Hi Galen, first of all I don't have an answer to the question. As to whether I have been a nut at some point in my life, I confess that for a few years I took the saying “die young and make a nice punk corpse” quite seriously. And I've certainly done things I regret.
Those few years later marked my life. Sometimes to my “bad”, I was “late” to some things like college. And, on the other hand, that “being late” has shaped me as a person. I got my degree working a night shift as a security guard. I got it in 6 years, which is below the average of students who study at a distance. I think that from something negative I was able to make a life that I am now satisfied with.
Best regards.
It's good to see ones efforts in a good light, to celebrate them; what you've done in gaining your degree while working and through distance is a credit to you.