That doesn't sound like the Jim I know....so I'm going to tell you what I have lived by for the last 47 years. The person I have admired the most ever since the first day I met him in 1962 was a Navy Seal Lt. Commander. It was UDT school graduation day for me the day he walked into the room to make his presentation.

He started of by congratulating us for having achieved such distinction and having what it took to stay in the program. Then he looked right at me (probably because I was sitting directly in front of him) and said “I’ve come here today to invited you to volunteer to join me in an elite force, the likes of which the world has never seen. The training will be the toughest any man has ever endured and the learning curve is steep. But I know this from my life,

“IF YOU DON’T GIVE UP OR QUIT, YOU WILL NEVER LOOSE!”

I was 19 years old at the time and those words resounded in my ears like giant church bells. I was raised by my Grandparents and my Grandfather had pounded those same exact words into my head as far back as I could remember anytime I would faultier in the least in something I was trying to accomplish.

Like the country boy that I was, even though I had no idea what he was talking about, I literally jumped to my feet, saluted and said, “Sir, James O’Brian, UDT graduate. Sir, I would be proud to be the first to volunteer and be accepted into your program, Sir”

I had no idea what he was selling, but I knew he was a man in whom I could place my trust and that was good enough for me.

I was accepted and to this day I can tell you that in the last 47 years there have been many times that I have been seriously down, but I have never been out.

Jim, don’t ever quit, learn from your mistakes, trust in those that you know that have your best interest at heart and become a student of your craft regardless of what it is.

The problems you have faced, have not only taught you something, the members of this forum have also benefited from your post describing them as well.

Saddle or no saddle, get back on that horse and ride.