Example Essay

In August of 1982 I was born, a healthy little boy 7 pounds, 7 ounces and 21 inches long. As first time parents my mom and dad were very proud and happy to have a healthy child. Little did they know that their little boy had a serious illness hidden deep under his skin, unseen by the naked eye. It would take almost five years of constant ear infections and illness before they realized something very serious was wrong with their bundle of joy. "Cholesteatoma" Dr. Christopher Daniels of Concord Otolaryngology said to my parents in 1987. Cholesteatoma a word my parents had never heard before, but would never again forget.
Cholesteatoma a disease that would be my biggest adversary for over thirty years. Life before and after this disease has proven very difficult and I have had a lot of struggles to overcome. Some of these struggles included finishing my traditional education and attending college, learning and completing basic life skills, and the physical, mental, and emotional toll it has taken on me.

Cholesteatoma is a disease that infects the mastoid cavity within the head. In my case it continued to grow and it ate the bones in my inner ear and started to eat a whole in my skull as it made its way to my brain. Fortunately for me the Dr. cleaned it out before any brain damage occurred, but major damage had already been done. As a result of this I have a hard time processing sounds. As you can imagine I had a hard time learning to read and write because I could not make out the sounds of basic letters and could not put them together to form words. I got way behind the other kids in school and had to work extra hard to learn to read and write. I would spend a part of my day with a special ed teacher who helped me learn these skills. I worked really hard all through Jr. High and high school just to keep pace with kids my age. I would have to have extra time to complete tests, and sometimes have verbal tests instead of written ones. I had a special education teacher assigned to me all through school that gave me extra attention and helped me get through grade school. In college I decided that I wanted to succeed on my own without any extra help. I knew that the world was a fast pace place and no one was going to help me get through this thing we call life. Today I only have a few credits left to earn before I receive my business degree and I am just shy of a 4.0 average. It’s not easy for me and I spend a lot of my time with my head in the books trying to learn as much as possible. I have learned how to teach myself instead of relying on others to do it for me.

Believe it or not I had a hard time just speaking up until about age 18 or so. I knew that if I could hear myself talking I was being too loud so as a result I became very soft spoken. So much so that sometimes people could not hear me or did not even know I was talking. I also had such a bad hearing loss that sometimes people thought I was ignoring them when they spoke, but I really just could not hear them. These issues made it very hard to have a basic conversation with someone. I would always end up saying things like “what did you say, are you talking to me, I can’t hear you”. I had a hard time with driving and cooking as well. I could not hear other cars on the roads or the oven timer going off. I rarely would answer the phone the first time a person called me because I could not hear the ringer. When I played sports in high school I had a difficult time because I could not hear the whistles. Imagine being on the football field and laying an opponent out after the whistle and trying to explain to the referee that you can’t hear the whistle. Now I’m a parent and I cannot stay home with my kids overnight alone because I can’t hear them when they wake up in the middle of the night or when they are hurt and need my help. A lot of simple everyday tasks are very difficult if not impossible as a result of the effects of this disease. Every day is a constant struggle just to be normal, just to survive in this world.

During the last thirty years I have had a total of nine major ear surgeries. I have a permanent six inch scar that starts at my temple and continues around my left ear down to my ear lobe. If you are behind me you can’t miss it and everyone who sees it wants to know how I got it. My scar is a constant reminder that I’m different from everyone else and of the pain I have endured all these years. Looking at my ear you will notice that the opening is three times larger than that of a normal ear. It looks like someone took and ice cream scoop and scooped out the center of my ear. I can’t even count the number of times someone has thought it would be fun to pick on me because of my appearance or try to see how far down my ear a finger can go. In eighth grade I started school with a bandage that wrapped around my head and covered half of my face. I don’t even want to relive that week of hell here so I’ll move on, but I’m sure you can use your imagination.  I’ve dealt with this kind of tormenting my entire life knowing form an early age that I was different and that my life would not be the same as someone without my condition. It has been insanely difficult to stay focused and remember that I can do anything that anyone else can do. In my head I hear those words, but often question the reality of the message. After so many years of abuse a person cannot help but be effected. For many years I was an emotional disaster. I had low self-esteem, thought I was freakish looking, and truly thought I would amount to nothing.

