Semper Paratus

Earlier today (or rather, early yesterday, at this point), my cousin, Mary Katherine McLenagan was sworn in to the United States Coast Guard. I know that my entire family will agree when I say that I'm incredibly proud of my youngest cousin (on my dad's side).

Personally, I am incredibly impressed with anyone who chooses to join the Armed Services. Something you may or may not know about me is that I started off my college career as a Midshipman 4th Class in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. It didn't end up working out, and that's a story for another day, but suffice it to say that I understand, even if it's only in an incredibly marginal way, the kind of commitment this takes. You literally become a part of something much larger than yourself, submitting yourself to the "requirements of the Service" as they used to say. Clearly it's not a choice that many young people make these days (though certainly the current economic climate has driven up enlistment numbers), but it is not even remotely surprising that Mary Kate made it.

For as long as I can remember, Mary Kate has always wanted to be in the Coast Guard. She wants to be a rescue diver. She wants to risk her life jumping out of a helicopter into an ocean that is presumably rough enough to constitute an emergency for whoever needs the rescuing. It sounds totally insane, but that's what she's wanted to do, and by George she's well on her way to doing it. She probably could have been an officer, if she had wanted, but since officers can't be rescue divers, she chose to enlist. I'm sure that this will not be an easy road she has chosen for herself, and that she'll have hard days ahead of her, but she's following her dream, and I wish her nothing but the best.