Sad Day In Our Village

Yesterday there were about 400 police cars as a brave young officer who lost his life in a high speed chase was buried.  People lined the streets in respect for this brave young officer Whittaker - who was chasing someone down Michigan Highway 52 and lost his life in the chase.  There were helicopters in the air buzzing around.

I am so thankful for our police.  While some may say there are problems, and maybe there are some things to work on - I know I don't want to live in a lawless society.  The saddest part is when someone who is so near my middle daughter's age life is cut so short.  I don't know or didn't know him, but I do know the person he was chasing was not caught.

Can you imagine?  Running from the police, having a police person die and you now have to walk around for the rest of your life waking up every morning and looking in the mirror and remembering what you did.  I hope this Person, whomever, turns themselves in and does not continue to act in a cowardly fashion.  Face what you did.

Interesting how the media doesn't pick up on stories like this.

Where Is It All Going?

We live in very frustrating times.  I wanted to pre-apologize to all of my good international friends (one of my best is from Portugal) and tell them a few things about what you might be seeing on the media.

First of all, there is going to be released a report on torture the CIA did after the 9/11 terrorism act.  This report seems to be politically motivated by our president and Senate who want to take a leaving shot at the in-coming conservative controlled congress we will have.  I cannot believe this report is going to be released, and I believe it will cost lives both American and otherwise - so just be prepared for it.  Me personally, I do not condone torture in any way shape or form and I believe most responsible americans don't.  However, I must say if I was in a room with a guy who knew where my missing 8 year old daughter was and I knew he knew where she was - I don't know what I'd do as a Dad to make my children safe.  I think it is irresponsible and just shows how out of touch Washington is with the rest of the country.

I'm going to admit something.  I voted for Obama.  I believed he was going to change things and was as excited as everyone else at the promise shown.  However, with each day, I become more and more dissappointed in this man's approach to what was the most powerful position in the world.  I believe he's made us even more of a laughingstock, and realized all the promises he made could not be fulfilled because it's simply impossible to fulfill everything he said.  Unions are now suing him over Obamacare, saying this plan will bankrupt them in no time at all.

Let's review a few of the things I felt I've been lied to about:

1. When Benghazi happened, he said it was from a video knowing full well it was a terrorist act.  He watched as 4 brave Americans died, worrying about the election rather than what was right.
2. Promise of lower healthcare costs when I know my friend in a company is now paying 30% more in premiums.  Good theory, get the young to pay for the old, but the young are finding it cheaper to pay the penalty.
3. I can keep my doctor.  The plans are so bad and don't create competition, it is impossible to keep your doctor if you switch to a cheaper plan.
4. The way in which this president and his inexperienced cronies have inserted themselves into issues should be illegal.

• Devastation of the coal industry.  You think the Democrats lost the south because of anything but destroying their economy, don't fool yourself.  We have the largest coal reserves in the U.S. but we aren't going to use them, we're just going to ruin economies and destroy people's lives.
• The office of the President must be "above" any other office in the land.  By continually inserting himself in making comments on race and police - he's brought the entire office down to a level we've never seen before.
• My favorite - assigning an ambassador to Peru who cannot speak spanish and assigning an ambassador based on her giving $1.4 million dollars to his campaign - and her qualification is she was the producer of a soap opera.
• There is no interest in having a race dialog.  They are right, we are wrong.  Forget my ancestors fought for the Union Army to free slaves, I'm an evil white man.
• Golf golf golf.  Playing golf when a man's head is being chopped off.

We can go on and on and on.  I'm truly scared for this country and have a message for the Republicans I voted in.  You'd better not do politics as usual.  You'd better get changes done.  You politicians need to start worrying about the "us" out here and not the big corporations and interest groups.  Business cannot go on as usual.

So again to my international friends, we are not what our media portrays.  We are just like you.  We have families, we have jobs, and we have hopes - and we have to change so those hopes can be realized into the future.

What do you think?

December 6, 2014

I have not blogged for a long time, but I just read something in our local paper.  Seems the town over from us - smaller than Stockbridge - voted down the renewal millage on police.   Wow.  I can't believe it.