Cholesteatoma destroyed my ear and my hearing, but created the man I am today and the man I was destined to be. Despite all of my struggles, weaknesses, and disadvantages I have learned that nothing in this world hits harder than life and it will beat you down to your knees and keep you there if you let it. It is not important how many times you get hit or how hard, but rather how much you can take while getting up and moving forward because that is how winning is done.

Example Essay Intro revised

In August of 1982 I was born, a healthy little boy 7 pounds, 7 ounces and 21 inches long. As first time parents my mom and dad were very proud and happy to have a healthy child. Little did they know that their little boy had a serious illness hidden deep under his skin, unseen by the naked eye. It would take almost five years of constant ear infections and illness before they realized something very serious was wrong with their bundle of joy. "Cholesteatoma" Dr. Christopher Daniels of Concord Otolaryngology said to my parents in 1987. Cholesteatoma a word my parents had never heard before, but would never again forget.
Cholesteatoma a disease that would be my biggest adversary for over thirty years. Life before and after this disease has proven very difficult and I have had a lot of struggles to overcome. Some of these struggles included finishing my traditional education and attending college, learning and completing basic life skills, and the physical, mental, and emotional toll it has taken on me.

Graf #19 Reaction to timed essay

I wish I had more than one hour to complete this essay. I decided to write about how I'm like my dog, but found difficulty turning it into a contrast essay. I liked the example and since my first contrast essay was about how my two dogs are different, my dogs were fresh on my mind and I thought it would be helpful to use that freshness to complete this paper.  I took the direction of dogs and humans and how they relate. Or rather how my dog Lucy and I relate. I wrote, and wrote, but found myself with little time to cut and paste. I needed some more time to get the structure the way I would have liked it to be. I think it is a good essay, but not my best work. I will say that the time limit got the best of me here in my opinion.

contrast essay #18 Timed

Some people say that “pets look like there owners”.  While that may be true, I think that pets share certain traits with their owners and those traits are what links us together and sets us apart. I share my home with a white and tan boxer named Lucy. Lucy is my girl and there is no doubt that we have a special bond because of the traits we share. We are obedient, affectionate, and strong. Now while these traits link us together they also set us apart as Human and Canine.

Lucy is very obedient, she will come when called, sit on command, shake, stay, and speak when asked. Lucy knows what the rules are and for the most part follows them. I too, like Lucy will come when my wife calls. I will sit when my boss asks me to have a seat, and I shake hands when I meet someone new or encounter a friend. When someone says “Jeremy stay here and wait for the ambulance” I listen and follow their instructions just like Lucy listens. When board members ask for my opinions I speak up and say what is on my mind.

The major difference in obedience between Lucy and me is that Lucy is only obedient with me and my wife. I on the other hand am obedient with my wife, parents, employer, teachers, and certain community members like police officers and firefighters. Unlike Lucy, I understand that there is not one master of the universe, but rather many moving parts that make up our universe.

Lucy is also the most affectionate dog you will ever meet. She needs attention 24/7/365.  If you are sitting on the couch you better be patting her or she will put her nose under your hand and flick it up into the air until it lands on top of her head. It is funny the first time she does it, but by the end of the night you want to slap her. If your face is in her reach you are going to get Lucy kisses until you move you head. If you manage to get your hand into a safety zone she will jump on the couch with you and inch her way onto your lap. Sounds like fun, but Lucy is 106 lbs of dog that wants to be all over you. I can’t say much I guess, because if my wife is in reach I’m going to give her some love too. Like Lucy I am very affectionate with my wife and kids. I was taught that it is OK to give hugs and kisses to those you love. Sometimes I will even try to inch my way into my wife’s lap and I’m 225 lbs of man who wants to be all over you. You can see how Lucy and I are both very affectionate creatures.

The major difference between us is I understand that everyone needs space and does not want love every second of every day. Unlike Lucy I can control my need for attention, love, and affection. For Lucy it is all about her and no one else. As a human I understand that it must we equally about others as well as yourself. I know that you cannot give love that is not wanted. Lucy on the other hand is like a tramp who will give it up to anyone that is willing and some that aren't.

Like I said before Lucy is a 106 lb. Boxer. She has one of those thick block looking heads that screams don’t mess with me. Lucy has a strong, deep hound howl that would make any would be robber pee in his pants. From her head to her toes each and every muscle is visibly toned like a body builder. Her massive mouth clenches down with in creditable force, making it nearly impossible to win a game of tug of war with her. Like my dog Lucy I am also a strong individual. I have stone cold eyes that can strike fear into anyone and a tone that commands respect from all. I have a toned physique and a grip of steel. Like Lucy I’m ready to throw down at a moment’s notice.

