4 Days Can Change Your Life! Remembering Harry Chapin

I just finished reading Ira Kantor's book, "Hello Honey It's Me", the Harry Chapin story.  The book is a series of interviews with Harry's friends and family.  It is a fascinating reminder of the depth of commitment Harry had to his craft and to the world around him.  I spent 4 days total with Harry in my life.  Just 4 days.  He had a profound influence on the thousands of other days I have lived.  For my friends who may not know Harry Chapin, Google him.  

I first met Harry on April 4, 1976, after a benefit concert in Champaign IL.  I was 18, a freshman at the University of Illinois, and a huge fan.  He was playing at Huff Gym, across the street from my dorm.  Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity was hosting a Dance a Thon for Muscular Dystrophy and Harry was the featured act.  The fraternity was auctioning off seats on a Lear jet to fly with Harry to Oklahoma City for his concert that evening.  I won a seat and thus began my experience with Chapin.

He was tired on the plane but answered all of our questions.  He dreamed of winning the Nobel Peace Prize.  He talked about how he loved Champaign Urbana.  The day after he released his album, "Heads and Tales" he played the auditorium in CU.  He got his first standing ovation during a concert at that show.  He said it was one of his favorite shows ever.  I told him the library had a reel to reel copy of the concert.  He wanted a copy.  My mission had begun.  

As we talked more he mentioned his previous few trips to Champaign had been to play benefits for other charities, he would like to come and play for his charity, World Hunger Year.  This became the focus of my mission.  

Upon returning to Champaign I secured a copy of the tape, sent it to Harry and he invited me to join him for his shows in Chicago at the Arie Crown Theater on November 27, 1976.  Between shows on this second day I was with him, I sprung a plan on him to host a benefit concert in Champaign sponsored by my fraternity.  He shared contact information for Bob Hinkle, Sundance Music, who managed his benefits.

Over the next 16 months, Bob helped me plan and organize my first major rock concert.  He selected February 28, 1978, two shows at the Auditorium and the day President Carter would announce that Harry was selected to serve on the presidential commission for world hunger.  I was to pick Harry up at the airport, spend the entire day with him raising money and promoting the cause and then get him to the O'Hare airport by 6 AM to catch a flight.

Day 3 began at UI Willard airport.  We picked Harry up and then went to Kam's Bar for a press conference.  The mayors presented him with keys to the city and there was a press release with the presidential announcement.   From the press conference, I drove Harry to several retail establishments where he sold pizza, signed records, played some music, and answered questions.  At each stop, we raised more money for WHY.  

Harry ate dinner at Pi Beta Phi Sorority, who had won a dinner raffle with Harry.  He played some music and the girls serenaded.  He did not want to leave for his two concerts.  But he did.  He played two shows and then he and the band came by the fraternity for a post-concert party.   We finally jumped in the car and I drove him the 3 hours to Chicago.  

This car ride opened my heart and mind to community service and the obligations I have to make things better.  Harry could do that to you, of course, change your life in a few hours.   Harry caught Northwest flight 222 made famous in another song, and headed to NYC for the day.  He had another show in Bloomington Indiana the next night. 

Day 4 was a year and a half later.  Harry returned to Champaign on his birthday, December 8, 1979 to play two more shows.  These shows were not benefits.  I had raised a few thousand for WHY and Harry invited me to come on stage to present the checks.  We talked a bit backstage.  This was to be the last time I talked to him and his final show in Champaign.  

Four days, four important days that began blazing my community service path.  Harry was unselfish.  I think he truly believed he needed to use his gift to make this "a better place to be."  

When I am involved in projects, whether producing community theater, raising money for cancer, serving on a church mission trip, I am reminded of the seed Harry planted in me when I was just a kid.  

Just a few stories about Patrick and our New England Journey

 So I realized the other day I have never posted any stories about Patrick.  Patrick is a student I met when I was working at Presby Hall during the construction phase.  He was one of the very first students to sign a lease for the building.   He was 15 when he first called.  Yes that's correct, 15 and about to be a freshman at the UI.  And did I mention he was from Bejing China?  True story.  Can you imagine your parents sending you to a foreign country when you were 15 to go to college? 

Patrick would call our office about once a week the year before school started.  I think part of the reason he called was to begin to make friends in the US.  And I also think he wanted to learn more about the culture.  I found him fascinating.

Patrick comes to the USA

About a month before school started he called to let me know he was coming to school early and wanted to move in the dorm.  However...the dorm would not be finished in time.  His parents proceeded to book him a room in the Red Roof Inn near the mall.  The primary reason for coming early was that China was hosting the Olympics (2008) and air fare was ridiculously expensive.  

I told him to tell his mother a 15 year old, in his first two weeks in America, could not stay in the Red Roof Inn.  So I invited him to stay at my place.  We had a blast.  I made sure all of the task items like getting a phone, registering for class and attending cultural adjustment programs all happened, but I also had the privilege of  learning about his culture and sharing some of "America's finest" with him.  Papa Dels Pizza, Legend's Fish Sandwiches, American Chinese food, and "salad" were all fun explorations.  We became fast friends as a result. School started, he moved into Presby and we touched base periodically during the semester.  I'm pretty sure he joined our family for Thanksgiving and I know he became close friends with my step mom and sisters during his first year.

Patrick tours the USA

After he first year in school Patrick decided to transfer to Northwestern.  NU is on a slightly different calendar than the University of Illinois.  As a result Patrick had to move out of Presby in early August and couldn't get into his new dorm in Evanston until mid September.  One day he calls and asks me if he can store some things at my place and then asked, "what are you doing between Aug 15 and Sept 15. As is happened I was planning to visit my sister in Boston.  Patrick asked if he could come along.  Why not?

