"He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven. " Thomas Fuller
I'm going to do next week first because I have a lot to say about last week which was a roller coaster of emotions.
On the agenda next week is three days and two nights at Mom's. Monday is a lunch appointment with an old friend. Today I am working on my blog, grocery shopping, cleaning house, mowing the lawn, and sending out some answers to e-mails. Friday starts the holiday weekend that I am sure will include a bbq.
Last week. Sunday was a lunch out with Mom. Monday was work day. Tuesday was a birthday jaunt for lunch and entertainment at Spirit Mountain Casino with mom and two of my favorite cousins. A beautiful day, 82 and Sunny. Made for a stunning drive. Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday were at Mom's. Saturday was errand day.
I really had a great birthday. One of the nicest ones I have ever had. It started with a surprise birthday picnic on Saturday and kept going until I received my last birthday card yesterday. One of the most pleasant things about my birthday was an enlightenment. If you have children you know you have impacted another human being's life. You have put your stamp on your sons' and daughters' lives. However, if you are single without children you just never know if you really impacted another human being's life.
When I met Jon shortly after I opened my CPA practice he was basically homeless and working out of the trunk of his car selling time for advertising on radio shows. When I sold my practice several year later he owned twenty Papa Murphy's, a house in Portland, a winter condo in Palm Springs, and rentals in California and Arizona. He became a millionaire many times over. I hadn't heard from Jon for two or three years. He called on my birthday and sang me the happy birthday song. When I told him I have told his story many times over the years because it is my favorite story of my years in business, you know what his answer was? "I couldn't have done it without you, your advise mad me a millionaire." I was kind of stunned by that. Pleased but stunned. I also asked myself the question, "If I can help make him a millionaire, why can't I make me one."
Suzie worked for me for about a year. She was really beautiful Very young but beautiful. Her dad had never been in her life. She would confide in me some stories. I would just listen and if she asked would give her some advise. She is now happily married. She is now a flight attendant. On my Facebook page on my birthday she posted the following:
"Happy Birthday to one of the MOST wonderful and amazing people I have ever known in my life! You were such a mentor in my younger years and I will always thank you that. I am truly blessed to call you William J. Dahn aka Bill my life long friend! I HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY IS AS SPECIAL AS YOU ARE! XOXO'S ♥ Hugs, your friend."
I really never knew I ever mentored anyone. I loved the picnic, the drive and day at the casino was amazing, the number of happy birthday wishes on Facebook were overwhelming, the cards I got were more than expected and were just so enjoyable, the gifts were beautiful, the love shown to me on the special will last forever but the thing I will most take away from a birthday that I was originally dreading is the comments from Jon and Suzie.
The blog is now yours. Update me on your lives! Share your joys, concerns, what you did last week and what is on the agenda for next week, post anything you damn well please. In other words, comment away.
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15 comments:
Thanks Mary Z!!!
What a wonderful birthday you had, Bill. I'm not at all surprised that you have impacted lives for the better. There are probably more than you know.
I'm wondering how the two Marks are doing, especially the one I sort of know. Can you update?
Hi Pat
Both called on my birthday.
The Mark you know had surgery June 6. The cancer was contained but they did remove his prostate. They kept him in the hospital for two days and he was off work for about a week. He is now back to working half days. He gets tired really easy.
The other Mark is have a terrible time emotionally getting over the loss of his wife. I am worried about him taking care of himself. He is coming down for a vist in July. He doesn't talk much about his health.
Bill
Happy Belated Birthday Bill! Hate that I missed it, but sounds like you had a wonderful day and that is all that matters.
Thanks for the update on the 2 Marks...even though I don't know them I have been wondering on the one that lost his wife. Glad he is coming for a visit with you I am sure you can lift his spirits.
Hi Dona
I like belated birthday wishes because it makes the birthday last longer! Thank you for that.
Hope things are well with both you and The Shankster.
Mark is coming down to put my name on some safe deposit boxes he has her.
Bill
Both last week and this week sound busy. Do you meet yourself, coming and going? Will you have the holiday weekend "free" or will you be at Mom's?
You did have a wonderful birthday, all the way around, but I agree, the very nicest gifts were the comments from Jon and Suzie. Like others here, I suspect you've positively impacted a lot of people over the course of your life, some you'll never know about. I think, sometimes, mentoring is as much about setting an example, through attitude and actions, as it is about answering questions or offering advice. Considering that theory, I wonder how often you/any of us may have made a positive difference in someone's life, through a random act of kindness or through an action that helped someone, who then helped someone else.
Thanks for the updates on the Marks. I'm so glad the first is doing well and so sorry the second is still struggling. Does he not have family or close friends, who can help him through the grieving process? I found that so important, when Walt died.
I'll continue to keep him in my prayers.
A relatively slow and quiet week here. I'm going to miss these, when I go back to work in a week. Three days at the pool. Line dance and able to dance a bit longer. Continued decluttering and cleaning that's been long neglected. *Finally* got the begonias planted in the front garden. Finished two prayer shawls. Lengthy visit with folks at Verizon, straightening out billing, dealing with the air card (don't ask), trading in phones (I'm sure I'll learn to love the new one, despite all the bells and whistles I'll never use) and converting our AT&T "land line" over to Verizon (still trying to figure just how that all works with "unlimited access"). Scamp had her last puppy check-up and last shots and Dr. M wants to wait until October, when hopefully the puppy teeth will be gone, to spay her. Scamp is up to a whopping 5# now. She has such a strange (unique?) little face and so many expressions, she seems to captivate most folks. The techs were vying for who would hold her and who would assist Dr. M and folks in the waiting room were cooing over her, peeking out of her carrier pack. I enjoy my brief trips outside with her, do leave her out on her own for a bit (once I know jobs are done) and our evening walks around the perimeter of the property are good for both of us. Given she's 15 weeks old and has been with us for 6 weeks, I'm pretty pleased with her progress in training.