Unlike Lucy I know my own strength and can adjust my strength depending on who I’m with. Lucy is a powerhouse all the time whether she is playing with the kids or with my wife. I understand that every person needs to be handled differently, some with less force. If someone comes into the house that Lucy does not know she is on alert and wants to go after them. I on the other hand can control my aggression and strength with everyone. The control factor is what separates me the human from Lucy the canine.

Maybe the reason people say “dog is man’s best friend” is because we are so much alike. Maybe it is because we share similarities in so many traits. I think we are best friends because at our core we are uncensored animals trying to get out. I think it is only evolution and my wife that separates me from my canine counter parts. When I think about it I have howled at the moon, buried my bone, unleashed my inner beast, and if my wife did not yell at me I would still pee outside.    

annotated bib

Works Cited

Leen, Cindy. "What Landlords Think." Personal interview. 16 Oct. 2012.

Cindy is a local landlord in Bangor,ME who has 12 rental units. She has been in the rental business for years. Cindy rents to a wide range of Mainers from students to small family's. Cindy's units are in down town Bangor and are close to schools, retail stores, hospitals and more.

Norsworthy, Tim. "What Tenants Think." Personal interview. 16 Oct. 2012.

Tim is a tenant who rents a one bedroom apartment in Bangor, ME. Tim has rented apartments for over ten years. Tim has lived in many towns from bath,Lisbon to Bangor.

St. Louis, Brian C. "What Tenants Think 2." Personal interview. 16 Oct. 2012.

Brian St. Louis is a former college student who rented a two bedroom apartment in Bangor. Brian rented as a college student in an area near Husson College. Brian offers a college persons views on renting.

Contrast Essay

Dog On Fun

Our family is made up of my wife, three kids, two stupid dogs and I. I love my wife and kids, but I often wonder why I love these mutts. Max and Lucy are our dog’s names and we really do love them very much, but they drive us nuts. Both of them are without a doubt the dumbest canines on earth and they drive me crazy. I spend a ton of money on them from food to vet bills and everything in between not to mention they destroy my house. I have a full size tote that holds their dog food, 50lbs of Dog Chow and that only lasts a few weeks. Several hundred dollars per year goes to vet bills and that’s if they don’t get too friendly with the local porky pine or need any extras like surgery or medications. Both love baths at the doggie spa, but who doesn’t like to be pampered or bathed by someone? The down side for me is the $25 bucks per dog per visit. On the surface they are good dogs, but each of them has their quirks that drive me up the wall. They are different in the time they need to go pee to the time they want to eat and when and from whom they want attention. Really how can two dogs that live in the same house, eat the same food, get the same love and attention be so vastly different?

 My house has undoubtedly gone to the dogs.

Max is a black and tan hound dog that would rather be outside in the rain or snow then curled up on a doggie bed. It doesn't matter if it is 100 degrees out or 10 below zero he wants out. Now one would think that a dog that spends most of his time outside would be easy to house train, well not shit head. I think he waits to come inside to pee just to piss me off. It took us almost six months to get him trained to pee outside and about a thousand dollars in bounty paper towels. When he is not chewing everything in sight he is digging up my entire lawn and we have almost six acres  I sometimes think all he does is eat, pee, dig and bark. All dam night bark, bark, and bark some more. I’m about ready to invest some more money in a bark collar. Roof, roof, zap, whine ha, ha, ha ass hole. Did I mention that he is my wife’s dog? Now the other block head Lucy is a tan Boxer mix who unlike Max would rather be lounging inside on the couch then outside. Lucy is what I call a fair weather fan. If it’s nice out 55-80 degrees she will play outside and run around, but outside of that her ass is inside. If it is snowing or raining I literally have to force her to go out and do her business, God forbid if princess gets wet. On the up side I had her potty trained in two days and she will hold her bladder all dam day before she pees in the house unlike dumb ass  When she does get out she will most likely lay down in the drive way and take a nap while max aerates the lawn. Lucy doesn't bark it’s more of deep growl and she only does that if she hears someone pull in the drive way. With max I can’t tell if someone is here or if he is just trying to tell me he took a poop. If you could not tell Lucy is my baby.



