I came up with this real specific goal at the start of spring of 2oo7, which involved me swimming as much as I possibly could during the upcoming summer.  Having lived on an island once before, I knew my best chance would come from, well, living on an island.  So, in my hunt for water, I happened upon a listing for a summer staff position at Mayhew.  After the necessary "paperwork," a highly interesting phone conversation with John Lynch, and a little thought and calculation, I was in.  I guess you could say that Mayhew found me as much as I found it.

At some instance during the first session, John Lynch asked if he could see me outside of the dining hall.  It was breakfast, and to be quite honest, I have this poor tendency to run ahead of reality and worry.  I'm pretty sure that while we were walking across the Lodge towards the library I said something along the lines of, "Oh man, you gonna fire me?"  He laughed and said, "Yeah right!"  Then he proceeded to get all serious and business-like and offered me a year round position within the Program.  I have this other tendency where I like to dwell on things in my mind, and fare poorly in heeding the warnings of my gut.  So, I thought about the offer and some other things for about a week, and then, on my first Challenge Day I let John Lynch and Jim Nute know for the second time, I'm in.

That's the story that I'm sticking to, and as far as I go, well, that is a consistently evolving work in progress.  What's that mean you say, yeah, I say the same thing.  Anyways, I am New England through and through, being born, bred and raised from the anchor of the region, Rhode Island.  I called Rhode Island home for twenty-five years except for a brief spell one winter when I traveled around from one beach to another in Costa Rica. After high school, it took me every public institution of higher learning Rhode Island offers in order to get my degree in what I like to call "Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking."  I can easily keep myself happy spending much time reading whether it be in libraries, at home, on trains, outside coffee shops, in cars, while walking, on a beach, and even with my eyes closed.  I can also easily keep myself entertained for long stretches of time by either playing or watching basketball, and I will say that after only one summer on the Island that that short barn-style court is easily one of my favorite places to play. 

Alright, alright, well, I could easily write all of your eyes out, but I will save that for any conversations anyone wishes to hold at any time, so that I can talk your ears off (I got that from my old man.)  I will say though, that I am extremely appreciative for what Mayhew has offered me, and I only hope to be able to offer the same, or even more back.

MLMPAMABB!