Fred, I just love it when kids strive to get that extra few points to get A's, particularly the not-so-bright ones. They will never take their success for granted like the gifted kids do.

A lot of handicapped kids go on to make a success of their lives and a worthwhile contribution to society. I talk to handicapped kids wherever I get the opportunity. A lot of them have great attitudes to life that we can find encouraging too. Keep on being their cheersleader and keep reminding us that others beside stroke survivors have a battle with life and win.

Sue.

Fred

I know you live in an Army town. How close to the base are you? How often do you get on the base?

Jean

Jean,

I live near one of the entrances to the base. About one mile. There are about 5 gates to get on the Post from Killeen. The city limits join Ft Hood Military base, only a fence to separate the two. When you come out the gate, you are in Killeen city limits. Many of the soldiers own homes and live in Killeen and other surrounding cities. Killeen with over 100,000 population and expanding city limits is big. Ft Hood is the largest military post in the US.

There is just one school district(Killeen ISD), so there are schools everywhere. Actually, Ft Hood is a city within itself, controlled by the government. The Post Commander is like the city Mayor. Everything is coordinated between them, congressmen, the Governor and George Bush, just up the road about 40 miles away.

I go on base about every day for the hospital, commissary, gas station, exchange store and more. A Zillion retirees live here. All the other countries train their military here. The firing ranges are live fire training 24/7, helicopters in the air day and night.

The sad part is there is a funeral about every day. The old soldiers dying, the young active duty soldiers being brought back from Iraq, the teenagers involved in car wrecks and other incidents, you know what I mean. We sell houses and cars in this town by the 100's every week.

There is lots of foster care parents, Big Brother and Sister too. So many kids lose their mom or dad or both, it's really sad. But we make it as a big military family helping each other.

Fred,

Sounds like a pretty interesting place to live. Thanks for describing the area in such detail.

Jean