Fall 1998

Underneath an orchard tree, Dennis Dean quietly read the textbook A Manual To Controlling The Troubled Mind. The wind softly blew through the tree branches above him, which gave him shade on this warm autumn day on the University of Connecticut campus.

He was just an early twenty-something college student with aspirations of mastering the field of psychiatry. After watching his own brother’s battle with schizophrenia, Dennis inwardly committed to himself a future in the field.

Dennis tried to block out the sounds of his fellow classmates playing frisbee.

They should be studying Dennis thought.

“Dennis!” a young woman’s voice yelled out. “Dennis!”

It was Bridgette, Dennis’ college sweetheart. She wore a white blouse, blue jeans, and a beautiful smile as she walked toward the orchard tree holding a couple of textbooks. Her strawberry blonde hair slightly blew to the side from the autumn wind.

Dennis smiled to himself at the sight of her. If all went according to plan, he would soon be starting his residency program after graduation while engaged to her.

He pushed his glasses back up his nose with an index finger and grinned back to the young woman.

“My dear Dennis,” said Bridgette while standing above and looking down. “Always with your nose in a book?”

“Ah, just trying to impress you, my sweetheart,” Dennis joked in response, which made Bridgette blush.

“Let’s take a minute away from your studies and go for a walk,” Bridgette kindly suggested. “It’s a beautiful fall day, and I’d love to spend it with you.”

Dennis thought to himself for a brief moment before closing the book and getting up to his feet. He held out his elbow in a gesture for Bridgette to take hold, and as she looped her arm around his, Dennis felt a rush of happiness.

He had it all planned.

Residency, marriage, children, and a lifetime of helping others.