Before Stockbridge had it's own police department, we became a mecca for meth.  Local police found a meth lab about 200 feet from the elementary school. One guy was driving around in his car using it as a lab, again, it was ousted by our own department.   Once the department was established - the meth guys moved on.  Now I guess the Unadilla residents might discover the meth trade moving into their area because not only are they losing a department - but also the decommissioning of 40 some odd part time cops who could fill in and help.  Again, wow.  Please understand I'm not trying to be mean or disrespectful - but having been a person see a town get cleaned up I don't understand why you'd vote down the $15k it takes a month to create a secure safe area where you live.

Life is pretty good and quiet in Stockbridge, and I give a lot of credit to the Council and to our wonderful and caring Chief of Police.  Our only problem is the "bad guys" know what hours the police are around and a few weeks ago basically ravaged the local pharmacy we all depend on so much for our drugs.

So I hope for our sakes, we don't make the same mistake and rather than cutting back we actually get more hours so we can feel safe and know when 911 is called there won't be one of the 2 patrol cars rolling from the other end of Ingham County.

Introduction to my book I'm writing

I am writing a book called "surviving the American Medical System."  This is my introduction.  Please let me know what you think.

Introduction

Hello, my name is Gary Smith and I have a type of Cancer known as Carcinoid. I learned I had this disease when doctor mentioned the name, yet no one mentioned to me the fact it was a type of Cancer.  I did not learn this until returning home to research the disease on the Internet. 

The reason I decided to write this book is when I was first diagnosed I thought the American Medical system would open up it's arms and enfold me in care and make sure I survived as long as possible.  I thought Doctors and others would know and understand what I had, and just like in the movies I’d soon be well and on my way. 

What I actually discovered is the American Medical system is a harsh place and if you do not learn about it and how to manage it, your outcome for your particular situation will likely not be good.  Have no doubt about it, the medical system is a business proposition, and this is the underlying theme in our American system of medicine.  Doctors are making a living, Hospitals are trying to return value to their stakeholders, and the Pharmaceutical companies are trying to get new drugs into the market before their “cash cows” are forced to become generic.

I lucked out when first diagnosed.  I had no idea as to what I was doing so I started to study my disease as much as I could.   Luck was on my side as I worked for a publishing company and there was a lot of information about my particular kind of Cancer.   Fortunate for me my first surgeon was experienced in my disease and since his operation I've just had a few treatments and am very stable.

The ifollowing pages contain information that I've gathered through years of experiencing doctors, hospitals, treatments, operations, medications, insurance companies, disability and all of the other things which go along with having a disease such as this. 

This book will walk you through your first diagnosis, and everything from that point to where you (hopefully) end up managing your disease.  I participate in  informational Internet based groups, and one thing I've noticed is that those who manage their care and follow a plan are those who survive the longest.  Those who put their trust into individuals who are not experts in their field and allow their treatments to be determined for them are, in my opinion, the ones who don't survive as long.  Your disease may be different, and this is why talking with others who have your disease is going to be imperative to you and your family.

For you to survive the system, you are going to have to become empowered with a thirst for knowledge, develop an ability to seek out and apply the best treatments possible, and finally firmly communicate with your care givers in order to survive the longest.

A good friend of mine during dinner once told me his mother-in-law said something to the effect that those "who have a disease and manage it actually live longer."  I have found this adage to be true and hope you find it helpful.

I would like to thank all of the caregivers as well as the people who have helped me along the way.  Waking up one day and looking into a mirror and seeing your own mortality is very difficult, however, if you have good company on the way the journey can be almost enjoyable.

Finally, my wife Karen.  My wife is my inspiration and my rock.  She is my role model and the person that I love more than anyone in the world.  She has been my support and my caregiver for so many years and as I went up and down in health and activity, she continued to love me and our family and is the firm foundation of our faith and hope in the end.  She is my eternal companion and I'm so lucky to have met her for the short time I'm on the earth. 

The worst enemy of good is better

I was sitting at my Oncologist a few weeks ago, and I was asking about possible treatments for the future and my doc turned to me and said

"The worst enemy of good is better."

There are so many aspects of my life which this statement my doctor said to me can be applied.