Now max is still a puppy only about a year old while Lucy is a senior citizen pushing nine. With that being said Max will eat five meals a day if you let him, and then still gets into the trash. Lucy on the other hand may or may not eat her breakfast, but looks forward to dinner and a bedtime bone. After Max eats he needs to poop right away while Lucy may just wait until morning. Inside each mutt has their own special spot, Lucy always on the couch or in the recliner while Max is on the floor next to the window or sleeping by the door. Max will spend hours chewing a bone or playing with his toys, but not my Lucy. Lucy may play for a while, but she is more content following the cats around or napping. At dinner time both dogs can be found lying underneath the kitchen table. Lucy always sits by the kids because time has taught her that’s who drops the food. Max on the other hand always by mommy and rarely getting a taste of our dinner, rookie. 



Both dogs love our kids and are always playing and licking them. When it comes to my wife and I it’s a little different. Max wants more attention from me then my wife and Lucy wants attention from Amy rather than from me. Naturally and subconsciously I think I give more attention to my dog Lucy than Max while at the same time Amy gives more attention to Max than Lucy. Now we really do love our dogs equally, but we have special bonds with one or the other. For example Max and my wife will sit together in her chair crafting while Lucy and I go for rides in the truck. Lucy loves to go riding with me in the truck unlike Max who trembles every time you open the car door. I taught Lucy all of the normal dog tricks like sit, stay, come and so on. She can shake; give hugs and kisses on command. When I ask her who is here she goes to the window and will bark if anyone is at the house or driving by. Max on the other hand has barely mastered sit and stay.  Likewise both dogs have special attributes. Max can always tell if there are any animals around the house or in the woods. His nose is truly that of a hound, I often will see him flowing a sent zigzagging this way and that.  Lucy sometimes can’t smell a French fry even when you drop it right in front of her. Lucy is without a doubt a true protector of the family and a great judge of character. She has on several occasions put herself in between a family member and an unknown person. Max on the other hand runs away from most people scared or will wait to see what Lucy does. Lucy can tell if you are a good person or not and whether or not I should be careful around you. The hair on her back stands up in a solid line and she gets a mean look on her face constantly looking up at me as to say “dad I don’t know about this guy”.

Being a dog owner is a lot of work and defiantly costs a lot of money. Even though both of my dogs drive me nuts, I still love them. Their bad habits and their good ones to remind me of us humans, God knows none of us are perfect and it is how we are different that makes us unique. Max and Lucy are special because they are a part of my family. Despite all the things that irritate me about Max and Lucy I cannot imagine our family without them especially my Lucy girl. I thank God for all the truck rides with Lucy as my co-pilot these are memories I will keep forever. I feel comfortable saying that being a dog owner is well worth the price you pay. 

Contrast Essay Outro

Being a dog owner is a lot of work and defiantly costs a lot of money. Even though both of my dogs drive me nuts, I still love them. Their bad habits and their good ones to remind me of us humans, God knows none of us are perfect and it is how we are different that makes us unique. Max and Lucy are special because they are a part of my family. Despite all the things that irritate me about Max and Lucy I cannot imagine our family without them especially my Lucy girl. I thank God for all the truck rides with Lucy as my co-pilot these are memories I will keep forever. I feel comfortable saying that being a dog owner is well worth the price you pay.  

Graf #18 I-search Progress report

I have all of my landlord interviews set up, and they should be completed this week. Four of my Tenant interviews are also scheduled for this week as well as my meeting with the town manager. I am attending a landlord/ property owner association meeting on Tuesday night as well.

I hope to have the two remaining tenant interviews completed by the end of the week or first of next week, timing has been an issue with these two thus far. I'm waiting for a return phone call from my attorney to schedule our meeting.

Week ending 11/3/12 I will be conducting my on-line research since it will play a small role in my paper. Week ending 11/10/12 I will be putting everything together and writing my first draft of my I-search paper.

Contrast Essay Intro #2

My house has undoubtedly gone to the dogs. We have two dogs that we love very much but, drive us nuts. I have a full size tote that holds their dog food, 50lbs of Dog Chow and that only lasts a few weeks. They cost me several hundred dollars per year in vet bills and both love baths at the doggie spa. Two dogs that live in the same house, eat the same food, get the same love and attention, but are vastly different. They are different in the time they need to go pee to the time they want to eat and when and from whom they want attention.

