Live the year with thankfulness, gratitude, respect, patience, charity, and kindness; don’t forget to laugh and smile often, as they are infectious.
To live a complete life in the eyes of God, my wife, my family, my friends, my coworkers, and my neighbors. I hope that someday, after I’m gone, when my name comes up in conversation, it brings back memories of warmth, laughter, charity, and kindness, leaving a smile on your face with a story or two to share. OR
“To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before!”
Point to Ponder: 30 years ago today, I was thirty-nine and felt in pretty good shape that morning, amid the blizzard of 1996. The Eagles had just lost to the Dallas Cowboys in one of our first playoff games in a long time. There were two feet of snow on the ground, with another foot on the way. I said to my wife, who was preparing dinner,” I am going to go out to kick some snow around.” She responded, “Why not wait to the boys can make it home?”
To make a long story short, I didn’t heed her loving advice. I will always remember that day as I had a heart attack, and the time to have my long talk with God, it was quite the ordeal. The 911 personnel called for an ambulance, which called the township to clear a path to the street. Once they arrived and assessed the situation, they called the local firefighters to help sled me out. I can only imagine their frustration, as I wasn’t their first rodeo that day, but I was the last they could reach. A short time later, Martial Law was declared for the next 3 days, and all non-essential personnel were to stay off the roads. I might add that our daughter gave birth later this year to the first of our eight grandchildren.
The moral of the story is severalfold: If you’re a smoker, consider quitting. If you can, enlist a young person’s help or invest in a snowblower to clear the snow. If you think you’re invincible, you’re NOT. Be thankful and respectful to the police, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders, as they play a crucial role in saving lives. Most importantly, don’t delay in having a heartfelt conversation with God, as He is always listening.
Funny enough, I remember looking out the window from my hospital room in Delaware County later that evening. As I pondered the “what ifs,” my wife tried to rest between two chairs. We heard laughter outside, and when we glanced out, we saw adults and kids alike sledding down Lansdowne Avenue from Bonner-Prendie Hill, having a great time. In that moment, we wished we could’ve been there with them. Also, my three sisters called the next day to see how I was doing, and my three older brothers called to thank me for getting them out of shoveling snow! Brothers are priceless!
Thanks to everyone who are first responders and, in my case, especially those from Upper Darby FOP, Garrettford-Drexel Hill Vol. Fire Company and the EMTs associated with it. DCMH, ER, and cardio staff, and especially, Dr. Robert Marvin, wherever you are. God Bless!
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