Next week is pool, line dance, app't with dermo and one with chiro. My mission is to clear out paperwork in file cabinets - sort, pitch, organize what's left - finish the front garden, if we get a break of any sort in the weather.
Dona, how are you and Shankster getting on?
Hi DR
When I am at Mom's I am up at 4:30 to come home, get my paper, respond to blog messages and get home my six to be there when Mom gets out of bed so yes I do cross paths with myself when there lol.
I just never think of as the type of person that has a positive impact on others lives. I love yor take on it. And I agree setting an example is the best way to mentor, almost always.
Mark has no close family left. Both his parents are did, both his wives parents are dead. He has three children but two live far away and the third works a ton of hours. The son his head of security at The Space Needle in Seattle. Mark lives on Vashon Island. Quite a trip from Seattle because the only way you get there is by boat. I'm really it and I am pretty far away too.
Sounds like you had a darn busy week and an even busy one coming up this week and then back to work the following week!
You mention of your prayer shawls reminds me. A couple of weeks ago I went and got our minister and took her over to visit mom. The minister is blind yet she was able to make this beautiful prayer shawl for mom.
Verizon is terrible. It is almost impossible to get them on the phone and when you do they accept no responsiblity for their screwup and pass you from person to person.
I think puppies get in heat in March so you are past that and there won't be any accidents by waiting until October.
Scamp sounds really special. Sounds like she is also affectionate and likes to be held.
Next week sounds extremely busy for you.
Bill
Well DR, your days/weeks sound about as busy as Bill's do! I hear ya on the changing phones and learning all that stuff you never use...seems useless to me on most of it. Scamp sounds adorable, maybe a new shot of her little face?
As for me and Shankster, we have had the worst couple of months ever. Our far share of docs/hospitals that is for sure. Even though the Shankster is free and clear of any cancer, his progress is slower than we expected with the last surgery. He had a tough time in this last round, what was supposed to be about a hour, turned into over 2 due to his veins collapsing. They tried so many places you would think he was beat up. Ended up in his neck artery and then they thought he had fluid in his lungs from all the trouble. Poor thing is miserable and I am about to go bonkers. :) But I keep telling him we can get through it all since he is free of any disease and no stones were found either. Thanks for asking.
Hi Dona
You can take the Whammy off of The Shankster now for telling you how to drive. I'm sure he has learned his lesson.
Seriously, what a lousy couple of months. You both deserve better. I'm sending prayers, good thougts, and positive vibes your direction that your lives turn around and only good things happen to you. You deserve it.
Bill
Dona, thanks for the update on you and the Shankster. Thank the Lord there's no cancer, but I'm sorry he's had to go through so many procedures and surgery and I know it's as hard on you as it is on him, maybe in different ways. I'll continue to keep both of you in my prayers. I do have a couple pictures I may sent to Bill (I'm not at all sure how to upload here) or I may try to get a couple this week - she's the first dog I've had who does facial expressions. Oh, wait... Bill, if I sent you the one of her asking why leash training is necessary, could you post that?
Bill, Verizon has really been a lot better than other providers for us. Maybe it's just the local office, but they've really been good about explaining and straightening out what few issues we've had. A lot of it is just me trying to catch up with and understand new technology, which makes perfect sense to Himself, just not to me (wry s). To date (knocking wood), they've pretty much straightened out any issues we've had, which (fortunately) have been few and far between. They have the best coverage we've found and, with the entire family on Verizon, we get to all talk "free," which is a big advantage to us.
I so wish Mark had someone close, who could help him through his loss.
Bill, don't even get me started on the driving issues..omg...I will be glad when he can drive again. On the way home from the hospital he was laying in the back seat, with his eyes closed, telling me what lane to get into, now that was too much in my book! :)
Hi DR
The picture you sent was within the body of a e-mail for the S16 group. To post it here I need it sent as an attachment. Then I can download it to the blog.
I am glad Verizon has been good to you they haven't to us so kudos toe the local office there! I'm glad they are helpful. Oh and her Verizon sold all their land lines to Frontier and are only cell phone in Oregon.
Bill
Hi Dona
The heck with the Whammy get the darn Voodoo doll out.
Bill
I'm glad to hear Mark (my Mark {g} is doing well. Being tired easily after surgery of any kind is kind of normal. And prostate cancer is usually localized and can be gotten rid of entirely.
I'm sorry to hear the other Mark is having such a bad emotional time. They tell you time heals all, but they don't tell you how MUCH time is needed.
Dona, I hope the Shankster is up to snuff very soonest. But make sure he gets it about that driving stuff. Back seat driving from a reclining position on the way home from the hospital is a bit much. {g}
Hi Pat
Your Mark sounded pretty happy and the report for him is good. They said it would be a month until he is working full time.
Bill
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