Samuel Smith

Every summer since Scott left for the Army, I would take either the drive, or the flight and drive to my grandparents' house. Grandpa Smith had retired from his job with the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad and bought a small house in the Central Lakes of Minnesota. The nearest 'big town' was Brainerd, and the 'small' town of Nisswa was about 3 miles down the sandy dirt road that went by the house. At the other end of the road about a mile was Lake Hubert where a small grocery/general store/gas station by the lakeshore and the railroad tracks.

It was a lovely area, especially in the summer. Dad and mom usually planned the trip for the third week in August due to dad's vacation schedule and my school schedule. Of course, a week could seem a long time when boredom set in, and I tried to keep myself busy. Usually it meant going to the arcade in Nisswa, swimming and fishing the lakes, and partying with the local kids and other vacationers who rented cabins on the lakeshore.

I had graduated from high school, and was going to be attending USC... University of Southern California starting in September. My graduation grades were decent if not the best, and I got a football scholarship because some scout was at the Santa Barbara Dons-East Los Angeles Toros game that was to decide the league champion and saw my interception and 88 yard run for a touchdown. So I was up for a big change after I got back, for I'd have to go to football camp right away. Coach St Clair had a reputation of being a tough disciplinarian, so playing in the university league was going to be a whole new level of tough.

So with the euphoria of graduation last June and the partying and surfing through the summer, and the future coming at me swiftly, this year's vacation seemed different. It may be my last time with the parents, who knows. So, I'm going to make the most of this next week. I'll probably write about it after I get back.

Yeah I know.... rather pathetic. But hey, I spotted this cute young actress on the opening scene of an episode of NCIS and now I'm infatuated. It was a It was a typical opener where the girl is with a Marine at a dance club, and they are clearly intoxicated when they leave. They get in his hot Dodge Charger and they make out when suddenly someone appears at the driver's window and shoots the Marine in the head. I was hoping the girl would remain alive, but he put two bullets into her as she opened the car door to flee. Found out who she was by watching the whole show and analyzing the credits at the end. Was simply called 'Girlfriend'. Keep your eye out for Stephanie Hall, for I think she will go places! I'm a fan anyway.