I am so proud of my grandson

@cperry2 I'm sorry to know his height got in the way of him doing what he wanted to do. That is a shame! Good on him for what he does now. I hope he still gets satisfaction with it all.

@VivaLaDani13 He seems very happy. But then, he almost always does. I talked with him a couple of weeks ago and he sounded exhausted from the school routine. But I believe he will do well.

Damien has always been an overachiever. He was a star ice hockey player through high school. In his last game, his team won the California State Championship. Out of high school, he had a few colleges interested. That is what he wanted to do --- play pro hockey, but when he tried out on the college level, he was told bluntly: You have the skills to be a pro. The issue is you are too short. (He stands 5 ft 3 inches tall. Most hockey players are closer to six feet tall and there is one last name of Chara that stands 6 ft 9 inches tall.) They told him, "If we put you on the ice at this level, the players on the other teams would kill you." The University of Pennsylvania did go on to offer him a full scholarship to train to be a hockey coach but Damien would have nothing to do with it. It was an all or nothing thing for him. So he came back to California and began pursuing a medical career. Personally, I thought he made a mistake to turn down the hockey coaching thing, he loved the sport. But I never said anything to him or his mother about it. Now, I am glad I kept my mouth shut.

His dream is to be a neurosurgeon. I have no doubts he can make that happen. But time might change his mind, we shall see.

Without a doubt I am.

And to think, his other goal was to play professional hockey in the NHL. (Unfortunately, he was too short.) Honestly, I think this was a better option for him.

@cperry2 So, it's not 'unfortunately', but 'fortunately' that he was too short!

@MALUSE Excellent point. Although for him, he thought it unfortunate, Penn State told him, "you have the skills and the eye to be a professional, but if we put you on the ice, these six-foot-six-inch players in college hockey will maim or worse, kill you." As a consolation, they offered him a full-ride scholarship to learn to be a coach. He would have been good at that too, but it was a pro-NHL player or nothing. I remember cringing when I heard he turned down that opportunity.

@cperry2 biased?

@sophie09 Well, I am his grandfather, of course, I am going to think he has done well. (My bias) In his case though, he has achieved more tham most people his age.. But would an outsider think differently?

Yeah, I think so too, but I am a bit biased.

He has. And wondrously he has managed to stay on course with his goals.

@cperry2 that's great to hear that

We certainly think so.

@cperry2

Thank you. And I forgot to attribute these photos, these are by his mother, my daughter.

Thank you. I think he will do well. He has the drive to make it through the rigors of med school and certainly the smarts as well.

All too true. And, it seems the older I get the faster time flies.

@cperry2 Well of course he does.

He gets his great looks from his grandpa of course.