SQUELCHED

iii Contents Preface.................................................................................................... v My Life as a Jigsaw Puzzle..................................................................... vii Prologue: Not Good Enough!................................................................ ix Part I: Squelched, How I Lost My Voice Drafted US Army: Continuing to Fight My Battles................................ 3 Army Reflections: Time to Reflect. ......................................................... 9 Civilian Life: New Horizons................................................................. 57 Connubial Bliss and Blisters.................................................................. 60 University of San Francisco................................................................... 65 Dead-end Career Move......................................................................... 67 My Business Launch Pad. ..................................................................... 71 TheBigDay: Wedding Space.................................................................. 76 Vacuum: Clean Up............................................................................... 81 Part II: How I Found My Voice A New Point of View............................................................................ 85 Mom Passes: Goodbye to the General: Family Legacy........................... 91 Curing Father Hunger.......................................................................... 93 Developing Confidence is an Inside Job: Incubating A More Positive Me............................................................................... 95 Pascale: The French Connection. .......................................................... 97 Why Paris: A Lust for Life: Living My Passion.................................... 101 This Too Shall Pass: A Blessed Event................................................... 105 Friendship Lessons.............................................................................. 109