Salt of the Earth

Last weekend my wife was going to the mall to spend a gift certificate. I have no interest in shopping but realizing that I need to push up against this MD as much as possible I joined her. After walking into the mall I was exhausted, pushing up against is not really the term, it might be more leaning against it at this point...

Anyway, so she went shopping and I sat on the bench. Behind me on the bench sat a couple of men. I could not see them but could hear them. Listening to them I was reassured. Whatever the times men are men. These were two gentleman, easily recognizable by their accents as from Aroostook County or even New Brunswick, Canada. They spoke of their wives, the shopping they were doing. They spoke about a neighbor that had moved into a retirement home, a neighbor that one gentleman had given an old shed too ( as he was getting a new one) and how the man was so thrilled to get it and had repaid him by giving him a snowblower when he got a new one. Neither had asked or expected these gifts. It was just a good thing to do. One gentleman had spoken about a condition he had that precluded him from lifting above 25 pounds for fear of an anuerism breaking off. The other gentleman said well you need to listen to that so we can enjoy more trips like this. It was a telling sentence. A sentence a man speaks to a friend, not harping, not speaking the obvious affection they felt. But still underneath the admonition that there was much life left to live.

It was the kind of sentence I would expect to hear from my friend Brad should the situation need. Facing the illness I face now I live with just a few thoughts.

To be a good person. to as the great singer Warren Zevon said when facing his own imminent death to " enjoy every sandwich" Most importantly to be a good husband and father, to provide a good example. To treasure my friends and to not complain. To be a positive role model is as many things as I can.


These gentleman had worked thier whole lives, were with their wives on a weekend trip, they were just everyday men. They were good men, they were caring men. They had I am sure made mistakes. They were, however, on the other side of life with an appreciation for what is right and good, and still looking forward to the future.

I hope to be that man for the rest of my life as well.