My thought for the day today is for my sister, Sinah, who hastened off to Glory a few years ago. I think of her often and fondly; her having taken flight way too soon. Her son was promoted to Brigadier General this past week. Eric was stunned and humbled by the promotion but his mom would have known that he deserved every bit of this ceremony.

She had the unique ability to cry and laugh at the same time and she would have been anything but humbled. His mother would have beamed a mother type smile of thankfulness at the recognition. She loved her "kids" more than most mothers seemed to and the honor she felt would have been for them more than her. She would have enjoyed the limelight more than even Eric because he was her little boy.

Congratulations to Eric, his sisters Kaaryn and Amy Ruth, who helped him learn patience and humility, to his wonderful wife Amy, who was the brains and steady hand behind the "boss", to his children Emma and Philip, who bring him the same joy Eric brought his mother and this uncle last week. All of them helped Eric become a General.

As I talked with my dad, who is ninety-three, last night about this he answered with a smile in his voice, with only one simple word ---Wonderful.

Congratulations Brigadier General Eric Robert Gladman!