i talked to my little brother last nite (not biological)... i had been so worried about him... after we graduated (actually right before) he got involved with drugs hardcore... not experimenting but heavily using... in the last 3 years he's been in and out of rehab and was homeless for a while when his parents cut him off... last i'd heard he was whoring himself out in Dallas... i kid you not!!! but anyways... i'd figured that at the point he was at, it could not get any better or worse but i was worried... he told me last nite tho that he's doing well... actually he's doing better than well... he grew up going to military academies so it was a shocker when he didn't pursue that after graduating... but he did, he is in the ARMY and stationed in Germany... i am so proud of him... he changed his life outcome and now i feel like he will not only have a future (alive) but will be successful... i swore i wasn't going to go to anymore of my friends' funerals... not for a long while... i am also proud of my other friends who have chosen to serve their country and attempt to guarantee the freedom we so often take for granted... i know alot of people are against this war, and granted it may not be the only solution but we can't forget the troops... yes, they chose to join, but they are simply following orders... and those orders are to ensure our everyday freedoms and rights... dont' support the war... that's your own choice but never stop supporting our troops!!! i love you guys... and i am so proud of my joey, jeremy, ronnie, and ricky... without guys like y'all our country wouldn't be what it is today!!! and thank you to all the veterans of previous wars... you took the stand so that we may be able to proudly hail our flag and be the nation that we are... GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!! p.s. I love you Joey!!!