June 21
Survivors’ Dinner, Hamilton’s
Fifteen years ago… Valentine’s Day.. “Don’t worry, beloved, the angels are with you.” When Helen talks, I listen. We call her Halleluiah Helen. Diagnosed in early 20’s with MS, then asked to pitch for St. Louis Cardinals during WW II, then secretary of husband’s construction company “Jesus Loves you and I Do Too!”. Lifted blocks up to him. Two years ago purposely moved into a nursing home in Quincy because she thought she could do the residents some good. Now: her own TV show on the Christian Broadcasting Network. Helen knows little about how to make her life longer. She knows everything about how to make it better.
Four weeks ago I retired from 35 years of teaching. Sad day for me. I hated it. Felt it was time to move on, but I didn’t like the process. Much talk of .. Who will do the plays? Speech contest? Traveling Theatre? Debate teams? All I could think about: Who will give Jessica a hug in the morning when she comes in crying because her dad was drunk last night? Who will tell Mark it’s okay to dance when his dad wants him to be a football player? Who will tell 7th-grade Adam that when the 8th-graders make fun of him, it’s simply because of their own insecurity? Too many teachers…too many coaches… to many people.. are known for their accomplishments that make the Journal Courier rather than the difference they make in other people’s lives… The quality of life…
My hero: Martin Burrus.. Patriarch of Burrus Seeds. Journal Register reporter April 15th.. proudest day of his year Secret agreement: any child who needed anything His wife now gives $1000 scholarships to graduating seniors who write the best essay about the quality of life.. This year: 18 of them. I run a summer camp: She will pay for any and every child who cannot afford it. Their goal: Quality of life. We have only one reason for being on earth.. Glorify God by helping our fellow man.
What do we often to instead? We try to please everyone … Hiney the Mule You cannot please everybody. You can make life better for those around you.
My hometown: Perry. Pop Van Pelt. Oldsmobiles. State police drivers’ license. When he died..
Sometimes we can improve our world, simply by bringing it some laughter. My family.. sense of humor. Dad..heart cath.. “Can’t drive a car.” Dad..show slides. Mom: sit in back and heckle.
Matt, baritone.
I have nothing profound to say to you tonight.. it’s really very simple. And I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. The people in this room know far more about the quality of life than I could ever hope to guess. You should be giving the speech to me. Years on earth are meaningless without Quality of Life.
I don’t envy what you’ve been through, but I do envy what you’ve learned about life…about the quality of life.
Quest…two fingers. Yours are much closer together than most of us.
Riverboat this week.. Luggage lady.. 64. Pulled rope. A survivor of breast cancer. Get tired? “Of making people happy? Are you kidding?”
Let the doctors take care of the length of your life. Tonight I simply wish you quality.
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