You see, there are a number of people with the same type of rare Cancer that I do, and I keep in communication with them in an online support group. All of these people are wonderful, and many times the group has helped me personally to deal with things like insurance, depression, etc etc. Some of the group are very aggressive in their approach to this disease, and I think many end up on the short end of my doc's statement. Sometimes when we chase the ideal of feeling better, we destroy what was perhaps good and we are left in worse shape due to the aggressive treatments. To make matters worse, because some of these treatments are not approved by the FDA, a good lot of them jet to Europe and pay $5 to $10k per treatment. For some this works, for others it does not and they do worse. Who's to say if someone might have lived much longer - but In the end they feel worse for trying to feel better.


As I pondered this statement, I became aware of the vast applications this statement might have not just to me - but to others and even society as a whole. I can think of so many examples

- Organizations purchasing massive automation systems, and no one can seem to explain a really good reason except for making the change for change's sake.

-When are we going to learn that simply throwing money at a problem will not solve it?

-When are we going to stop sitting back, allowing the government to restrict us more and more just because of crisis? (drilling stopped in gulf, gas prices now approaching $4 a gallon, what will the outcome of gun control be?)

-I think our folks in government are really trying to help us, but I have seen the intended good of one thing have some real unintended consequences which the folks responsible had no idea would exist. Making more regulation means we get higher prices to recover the increased costs. Passing healthcare and requiring anyone working over 30 hours means many who cannot afford will be cut to 28 hours. By attempting to cover a much deserving group, well, the government created the unintended consequence of workers losing hours.

-I live in Michigan and I wonder what consequences of the good and better statement is going to play out on making this a right to work state.

I don't know, but this little statement of "better" is really making me take stock of my entire life and try to find out what I need to just leave alone and to use the axiom added to this that with every change comes unintended Consequences. What I hope is in the future I don't hurt myself in some way chasing an ideal of feeling better or even doing better.

At least for one thing, this is going to make me much more cautious in everything I do going into the future.

What is wrong with that?

Is it just me, or does the Media think we're really that stupid?

I am so sick of the election.  I'm so sick of just everything about it.  But what gets me the most is the blatent and obvious agenda the main stream media is attempting to perpetrate on the American People.  OK, Fox is just as bad on the right, there I said it.  One has to watch both and try to determine the truth.

The question I pose is this.  Do you guys who are in the Media actually think the population of people in the U.S. are as stupid as you think we are?  I don't.  I think the people in the U.S. are a lot smarter than we are all made out to be.  And what reiegns in each camp is this sense of extremism and single interest voting that is literally dividing us as a nation and giving opportunity to those who want chaos and confusion.

The other night, I watched as woman was screeching about Roe versus Wade being overturned as soon as Romney gets in office.  This is complete bunk, this decision has been upheld so many times, it is not something that will probably ever be overturned - even if there were seven conservatives on the bench.

The president has a lot less power than we think he does, but has to take all of the responsibility for what happens.  During the last election, my wife and I used to have these long discussions about that if Obama got elected he'd not do many of the things he said he'd do - because we are not nor was he of the full story of what is going on behind the scenes of each and every thing.

I voted for Obama because I did want change.  I had hope, I had a lot of good feelings - to me electing our first black president was simply amazing in and of itself and he was talking about the thing which interested me (Universal Healthcare).

Let's just take a look at a few of the things I remember from his election promises.

1. He'd shut down Gitmo.  Still happening.

2. He would reduce the deficit.  It's ballooned to a staggering amount.

3. He'd pass healthcare.  What I saw happen is he stepped back and just let it happen.  I mean, even Nancy said "we don't know what' s in it, we need to pass it to find out."  Huh?

But the thing I'm the maddest about is the rising prices we're seeing.  Gas is almost $4.00 a gallon, a few years ago my family laughed at me and scoffed at me and said it'd never get that high.  He shut down all off shore drilling, so gas keeps going up and up and up and I think it's exactly as planned.

The GM bailout.  If the GM bailout was such a great thing, why was Delta allowed to go through a reorganization in the regular manner and they are doing quite well now.  The taxpayers own a large chunk of GM and it will be an albatross on the taxpayer's neck for many years to come.  Basically, what upset me the most about this situation is the fact the entire legal system was ignored and many dealers lives were ruined.

