I find it a satisfyingly ironic that no one can know one better than oneself: it is the self that also has the most skewed perspective from which to see itself.

Finals are like battles. We procrastinate. They land on us because we were unprepared. We find ourselves to be the five without oil in our lamps. So, when we meet a classmate in the computer lab before sunrise we compare who got away with more in the last minute. We laugh at them and brag because they were close shaves and we were or are afraid. The comparison is our battle scar that we are so proud of -- as long as no one hears that we actually got it tripping over a tent post on our tour of duty.

Prayer Request (part 2)

Dear friends,

After promising so many of you personally that I would keep you updated, I am far overdue for giving you such an update on my medical life.

Since coming home from college, I had appointments with a couple of scoliosis specialists. We found a good doctor at Hershey Medical Center, Dr. Armstrong, who usually specializes in pediatric scoliosis but agreed anyways to take on my case. After a thorough examination and discussion with Dr. Armstrong, he told my that I should not suffer the kind of pain I have from normal scoliosis, so he sent me to have more nervous system focus MRI sequences done and see a neurosurgeon.

The neurosurgeon, Dr. Iantosca, gave me the news that I do have another issue, what he referred to as a tethered spinal cord. Meaning, the ligament at the tail end of my spinal cord is actually pulling it taut. This in turn means I am having this surgically corrected before I can have anything done to correct the curve of my spine.

Here is where my putting off E-mail matters, and I apologize for it again. Many of you may not read this E-mail before the event, but I am having the surgery this morning, after which I will spend a night or two in the hospital.

I should be home again Friday afternoon at the latest and will send out a short E-mail then to let all my friends know that the surgery went perfectly and I am now pain free.

As before, I am very grateful for the prayers, thoughts, and care from all of you.

Thank you.

--Aaron N

Because you all are so concerned about my personal library --

Current total tally: a depressingly low 360.

Literary classics: 52-ish.
Compilation and collection volumes: 49.
Religion, theology, Bibles: approx. 35.
Music (theory or books of music score): 17.
Latin, ancient history, myth: 15.
Travel books: only 1, huh.
History and politics: 14.
English and writing: 13.
Comics: 11.
Plays: 10.
Biographies: 10.
Math and science: 9.
Arts and architecture: 8.
Behavioral sciences: 5.
Economics: 4.
Philosophy: 3.

Have a nice night.
pax Christi.

How every girl should be treated.

To every guy who...
-- believes every girl is beautiful.
-- prefers to say she is beautiful, not "hot" or "sexy".
-- says sex can wait.
-- would never push her.
-- is never too busy to drive across town to see her.
-- gives her flowers and a card when she was sick or down.
-- gives her flowers just because.
-- says he would die for her.
-- really would.
-- does what SHE wants to do.
-- cries in front of her.
-- she cries in front of.
-- holds hands with her.
-- kisses her with meaning.
-- hugs her when she's sad.
-- hugs her for no reason at all.
-- gives their jacket up for her.
-- calls to make sure she got home safe.
-- sits and waits hours just to see her a few minutes.
-- would give his seat up.
-- just wants to cuddle.
-- reassures her that she is beautiful no matter what.
-- tells his secrets to her.
-- tries to show how much he cares with every word and breath.
-- thinks, "Maybe this could be the one."
-- never laughs when she tells them.
-- believes in her dreams.
-- would do anything so she could achieve them.
-- escorts her back home.
-- doesn't push curfew.
-- walks her to her car.
-- holds the door.
-- gives his heart.
-- prays she is happy even if you aren't with her.

Less and less people, girls and the rest of our culture, appreciate real men anymore. Because of this, there are not enough nice guys left out there. Girls fall for the bad boys, and men care about their image.

If you are a nice guy, repost this titled: "This is how every girl should be treated." If you are the girl who thinks every guy should treat a girl this way, repost this as: "To Every Guy".