Contrast Essay Intro #1

Our family is made up of my wife, three kids, two stupid dogs and I. I love my wife and kids, but I often wonder why I love these mutts. Both of them are without a doubt the dumbest canines on earth and they drive me crazy. I spend a ton of money on them from food to vet bills and everything in between not too mention they destroy my house. On the surface they are good dogs, but each of them has their quirks that drive me up the wall.

Classification Essay

My Friends

As I look back over the last 30 years I can recall many good times with my friends, playing on the playground in Elementary school. Riding bikes and chasing girls in Jr. High School. In high school it was sports, parties and girls. College was about drinking and smoking everything we could get our hands on. After college it was working, buying a house and starting a family. Every memory I think of has a friend attached to it. Looking at those friendships I can see three distinct types of friends. There were my needy friends, my good friends, and my best friends.

The Needy Friend: These are the friends that call you up at three in the morning and want you to bail their ass out of jail because they got to rowdy at the bar, but are too afraid of calling the folks or the wife. These people want to be your friend because you have something that they need or want and they know you will give it to them.  I find these friends to be the hardest ones to get rid of, especially when what they need is a friend because no one else will give them a chance.

When I was young my needy friends were Michael and Tom. They always wanted to come to my house because mom had snacks in the house. They wanted to play my Nintendo and play with my toys.  “Can I use your bike” or “can your mom take us to the Ninja Turtles movie?” In Jr. High they wanted me on their team because I was a better athlete. “Can I borrow five bucks” or “can I copy your math homework?” In High school it was Chris and Joey that were the needy friends. They would ask me for rides to school or too a party. “Can I borrow twenty bucks I’ll pay you back.” or my favorite “Hey bro, ask Jessica if she will go to the movies with me.”  In college Dan was my only needy friend. He would ask me to get him beer or once a job.  “Jeremy buddy I’m a little short this week can you help me out?” “Can you get me into the Bear Brew?”  Now, ten years later the needy ones want me to take their trash to the dump or want to borrow the lawn mower.  “Can you watch the kids tonight”? “Can you help me clean out the garage before the wife gets home”?  Starting to sound familiar yet? 

The Good Friend: These are the guys you call at three in the morning to bail you out of jail when you have gotten to rowdy at the bar and refuse to call the folks or the wife. These are the guys that probably got you arrested in the first place. These are fun people to hang out with and are of the same circle. These friends come and go all the time depending on what stage of life you’re in. I have found that these friends are the most fun to hang out with.

                I've had a lot of these “good friends” over the years, Brett, James, Jeff, and a host of others. We went mudding in the woods, camping, hunting, and fishing. We all rode together in the same limo to the prom, played ball on the same team, and cut class together.  We talked all night and relived the good old days at our high school reunion.  Today “my good friends” are Scott, Brian, and Mike. We take the kids to the park and have family bbq’s together. Friday night is usually poker night unless its hockey season and we are at the rink. We have drinks together and talk about our other halves. We talk about the present, the future and all the crazy shit we did before we knew one another.  We go on trips out of state, go to concerts at the water front, and sporting events together. “Hey man want to grab a brew after work tomorrow”? “Do you want me to help you split that cord of wood on Saturday”? Sounds like a good friend doesn't it?

The Best Friend: These are the guys sitting next to your ass in jail at three a.m.  saying things like “she didn't look like no cop did she?”  These guys usually have been your friend for as long as you can remember. They are the ones who know your deepest, darkest secrets. Like the time I got caught skinny dipping in the neighbor’s pool with Shay. They are the ones you trust to have your back and the ones whose back you have.  They are the friends that were always there for you, are still here for you, and will always be there for you.  

                In grade school Seth and Ben were my best friends and today 25 years later not much has changed. We started cub scouts together and received our Eagle Scout badges together.  In Jr. High we all had Mr. Smith for math class and entertained each other in detention. In high school we were football teammates. Seth was the right tackle, Ben left guard, and I left tackle, a line to be feared the paper said.  In the fall we were teammates yet again on the wrestling mat, Seth at 215, Ben at 152, and I at 189 a trio of champions.  In the summers we all worked together at Elegant Settings, setting up wedding tent, parking cars, and catering. At night we could be found mudding in the woods, drinking beer or playing pool, but always the three amigos.  In college we were separated, but only by a phone call. They were the best men at my wedding and the first to congratulate my wife and I when our first child Nathan was born. I was in Ben’s wedding and will be in Seth’s next June. When I lost a loved one and could hardly stand they held me up and were the ones who made me laugh again. When it was time to throw down I knew they were right behind me. Best friends or as we would say and often do “Country boys forever”.  This is a friendship that has stood the test of time and I have been blessed to have not one, but two of the best friends on the planet, thanks guys.

