Today was in-processing day at the United States Air Force Academy for the class of 2012. Today Susan and I dropped off my son Dan and 7 of his Falcon buddies there. Today they finally began what each has been striving for.

Seventeen of them went to the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell together last year on Air Force scholarships. Sixteen were admitted to the Academy. Yesterday they flew into Colorado Springs from all over the country, and 6 spent the night at our house. Another came by this morning with his brother, who is already a cadet. It was fun to see them together. They have bonded. They are buds. They are 19 and they crack me up. What a great bunch of young men they are.

Each of them has worked very hard to get here, and today is their big day.

Today they join another 1300+appointees. Statistics say that almost 30% of all incoming cadets will not graduate. I think it is safe to bet the farm on each one of these guys, though. They want it and they can taste it. They didn't spend last year at NMMI for nothing.

For me it was a bit of déjà vu all over again. Was it really just last August when we dropped him off in Roswell? It seems like a lot longer ago.

It has been fun having Dan around this summer, hanging out and working together. Having him work with me is a hard thing to describe. What dad doesn't want to work side by side with his son? He did well and it was pretty cool having him on the crew for a bit.

We had a night where I pushed him about his beliefs and he got angry and I learned just how deeply what serving in the military means to him. I'll never push him like that again. I don't need to now and I promised him I never would again.

Just the other day we went for a run and the pupil kicked the teacher's butt and the teacher tried really hard not to let the pupil see how his knees ached afterward.

Then just like that it was June 26th and we are there on the Academy grounds and here came a last hug and off he went.

So now I'm sitting here at my desk, watching the sunset, trying to put my words together and sipping a cold one. It's odd, because the sunset 20 minutes south is basically the same, but it is setting on an entirely different world.

It's an amazingly different world, and it is amazing to me that my son is a part of it. I remember when he first started talking about going to USAFA, and how hard it is to get there, and how hard he has worked and now his dream is finally a reality.

He's 20 minutes down the road and he's a world away. I wonder how he's doing. I think he's probably just fine. I'll see him next on July 13th, which is Dooley Day, and he gets a few hours off. Until then all contact is via old school snail mail.

Leaving the Academy grounds, my mind wandered to what I have done with myself. Where I have pushed the envelope and where I have been content with my own mediocrity. Where I have pushed others and where I should have pushed myself harder.

What I've done right with my life and where I could have done better.

Going to a place with that many motivated people joining the finest Air Force in the world can do that to you, trust me.

I don't really understand the military mindset. It is foreign to me, and at 50 it's safe to say it isn't something I'll ever be a part of. Some are born warriors, some are not. The world needs both. It always has and it always will. That much I know.

It intrigues me how some of those who are not will kick at those who are. Like the world would be a better place without warriors. Fools.

How many parents have their own dreams for their children? A lot, probably too many. I don't know if he ever heard me, but I always tried to instill in my only child that success is not, cannot, be measured in dollars or net worth.

I mean, who is the greater success, the corporate lawyer busting somebody's balls in court and driving his Lexus home at night, or the trash man who always carries a smile and makes sure everyone's trash can is set safely back off the driveway after he empties it?

I guess it depends on what you want and what you see as important.

I know this much, I have had conversations with both and I prefer the trash man. That's just me, though. If you're a corporate lawyer busting balls, I hope you're happy. But I digress. I don't really care about corporate lawyers. I don't really care if they're happy, though I suppose they pay a price. Somebody has to do the sh-t work, right?

Warriors defend and scavengers pick at the remains. If you're a good warrior and you are lucky you stay alive. If you're a good scavenger you can drive a fancy car, which is more than most warriors can afford. Scavengers aren't much good until you have a corpse, though.

I need to get on-line and get my season tickets for Air Force football. I promised a group of Falcons I would be there counting their push-ups after each touchdown. And the fly-overs are awesome.

Basic Cadet Daniel Rule. Sounds pretty cool. Where's that USAFA bumper sticker? I need to put it on the chipper. I'm going to need an Air Force ball cap to wear, too.

Tomorrow I'll get up and go to work. A hack with a chainsaw. Could I have done better? Heck, I don't know. I like working outside and I like helping people out and every job is a bit different, which is a good thing for a Gemini with a restless nature.

Basic Cadet Daniel Rule. Wow. Heck yeah. I can't help it, I'm pretty dang proud.