mr. Ellis. Being closed because the staff couldn't get there! but WE TWO made it there and back. I was only 5 min late, even though I left home an hour earlier than normal. I had a BALL that day. What I remember most was the after school Clubs that Teachers gave of themselves and showed us that they were people too. Their sharing of their own time is what led me to teac...Expand for more