I was in High School when he was elected. The platform on which he ran resonated with me and the majority of people around me. When I got into college, I had to battle pseudo- intellectual liberal foes that attacked him every chance they got. Thanks to Reagan, it was never a fair fight.

I too grew up with the fear that we might have our futures wiped away in a cloud of radioactive dust. I had dreams of mushroom clouds rising above the hilly horizons around me. Those dreams are gone.

I was sitting at my desk doing prep work for an electronics company listening to the radio when I heard he got shot. It wasn't long before my dread melted away- watching him crack jokes from his hospital bed. I don't know where I'll be when he passes on but I know I'll remember that spot too.

"I hate seeing such a great man slowly fade away"

I do too, but at least he's well taken care of.