They say that it's important to "find ourselves." I don't know what that means, exactly, other than that I'm still looking... and probably will be for awhile, especially if I can't find my glasses.
I'm from rural upper Michigan, a place where it snows, on average, 218in (5.5m, over 18 feet) each winter; that is a two-hour drive from the nearest Starbucks; and a five-hour drive to the nearest interstate highway. Though I moved away years ago, I still retain the values I learned growing up: Hard work, helpfulness, friendliness, and an unceasing optimism that pervades even my darkest hours.
Although my lineage is full of scientists, I hold a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan, a Master's Degree in Agricultural Science from Colorado State University, and a Master's Degree in Political Science from George Mason University. If ever I don't know something, I endeavor to find out; everyone in my immediate family holds at least one advanced degree, and I expect to end up with 3 or 4. I've got a few certifications, too, to supplement.
I live in the Washington, DC area, and work among the horde of nameless federal bureaucrats, in which my mission has been to reduce complexity and complication in routine processes (where legally possible), and resolve problems of both human and machine creation. It's obviously difficult to measure such a thing, but I'm confident that I've cut over ten thousand hours of redundant or unnecessary work per year, and removed superfluous "touches" from several processes - allowing folks to spend more time on what matters (i.e. the mission), instead of shuffling papers.
I do a lot of traveling, personally and professionally, and I am convinced that it is impossible to understand the world without seeing it. I speak four languages (albeit three of them marginally) and often grumble that the Tower of Babel is the only thing keeping me from world domination. (Admittedly, the inconveniently large size of the world might be a factor, too.) I'm most at home walking through the woods, connecting with the world around me.
Where will I end up? This, I have no idea. Stay tuned... for the next several decades.
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Famous Ancestors
It turns out that I've got a few ancestors of some repute:
- James Dandridge Halyburton
Attorney and Judge in Richmond, VA
As the senior judge on the Virginia Court of Appeals, he was asked tom administer the Oath of Office to CSA president Jefferson Davis. The book The Sweeter the Juice discusses the descendents of him and his household slave.
Many centuries back, the Halyburton clan was quite powerful in Braveheart-era Scotland, serving in a variety of roles in the Scottish royal house and occupying Dirleton Castle outside of Edinburgh. - William Branch Giles
Governor of Virginia, Member of Congress
Great-great-great-grandson of Jonathan Giles, who arrived in North America in 1624; and Robert Knowles, who arrived in North America before 1620. These are the first of many European immigrants in my lineage.
Giles spent several stints in politics, and was steadfast in his belief that executive authority should never go unchecked; he resisted several attempts to strengthen his office. Giles County, in southwest Virginia, is named after him (although it's highly unlikely he ever set foot there). - Roger Vaughn
Fought in the Battle of Agincourt - John Dudley (lineage uncertain)
Duke of Northumbria
Dudley was effectively in charge of England during the brief reign of Edward V (the only surviving son of Henry VIII), who was underage and in poor health. He supported Edward's revision of succession rules to favor his cousin (Lady Jane Grey) over his sisters; it's unclear whether this was because the said cousin was also Dudley's cousin, or if the Duke was simply being a loyal servant of the king. Either way, when one of the said sisters ended up in power, Dudley was stripped of his Dukedom and head. - Leofric of Leofwine (lineage uncertain)
Earl of Mercia and husband of Lady Godiva
A few centuries later, his descendents would adopt the family name dePeyton, and later Peyton.
The great-great-great-great-great-grandson of another Leofric, who (if this lineage is true) is my oldest documented ancestor.