I have read only a few books all in one day and in one sitting. I am not a fast reader at all so when I do it is really an achievement and testament to the book’s content. I read The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien on one lazy spring day back in college. I posted up with a lawn chair, the ones your mom would take to soccer games, and a beer or two and just read on my porch. My other housemates were doing whatever it was college kids do when they kill time, and I just could not join them. I was enthralled with this book. The funny part about it was I had had this thing sitting on my shelf for years before this spring day. I just never got passed the first few chapters. Over the course of about six hours I just read and read. To this day this book holds one of the most powerful chapters in any book I’ve read. On page 37 On the Rainy River begins and for twenty two pages it made me face the next chapter of my life. In the book a draftee for the Vietnam war gets called to action, but he panics and drives up to the border of Canada and the United States. He spends a few days at an old summer lake campground during the off season with its even older owner. Somewhere in the lake the border of Canada begins and so does a new life away from war and pain if he so chooses. During these few fateful days the old man offers his wisdom, but more importantly allows the boy to make his decision to flee into Canada or stay for himself. This reminded me of that weird time in college, being the same age as this kid, when we ask ourselves how are we going to be remembered? How will we choose to lead our lives? Do we run from an obstacle? Or do we let it define you? I faced that on that weird spring day where things seemed to stand still as I contemplated my own life, and read this thing front to back. Sure it’s a war story, but it’s a human story first and foremost.