               

In this paper I set out to classify the friends I've had and have in my life.  We can all identify which of our friends fall into each of these categories, but somewhere I lost sight of the most important friend of all The Soul Mate: The one person whose life matters more than your own, the one person who makes you whole, the one person who stands beside you even when you’re wrong. She is the one who has seen you at your worst and knows all about your best.  I married mine eight years ago and I hope you all meet yours one day. 

Classification Outro

In this paper I set out to classify the friends I've had and have in my life. We can all identify which of our friends fall into each of these categories, but somewhere I lost sight of the most important friend of all.       

The Soul Mate: The one person whose life matters more than your own, the one person who makes you whole, the one person who stands beside you even when you’re wrong. She is the one who has seen you at your worst and knows all about your best.  I married mine eight years ago and I hope you all meet yours one day. 

Classification Intro#2

When we were in elementary school everyone was a friend. In Jr. high groups were formed and some friends left and new ones joined. In high school the groups changed again and more friends were lost. College came and the old groups were dismantled and new friendships were born. Now look up and see whose around you, only the best of the best I bet. All along the way friends have come and gone. We had the friend who always wanted something, the friend who was around when it was convenient, and the friend who was always there, is still there, and will always be there.

Classification Intro#1

Friendship

As I look back over the last 30 years I can recall many good times with my friends. Playing on the play ground in Elementary school. Riding bikes and chasing girls in Jr. high school. In high school it was sports, parties and girls. College was about drinking and smoking everything we could get our hands on. After college it was working, buying a house and starting a family. Every memory I think of has a friend attached to it. Looking at those friendships I can see three distinct types of friends. The needy friends, the convenient friends, and the best friends.

Graf #17 Reaction to Cause Essay Comments

I was pleased with the critique of my first draft of the cause essay. I put a lot into this piece and was proud of it.  I revised it slightly making the recommended changes. The final opinion of the essay was what I hoped it would be. I love a challenge and I'm glad I was able to meet your expectations. I have never been as they say a "smart student" so I'm very happy to be doing well at EMCC especially in English 101.

Graf #16 Reaction to Classification samples

I think this will be a fun essay to write. I thought the snakes, snails and puppy dog tails was interesting how the writer compared guys and relationships. I think she missed one class though not all of us are bad. The sports fan essay was cool too and I think the writer hit the nail on the head. I guess I'm the middle fan.

I think the best fish to catch was more up my ally. It got me thinking of potential topics that would relate to me. the streets essay also got me thinking about country living vs city living. Then I thought about all the different towns I have lived in and how each was so different. So many topics so little time. Just trying to find the right one now. I like how the samples are so different that you get a taste of different topics to consider. Each essay gets me thinking about topics that would be interesting to me. I like how one persons idea or paper can trigger my own ideas and visions for a paper.

Graf # 15 Meta-Graf

I wrote my cause essay in my bedroom, sitting on my couch next to Merlin my cat. He would stare at me and the lap top as I wrote. I think he was more interested then I. I kept pausing to watch one of my shows, and at commercial break back to typing. I write all of my papers with my lap top sitting on my kids 2X2 plastic, Fisher Price white and blue table. It is the perfect height and they don't really need it anyway, right?

I had just finished my quarterly gun cleaning session and was pondering different topics for this cause essay. Would you believe it the topic was sitting right in front of me and the material was yelling at me from down stairs, "dinners ready." my wife called.

I got through the intro and waited for comments from Goldfine. "This is not a hopeless topic at all, but it's not an easy one either." he wrote. I thought he knew me by now, I always take the path less traveled. I thought to myself okay Jeremy get your shit together and show Goldfine you got this. Needless to say this was my motivation for the piece.

I really wanted to preach and infuse my views and values into the paper, but I also knew that Goldfine wanted me to personalize the paper so I backed off a little. I really just wrote about the conversation my wife and I had about my gun purchase, minus all the bad things she called me. It would have been comical, but I didn't want to give the wrong impression of my dearest wife not to mention she reads every paper I write. Love you honey!