Category Archives: Life

Keeping Them Laughing

September 19, 2011 – 9:13 pm

Senator Walter Mondale wrote me a congratulations letter  when I was naturalized as an American citizen. Ever since then, I’ve always felt a connection with his family.   My thoughts and prayers are with the Mondale family as they grieve the loss of their daughter, sister, wife, Eleanor Mondale.

I’d only met her a couple of times and did not know her well, but it was enough time to learn that she was a woman who loved life. A quick wit that was accentuated by her large laugh. I did not see her in the past five or six years and did not know her after her diagnosis with brain cancer.  I know the physical effects are challenging, but it is the emotional and mental impact that is most devastating. As much as is known about brain cancer, we’re still frustratingly mystified by it. 

I’ll admit, it took me the past two days to allow myself to think about Eleanor passing and when I did allow myself to think about it, I cried for her.  Brain cancer often times causes a change in personality, loss of memory, less control over emotions, diminished brain function…affecting the very core of who a person is.

It doesn’t seem appropriate to tell a person with such a big personality to rest in peace, so instead, Eleanor, I’d like to believe you’re cracking jokes with the big guy and offering levity when He shakes His head at the crazy creatures he created called human beings.

To contribute to brain tumor research, consider attending or contributing to the 8th Annual Humor to Fight the Tumor on September 24, 2011.

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The Day The World Stood Still

September 11, 2011 – 3:45 pm

Ten years ago today, the day started out a bit overcast with a slight chill in the air.  I had run to get a coffee and turned on CNBC in my home office.  I was supposed to be on the east coast that day, but one of my customers had to switch dates and I was to fly out the next morning.

The initial report was that there was an accident – somehow a prop plane flew into one of the towers.  But it became dreadfully clear when the second plane hit that this was no accident.  Having dined several times at Windows On the World in the north tower and remembering how I would be in awe staring down to the ground below from the 106th floor, I could only think of how terrifying it would be looking down that September morning.

I remember the feeling of desperation attemping to reach my friends in New York City, only to be met with pre-recorded messages that service was unavailable or a busy signal.  In the following days, months and years, none of them could really ever talk about how the the day affected them.  One of them was watching as the towers came down from his nearby office window, desperately trying to reach his best friend, who worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.  He never talked about it, but he was never the same.

I have always thought of September 11th as the day every person on earth saw all the greatness and all the evil in the world.  The sadness of the day still brings tears and restless nights.  It also brings a reminder that we owe it to every person who lost a life or a loved one that day and the days to follow that we should live our lives with love and gratitude.

Photo credit Shannon Stapleton for Reuters

“That’s the way it is.  Good days.  And bad days.  Up days.  Down days.  Sad days.  Happy days.  But never a boring day on this job.  You do what God has called you to do.  You show up.  You put one foot in front of another.  You get on the rig and you go out and you do the job – which is a mystery.  And a surprise.  You have no idea when you get on that rig.  No matter how big the call.  No matter how small.  You have no idea what God is calling you to.  But he needs you.  He needs me.  He needs all of us. 

What great people.  We love the job.  We all do.  What a blessing that is.  A difficult, difficult job and God calls you to it.  And then He gives you a love for it so that a difficult job will be well done.  Isn’t He a wonderful God?  Isn’t He good to you?  To each one of you?  And to me!  Turn to Him each day.  Put your faith and your trust and your hope and your life in His hands, and He’ll take care of you and you’ll have a good life.

And this house will be a great, great blessing to this neighborhood and to this city.

Amen.”

- Father Mychal Judge, Final Homily, September 10, 2001

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Footprints

August 28, 2011 – 9:56 pm

I’ve known grief in my life, but I don’t know if I have witnessed such overwhelming grief as I did today.

David Duran, 31, was put to rest today as drops of rain fell as if God were crying Himself.  As his casket was lowered and his loved ones covered the casket with earth, the sun came out as if to say that we should be filled with joy as David is with his Father in Heaven.

However, it was hard not to feel the heartbreak of his new wife and his inconsolable mother. 

It is always sad when someone so young passes, but the pain seems sharper as David was the kind of person who left an impression as he always had a quick smile or a kind word and made those around them strive to be better people.  Even during the his two month battle with cancer.

His sister told a story at the packed funeral chapel about the day her brother took her to lunch and bought an extra sandwich.  She asked why he was so hungry and his reply was, “Didn’t you see that woman we passed a block ago?  I didn’t want to give her money in case she would use it for drugs or alcohol, but if she is hungry, that is something I can help with.”  It was just the kind of person he was…giving comfort wherever and whenever he could.

Terren, David’s wife, read his favorite poem:

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

I know that David is walking with God now and hope that his family knows that the Lord will carry them through their grief.

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Love and Loss

August 24, 2011 – 12:59 pm

David Duran passed away last night.

If you didn’t know him, you missed out on knowing an amazing person.  He radiated joy and kindness and a love for life.  And he was one of those rare people who affected every single person who had ever met him .

He was a newlywed who shortly after returning from his honeymoon discovered he had stage 4 colon cancer.  He approached it with humor and desire to comfort those around him.  And with the belief that his Father in Heaven had his back.

We had planned a fundraiser for him as the financial worries of being ill are many and overwhelming.  And it was a way for those who felt helpless to feel like they were able to do something.

David was determined to be at last night’s fundraiser.  And his spirit definitely was.

A friend of mine said he believes that the fundraiser gave David peace in knowing that his wife was loved and supported by her community and that she was in safe hands.

Rest in peace, David.  It gives us comfort to know that you are resting in God’s loving arms

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