And the latest storm where the press is dancing in front of the president with baskets of roses leading the way for him to do whatever he wants.  There are things going on just like there were when the last Hurricane hit, but this time the left media is in charge saying what great "leadership" the guy is showing.  Don't know about you, but leadership is something other than running around making speeches.

There is no accountability for this man.  He blames every problem we have on the previous president, and regardless of inheriting something bad - has only in my book been a whiner and a finger pointer to the evil George W. Bush.  (I sometimes wonder if former President Bush just sits and laughs at things.)

And finally the worst thing.  Not meeting with Israel.  One of the saddest days in American history when one of our Ambassadors was murdered at the hands of some extremists, and many of the things leading up to the killings might make one believe there was full knowledge of what was going on.  When the prime minister was here, no meeting because there was "no time" and the entire middle east if about to go up in flames.

That, Mr. Obama, is my greatest disappointment in you as a president.  When we send people over to foreign countries, we need to make sure you have their back - and you failed on this point.  Sir, I know in my heart that eventually when you look in the mirror,  you will see those who you abandoned standing behind you - and you are going to have to live with this the rest of your life.

Speaking of accountability, what happened to the trillion dollar bail out fund?  No accountability for that.  What about the whole switching over our energy consumption to solar and wind, money thrown to companies and they're bankrupt - someone got rich and it was not me.

I can go on and on.  I believe our office of president has become something of a joke, the president was something I respected and looked up to when I was a kid.  The president acted presidential and never stooped so low as our current president has in just ruining the office.  It seems there is more interest in appearing with celebs, than there is in running the country.

What I would give for an honest media report on what is actually going on and stop this silliness of trying to shield a candidate from any bad press.  What I would give for an organization which would rise above the whole idealism and just report the news.  With what I see reported, one has to wonder if there isn't a class at Journalism school entitled "Brainwashing the American People."

In many respects the right is no better, but the left doesn't even try to hide it.  One of the defining moments in this election was when a moderator for a debate helped the President.  Backlash?  Nope.

So my question this coming Tuesday is this.  Are we a country who has a population who can see through the obvious fabrications the media is giving us, or are we a country who are just a bunch of sheep being led to the slaughter looking right now for a bunch of "free stuff".  (Gotta get me one of them ObamaPhones.)

I doubt if much of anyone reads this, but for those of you who do, I hope one of you is a journalist and you might do some soul searching and start doing what you are supposed to do in the first place and that is find a story, dig up the truth, and let the American People know what the truth is.  In some respects, if  you are just a mouth piece for the government, what will the future bring?  Isn't this how the Third Reich started?

But you look so good

But You Look So Good I have a rare kind of slow growing Cancer called Carcinoid which has spread to my liver and other various parts of my body. I was diagnosed in 2001 and the average survival rate of this particular kind of Cancer is stated as five years. So, as a 12 year survivor I am already beating the odds of this disease, and I do appreciate the friends and family who support me. Today I have something to ask. It seems most of my interactions end with "Well, you sure look ok (or good".) I would like to start a movement to stop saying this because us Cancer patients don't know if this is good, bad, an indictment, and when people stop saying it I believe it can become depressing and leave a patient who is used to hearing this filling the void with "I guess I look like hell.". One of the observations I have made as a patient is there are hundreds if not thousands of types of Cancer. They have scary scientific names, and most people simply go to their local Cancer Clinic and are treated using standard protocols which usually have a good outcome if caught early enough. But most people lump it all together as one thing which it is not, and this leads to some cancers getting the funding (like breast cancer) and other cancers like e mine languishing in the gutter known as a "orphan disease." Carcinoid is treated at a small number of organizations, while breast cancer is treated everywhere. So the bad news is Carcinoid is incurable, the good news is the symptoms can be treated. (Well, as long as one has insurance.) The symptoms include intense flushing where your blood vessels pop open from the histamines and lord knows what else and is accompanied by pain 24 x 7 and a number of other symptoms which involve staying close to restrooms. We loki to call ourselves 'noids and we are so rare a general practitioner will see us once in their career. The insidious part of the disease is the fact one looks normal until the latter days of the disease, and so many of us get our monthly $20,000 treatments at the same place the really sick people are. We sit out in the waiting room looking well, and everyone wonders just what the heck we are doing there. As with most waiting rooms, one usually strikes up a conversation and we get to hear about an entire Cancer ordeal usually with gory details and the person always looks at me and says "Wow, you look good!". This is usually ok, but it does not end there. We are opposites, we look good until the disease progresses, and this is I think mistaken for getting better or being in remission. Remember, incurable, no remission possible, treatments are to mass symptoms and sometimes prevent spread, but everyone loses in the long run. Why get upset? It has to do with something which is perhaps not even meant, kind of an indictment as to why you are there. What they don't see is intense pain, flushing, dizziness, and up to 40 visits to the bathroom with explosive diarrhea. (you have not lived, until you experience this.). Is there a better way to express your optimism? How about just saying "how are you doing?". Or perhaps don't comment at all, because sometimes just listening is what someone really wants - and silence is fine, it show acceptance and makes the person think you are listening to them.

