For as long as I can remember I have loved football.  My favorite season is any season when football is being played.  There was a time when following a weekend of watching Colts football, my colleague John and I would talk each Monday about the game.

As we head into February, I can’t help but think of  of my grandfathers.  Both men passed away in February, though of different years.   First, there was my grandfather Dewald  Van Baalen.  He died February 9, 1966.  Then, my grandfather Russell Linden passed away February 3, 1978.  Both men were taken from us too soon.

From the time, I was very young, I knew exactly how my life would turn out.  After all, in the fifth grade, I had married a little boy named David on the playground during recess.  How hard could it be if I could do it as a fifth grader?  Now, of course that was make believe.  But really, it seemed so natural and when the time came, I knew I would get married and have children. 

When I first started my career I worked closely with adolescents.  I would find myself frequently saying, “there’s nothing we can’t talk about, but first you have to be safe”.  This was always in response to behavior that had led to the respective teen being brought into the emergency room or directly admitted to the behavioral unit. 

I have always been one to focus on what I have and to be grateful.  Lately I have been reminded of this by my eight year old Border Collie Maya.  These last few weeks have been a struggle for Maya and I.  Maya had surgery on her left hind leg to remove a benign growth.  Instructions were simple.  Keep the cone on her so  she can’t reach the many stitches that are keeping her incision tightly sewn together and allow her to heal.

Imagine spending a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon with 16 WWII veterans.  I had the great privilege of doing just that last Saturday.  I had went to the Allen County Public Library in support of a friend who was launching her latest book.  Kayleen had just published her second in a series profiling  veterans, mostly local,  of the second world war.

Not long ago as you may remember, I wrote about perspective.  I shared about a recent experience and how I had encountered and resolved an unexpected obstacle.  I have continued looking for ways since then to broaden my perspective and to be more introspective.  I find the work that I have come to know these many years to be rewarding.  I have had the great honor of hearing  stories and sharing the joys and tragedies of many lives.  The people that I have encountered are diverse. 

Not long ago, a shift occurred in my professional journey.  I welcomed it and looked forward to the opportunity and change.  I’ve been fortunate to experience variety throughout my career.  It has allowed me to see and do many things while challenging me to grow personally as well as professionally.

Today we celebrate another Labor Day.  Something we have been doing since the 1880’s.  Labor Day is more than just a three day weekend.  It is time to reflect on the American Worker; men and women who give of themselves every day in so many ways.  As irony would have it, this first Monday of September often falls when severe storms seem to ravage our Country…. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and this past week… Hurricane Harvey.

Over the last several months, I’ve noticed that whenever I walk into a local Subway Restaurant, I am greeted with “Welcome to Subway”.  I have a similar experience in my local Kroger’s as employees will frequently greet me and ask if they can be of assistance. I was surprised the first few times, but have come to appreciate this change.