A Thought From "Dad" Brusoe:
"We proceed on!"
This was a favorite quote of my Dad, Peter J. Brusoe. Many of you met him at our conventions, MATOC, WinterFest, and the myriad other events he was there helping out. My dad was an avid fan of nature and history. He read the journals of Lewis and Clark several times and always had a great nugget of wisdom he could share.
"We proceed on!"
My dad would share this as a piece of advice to me and my siblings in the face of adversity or disappointment, as well as after success. He would share this motto with his scouts, his students, and all with whom he worked with or mentored.
"We proceed on!"
This past year I have reflected on this thought many, many times. It is an enduring piece of the optimism that my dad felt every day in every way. I was advising a student on some academic matters. I found the words coming out of my mouth, and my student said "Dr. Brusoe, what does that mean?" I did a rueful chuckle and said "It will all work out." Every time I saw the student I would remind him of that. He wound up doing very well.
"We proceed on!"
My dad painted a rock that he kept out front of his cabin at the scout camp, and later Camp Turk with the slogan and the Southern Cross constellation painted on it. This rock sits in my St. Francis garden spring through the fall. I look at it every time I leave on a trip and come home from a trip. If it was a good day at school or an "ehh" day. It stands as a reminder that in this life we proceed on.
My brothers, talk to your father, or the father figure in your lives. Ask him for advice and guidance. Talk to him about the things that bother you, or that you struggle with. I hope the advice you find is as useful to you as my father's advice has been to me.
My brothers, we proceed on!
Your brother,
"Dad" Brusoe | 