I Just Can't Believe It

I love this country, there are a lot of things to love about it. When I used to travel internationally, I would kiss the ground when I got back.

What I don't love about the country now is what is happening with gas prices and what is happening with health care.

Both of these problems seem to me to tie right directly back to someone in a middle man position controlling prices and making us all suffer. The first inkling I got of this was ENRON and the way they drove up electrical prices and a few men got very very rich. Then we have the Internet where any company connected was lavished with money until someone started realizing you cannot sell potential, and you can't eat it either. Then bubble pops and we all see our retirements flushed down the toilet. Then the home loan debacle started, and if you could mark a "x" on a piece of paper, you could buy that mansion you always wanted. Hey, the mortgage would not adjust for five years, so who cares. Again, we see not just a market crash, but the very people who did it were bailed out and I am sure they are on to the next thing. These people operate behind the shadows and operate as though they are doing something good, when in reality, the are ruining our country.

Gas is really making me mad. It seems like someone sneezes in the world, and gas prices go up. What really chafes me is the fact the oil companies are allowed to charge more for gas that was produced at a lower cost. A few weeks ago I was standing at a pump and watched as the price changed by ten cents while I was filling up my car. I remember in the old days the prices would not change for weeks. Over the past two years, our gas prices have gone up by something to the tune of 200% or more. Our president doesn't seem to care, and congress won't do anything save hold hearings which have no outcome.

Now, today, we get informed our health care premiums are going up by 35%. I am still trying to process that and we are wondering if perhaps we just pay for services if this might be cheaper than the $23,000 medical bill we are staring at in 2012. We are the only western country to have our healthcare managed by corporations and I believe this middle man is killing us. We need, as a people to get beyond the blatant manipulations of corporations and say enough is enough. We need to stop sayin "I got mine, so the hell with you.".

Something has to happen. We as a people have become too complacent in our lives, and something needs to happen. I don't know if there is a perfect answer, but I do know that I am a person who cannot afford to have anything raised and every time I turn around, there is something increasing which I cannot do without. Right now is not a good time for any entity to be looking at increasing anything, because I think we are tapped out. It is getting to the point where one is choosing to put food on the table or gas in the car. This is not the country I thought we lived in.

We need to unite together and start making a difference. Instead of tearing apart, we need to come together and work out some viable solutions, because believe me when I tell you that today it's people like me, but tomorrow it is going to be people like you who are cast aside. If we let this happen to ourselves, I guess in the end we get what we deserve and we will all be in the same boat, and our boat is taking on water really fast.

Changing Gears

When I started this blog, I started it for a reason where I idealistically thought I could have an effect on something going on in my community that I did not agree with. During my journey of writing, I felt myself growing angrier and angrier over the situation and pretty soon I was writing in a way which does not reflect me, who I am, and I even managed to get my wife involved. Has the situation improved? I don't know.

During the past few weeks, I have been reading some of the items I wrote and to tell you the truth I'm ashamed of my tone and the way I approached the whole situation, and I'm openly apologizing for my behavior over some of the past posts I've done.

My reflection was brought on after a visit by Tom Ford, the interim manager who came over to look at some damage a project had done to my sidewalk. Tom made me realize he, unlike me, stepped forward and helped when the village needed the help. Tom is a good guy and reminded me that perhaps my version of what might be going on in the community might be a bit different as he explained his thinking to me, and it helped to change my mind a bit. I had a person in my yard who was being kind to me, and it really just shook me down to my core of my soul and I started really taking a look at some of the things I've been doing.

