Living the Dream

July of this year will mark my 7th year anniversary here in Japan. I've grown a lot since my plane first touched down at Haneda International Airport what seems like a lifetime ago.

Before that time, I was single, looking, waiting and hoping for my life to begin. I had just finished graduating from university after a prolonged tenure, broken up by a nearly two-year stint as my Ma's home health caretaker. I fulfilled the dream she had for me by getting that highly prized degree and have since received another from a graduate university in the U.K. And I still anticipate going for a third (PhD or ED) sometime in the future. The point is I am on the path, without a doubt or even moment of pause, of continuous learning, an evolution and a fulfillment of a true human life.

This being said, I also want to acknoledge all of the people who helped me to get this far. My mother is number one on the list. Without her, I would have likely fallen in my darkest hour. My Ma and Welow who both inspired me to use my mind to advance myself in life and who also taught me life's fundamentals, such as laughter in love, determination in sacrifice and excellence in character. My aunt La and uncle Jaime, for their unshakable belief in my promise. My uncle David and aunt Nancy for their constant support. My father and family for their advice. It always seemed to balance the circumstances. My cousins Rosie and Ernie, Louie and the many, many others too numerous to list here. They are all my generation and the example of their lives keeps me in check. And, since coming to Japan, I am priviledged to thank my amazing wifey, the dream woman fulfilled, who literally made every high expectation I had in a life partner become a reality with her engulfing love , her modesty and compassion and her straightforward nature.

Now I can share all of these people's lessons and hopes and personalities with my angelic little daughter, Miss Lilica Margarita. It is for her that I fight the world and part the ocean so that she can develop her own senses, her unique personality and her encouraging promise. I live on through her but she also lives on as her own true person. I pray that she and all of the relations of humanity can find inner peace and pure joy in this life. OMATEOTL ("All my relations")

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Descriptions of Libya's anti-Gaddafi struggle from inside Tripoli

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/3/1/terror_in_tripoli_libyan_american_describes

The Battle of the Budgets: New Fronts in the Afghan and Iraq Wars

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_battle_of_the_budgets_new_fronts_in_the_afghan_and_iraq_wars_20110301/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Truthdig+Truthdig%3A+Drilling+Beneath+the+Headlines&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher