In a Months Time...

I can't believe how fast time is going by. It has been over a month since I last posted and a lot has happened. (Two people read this so here is whats going on.....) School is going; my classes are getting tougher and I am realizing how how hard it is to take 16 hours plus devote yourself to the Corps. I have met a lot of really cool people and I have had some good times. So far in the football season, we are 2-1. (We lost our first game to Clemson by one point!!) We beat the hell outta SMU and Texas State. D.C. was also a blast. I went with my uncle and met so many awesome people who have done so much to help their community. There was this one guy who is a freshman at MIT, and another girl started a youth for peace organization that is absolutely amazing. In DC we were interviewed by LA TV and Univision, plus several newspapers. I am going to be in teo (possibly three) national magaiznes as well. It was really exciting, and I am now glad I worked as hard as I did in high school. I am still loving A&M. I joined this group called 'Los Pescadores.' It is a group at my church that gets together and talks and does stuff for the church and the community and stuff. It is really cool, and they only speak Spanish, so I can practice. I really wanted to be a part of the Hispanic President's Council here on campus, but time does not permit for that. I have gotten to go home twice now. The first time I went home because of the DC trip, and then I went home this weekend because of the hurricane that was supposed to hit but never did. I am glad I got to go home though because it was homecoming and my sister was voted princess. She looked really pretty and more people cheered for her than for the actual queen nominees. I also saw a lot of people from school and had fun catching up. PHS ended up winning, but I don't remember the score. I even got to go up and play two songs in the stands with the band. The next time I will be going home is in two weeks, so I am already excited about that. I never knew I would be so excited to get home. I just miss seeing everybody all the time. The Corps is still ludicrous. It gets on my nerves, but I had the mindset that I was going to stick with it because no one in my outfit has quit and we are one of very few outfits who have done that. But, this weekend when I went home I went to the doctor to get my knees checked out because they've been bothering me since July, it's just now they've gotten worse. It is hard for me to get up in the morning, it is hard for me to walk a lot, run, stand up for a while. Basically I feel like I am 70 years old verses 18. Well anyway, the doctor said that she thinks I am developing rheumatoid arthiritis in both of my knees. I have to start doing physical therapy three times a week until I go home to get checked out again. My joints are deteriorating and getting weaker and weaker. My family thinks I should quit because it is my walking ability for the rest of my life that I am dealing with. I don't know what to do. I talked to Mr. Bell (my commanding officer) and a few of the other upperclassmen, and they say other upperclassmen have dealt with knee injuries and have been abe to finish their career in the Corps. I don't know if I should risk it. I am about to call my aunt again and talk to her and go to the health center today to get their opinion. The worst part about it though is that the Marine Corps will never take me with hurt knees. I can pretty much say goodbye to that dream, unless something miraculous happens. I am just confused right now as to what to do. I hope everything is okay but if it's bad I think my choice is obvious. I am going to have to be selfish and think about myself, and my health, before the Corps. Until next month;).....Danny