Another reason why I started this reflection is that due to a new policy with my insurance, they've cut back on my meds I need by 1/2. I need two shots of a drug to feel "normal" each costing about $4,000 EACH - and they only want to pay for one of these shots. So, for the past 12 weeks, I've been out of bed for perhaps 3 of the weeks. I have metastatic Carcinoid Cancer, it is incurable, but the drug can control the symptoms - but I am on half of what I need. I am going to die from this disease. Every day I wake up, I thank God for letting me have another day on the earth before I move on to the next realm. This situation has made me to come face to face again with mortality, and I started thinking and wondering about the amount of time I actually have left on this world. Truly, no one knows, but when you've been given you diagnosis and the average survivor lives for 5 years (and I'm on 10 years now) you start imagining a lot of things you never thought about before. I know, someone could step in front of a bus or have a car wreck, but when you start seeing yourself feeling worse and worse everyday - this is a burden weighing heavily on you both mentally and physically. 90% of Cancer Survival is the attitude you have, and while I still have a fighting attitude, I've been partially stripped of some of the tools I need to fight and survive the disease. (So, most of my time lately has been spent fighting against this, and I have won a partial victory.)

You start wondering about where you came from and where you are going to, my faith answers these questions for me, but it also makes you start to wonder about what you've left as a legacy for your descendants and children to remember you by.

I want to be remembered as a kind man, a good dad, a person who would help his neighbor when the help needed to be there. I don't want to be remembered as a controversial blogger, I want to be remembered with a kind thought and not one of anger or hate.  In his Seven Habits book, Steven Covey describes how you should reflect about dying and trying to imagine your funeral, and to try to imagine what people would say about you at this funeral.  I have done this a few times in my life, and it has helped me a lot - and it helped me again now in this situation because I decided to do something important.

So, what I decided to do was to change gears, and I basically removed and deleted all of the posts on this which dealt with Stockbridge politics. Nothing is ever perfect, and continuing to write in the way I was writing just really goes against the person who I hope I am, and if I'm not that person - I hope I can become that person. I truly hope in my heart that the council which is in charge now does the things to make this a better community, whatever those things are, and I'm just going to try to support this as much as I can.

At this point, all I just really hope for is that the people who are running the village do a good job and at the end of their terms they learned as much as I did during my term. As I reflected, and this happens a lot, the thing I started running into was something we have to guide us in our Church called our Articles of Faith. These were written in response to a newspaper person who contacted our founder, Joseph Smith, and asked him what we believed.

The final article of faith reads:
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

So, this is what I'm going to try to live up to. I think it is quite a tall order, but to tell you the truth there are so many things that are lots of things that are virtuous, lovely or of good report out there - and rather than writing about the ugly side of things, I'm going to try to write about the good side of things.

So, that is my commitment. Part because a kind person showed up at my door and treated me with kindness and dignity, part because I've done some introspection, but mostly because I'd like to leave a better legacy than the road I was going down.  During the past weekend, we had a lesson in Church which started talking about how you represent your organization, and to tell you the truth, I don't think I've been a very good representative.  I hope in the coming months as I change gears and write about things as described above, you agree with me.

Saying Goodbye To A Friend

Today I  went to a funeral.  Funerals are something that I both hate and love at the same time.  The first funeral I attended with any full realization was my father's funeral.  That was a day I lost a little bit of myself and came face to face with my own mortality.  Unlike many people, my faith tells me where I came from, what I am doing here, and where I am going when it is over.  But up to this time, I'd never come face to face with the realization that I was truly mortal and my time here on the earth was limited.

Do  you read Stephen Covey?  In his book "The Seven Habits" he said for you to close your eyes and imagine you could see your own funeral.

Who would be there?  I know a few short years ago I knew no one would show up to my funeral because they couldn't afford to take off work.  I hope I've changed that.

What would they say about you?  I know a few short years ago, what would have been said was "he was good in business" but I'm trying to change that to "he was a good man."

