Suddenly I got old. I grew up. Half way to age 44 and a quarter of the way to age 88. I started working full-time and then some, and I found myself staled with tricky new responsibilities that had to be dealt with in an adult way. A year ago at age 20, I wasn't a full adult, but today I certainly am. It was 39-words that made age 22 distinctively different then age 20.

The past year of my life saw many trials of me at all levels from the deepest struggle to fight a good and dignified fight against a virtually faceless enemy. I struggled to preserve my freedom and dignity. I broke down many times, but kept a steady fight. I loss some fights in the past year, but I have resolved to continue might fight this year to become more of a free individual. I almost lost my mind and my world at age 21, but somehow the crisis subsided and I found new ways to explore a radically different world.

Everything is the same, and everything changed. The world was holy and the world was filled with hatred. Many people hated me as I stood for freedom. Many still do. Age 21 was a year of crisis at the deepest level, but I survived in one way or another. I tried to change the world, but it changed me. Maybe that was for the better.

I got my pickup truck and I sure love it. My Plymouth Sundance died but I became more free. I haven't gotten my farm or my love of my life, but last year I met some nice girls and I drove past some beautiful farm land. Someday I will be calling some of that land my homestead. Just not at age 21 and probably not this year. I can only dream right now about a free and dignified life.

I can only hope this year will be more successful. I took many setbacks last year, and many of them cast a large shadow over this year. I believe that demons will be slayed and I will become more of an individual one step at a time. It just won't happen overnight. Few things will be automatic except for the marching on of time. I can only hope.