Would they say anything kind about you?  I'm sure some platitudes might be offered, but I'm not sure as to the validity of my kindness towards other people.  Again, something to work on.

Today, I attended a funeral that shook me to the core of my very being, my very existence.  Many things were revealed to me today as I sat watching in amazement the whole thing unfold before me.

First of all, Sunday it started snowing and we had one of the worst snow storms of the year.  I traveled on roads which were caked with snow and ice to attend the funeral, figuring the family would be there but not too many other people because of the weather.

My estimation was there were more than 120+ people, many of whom I have not seen for 12 years or more.  As I went into the building to go to the viewing, I saw so many people I was just simply astounded.

I talked to old friends and caught up on lives I've missed out on.  Ten years puts a lot of wear on the human condition, and I was astounded to see how much we'd all aged since the last time we were together.  These people are very near and dear to me, these people are the ones who helped to introduce me to my faith, much of the tears I shed today were tears of happiness to see them as many were the tears of sorrow and loss for a kind and good man.

I had another epiphany as well.  During many times of instruction, I'd been told that I should see myself as the first of many at the head of a family possibly extending out into eternity and growing bigger and bigger as time passes.  I can tell you today this is what I saw.  I saw a man, a kind and wonderful father, whose family of son's and daughter's, grandchildren and even possibly great-grandchildren made up the first three rows completely.  I know each of these sons served missions, and so I wonder how many people they'd introduced to our faith?  How many of those they introduced have introduced others?  My mind boggled at the numbers.  I know one of his son's introduced me to my faith, and as a direct result of this man, my son served an honorable mission and my daughter is married to a wonderful returned missionaries.  I think families CAN be together forever, not just through the teachings of my faith, but also through the fact that one man can truly make a difference and can change the world.

Going back to Stephen Covey, who was there?  There were not friends, there were people who this man had truly touched in his life, and he lived his faith on a daily basis even to the end of the days.  There were family from everywhere, there were people I didn't even know existed who lined up to honor this man - a simple carpenter - a man who I found out lived a life of service just like we are taught to do and one I fall so short of.  I heard example after example today of what this man had done for those who were in true need of help, even even to the point of giving someone his new coat as a boy because a friend did not have one - to paying for a hot water heater for a person who was without hot water for a whole year. 

Today was a humbling event.  What you need to understand is that I used to put on a pedestal the giants and captains of industry.  I used to read the "MBA" book of the month, and I can speak what me and another friend termed as "MBA'ese" better than just about anyone.  (We must realize the synergy of the situation to reach the low hanging fruit to tackle this not as a problem, but as an opportunity.)  I can walk in the worlds of the accountants, the finance guys, the tech guys, as well as the legal and personnel guys - because I learned their language and the way they think because this was my definition of success. 

My definition of success almost destroyed my family as I simply became another person when out traveling from the person I was at home.   I almost lost everything like so many of those I just about worshiped and wished I could be like, as soon as I realized these people were telling me they were on their third and fourth marriages - or had never been married.  To this day, my greatest regret was not following something my daughter wrote when she was very young, someone asked if they could wish for something, what would it be?  She wrote "I wish my dad didn't travel so much."  I don't know why, but I kept this note in my office for years as a reminder to "someday" do that.

But today I saw the real definition of success.  I saw a wonderful family honor a great and wonderful man who lived his faith and never gave up, even when times were hard.  I saw a man that I now hope someday I can even come close to emulate, because he truly touched lives and made differences in the world.  He built a legacy to reach down into generations.  One hundred years from now, I know the family will be able to name the person who started the family down the path of our faith - can you say we can remember who was the best buggy whip maker or carriage maker from a hundred years ago?

So today I honor Don Pierson.  I honor him for his example to me.  I honor him for his example to his family.  I honor him for his service to humanity, with no return expected.  I know that today, this wonderful man was smiling as he saw everyone gather to celebrate a life well done.  I honor this man, because in his loving way, and in his death, he even managed to help another person, me, to understand the importance of the gift of service and being a faithful and obedient servant. 

Thank you for your life.  Thank you for your son, who baptized me and confirmed me and set my family on the road we've been traveling together.   Thank you for the example you lived every day of your life.  And finally, thank you for the smile that was always on your face, even when you were in such pain and agony.