We expanded the tour to include the Northeast corridor, adding New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.  Off we went.  An hour into the trip Patrick calls his mother.  Two hours, he calls her again.  Hour three, another call.  I ask him what's up with his mom.  He tells me that him mother is paranoid about us driving to Boston.  She fears in the roads are terrible.  I laugh and he explains, in China the roads deteriorate quickly as you leave major cities.  People don't drive across the country, they fly or take the train.  Patrick wants to know how the roads will be all the way to Boston.  When I assure him the road are great throughout America he calls his mother again and says, "this is the last call, American roads are fine." 

Our first stop is in Pennsylvania.  My family is based near Erie PA and I thought it would be fun to visit.  This is Patrick's first "rural" engagement and he totally enjoyed spending time with my cousin's kids, Drew and Brandon.  We walked the back roads, got into the fields and he learned about farming in America. His grandmother lived in rural China so he could totally relate.

My Aunt Peggie prepared a wonderful feast, including a rather large pork tenderloin.  The table was full of fresh veggies and lots of sides.  We stuffed it all down.  Now Peggie is one of America's finest pie bakers and tonight there were two freshly baked pies waiting.  She asks Patrick if he is ready for a slice or two.  He politely says yes.  Then she asked if he wanted ice cream.  We all tell him it's a must.

Peggie brings out the pie, apple I believe, Patrick takes a bite and a huge smile crossed his face..  He says this is the best thing he has ever eaten.  Here is what we didn't know.  In China a pie is often a meat pie.  Patrick thought Peggie was bringing him a meat pie with ice cream.  While he politely agreed to eat it, his stomach was turning over.  He was pleasantly surprised, and by the way, he had a few more slices during our stay.  

Off to Maine

We decided to add on New England to our trip.  We stopped in New Hampshire and hiked in the White Mountain Area.  I decided to take the back roads through New England, leading to the most beautiful drive I have ever taken.  So many small, charming, towns to enjoy.  I particularly loved going through Bartlett New Hampshire as it made me think about my favorite all time tv show, The West Wing.  

We stopped in Bar Harbor, Maine. Acadia is an amazing National Park with stunning views of the ocean.  We hiked through the woods and drove the coastline.  Another day we walked through Bar Harbor.  This town attracts many cruise ships and is filled with little gift shops and nick knack stores.  Of course I love ice cream so we stopped at Ben and Jerry's.  Patrick had only had soft serve ice cream in his life so this was another new experience.  He asked me to order for him and I chose "Cherry Garcia."  His smile grew with every taste.  "This is the most amazing thing ever."   He thought this was just a New England thing.  I told him Ben and Jerry's was in every grocery store and most gas stations in America.  "I love this country!"  

Our last stop in Bar Harbor was to a dock on the south east side of the peninsula.  There was a restaurant serving lobster fresh from the boat.  We picked a big one from a huge tank and a dozen clams as well. The chefs cooked it all in front of us.  We ate this incredible meal on a picnic table at the dock.

Finally Boston

The goal of this trip was to visit my sister in Boston.  I love Boston, the history, the food, the coastline.  It is one of my favorite places in the USA.  We walked the Liberty Trail, ate at a few restaurants downtown and saw the sights.  And of course we visited with my sister and her family.  Patrick was a huge hit with my nephews, no surprise here of course.  

One evening my sister asked if we could leave earlier the next day on our sightseeing trip.  The preschool representatives were coming for a home visit, share time with the family, and check out the surroundings.  On the train to downtown Patrick offers, "Geez what if Kris and family don't do well in the interview?  Will that mean that Arlo, (my nephew) can rule out Harvard?"   We had a great laugh.

Patrick is a special young man.  A have enjoyed learning about the culture and comparing stories.  He graduated from Northwestern with straight A's, spent some time working in Chicago, started his own company, and is now working on his masters at Harvard. 

He promised me a guided tour to China some day.  I'm still waiting.........

 

Traveling through New England

 (So I forgot I wrote a story about my trip to New England for the local paper, here is a reprint)

Vacations aren't exactly my specialty. I take a day or two a year and attend a convention or workshop somewhere in the United States or Mexico. I'm good at attending and participating in travel plans other people make.

Planning my own trips tends to be a little more frantic. Real vacations with no meetings to attend or workshops to facilitate are few and far between.

When I finally commit to stepping back and enjoying life, I tend to overplan, as was the case for my most recent excursion. I planned a 2,700-mile car trip to Owensboro, Ky., via North Conway, N.H., not necessarily the most direct route, but it worked out just fine.

Seasoned vacationers know New England in the fall is a spectacular visual experience. The variety and magnitude of the seasonal changes are overwhelming in their beauty.

However, New England vacations lend themselves to every season of the year. We chose late summer, when it's warm enough to enjoy all of the outdoor activities offered and late enough to enjoy reduced rates and smaller crowds.

North Conway was our destination, and we stayed at the Cranmore Mountain Lodge, 859 Kearsarge Road. The lodge is tucked back into the forest and has basketball and tennis courts, ski slopes, swimming, fishing ponds and picnic areas for guests. Breakfast is included in the rates and features a French chef preparing omelets, pancakes, homemade sausage and French toast. Babe Ruth stayed frequently at the Cranmore, and his pictures adorn the comfortable sitting rooms.

Plan to stay in North Conway several days and stroll the downtown streets lined with more than 200 shops featuring arts, crafts, locally made clothing and even a few old-fashioned general stores. It is easy to spend a day or more enjoying the wares of the local merchants. As an added bonus, there was a local art fair with artists lining the streets the weekend we arrived.

There are more outdoor activities than you can possibly take part in during one vacation. Between the Saco River meandering throughout the North Country and the White Mountains, you can enjoy kayaking, canoeing, hiking, mountain climbing, biking, fishing and camping.

At least 50 well-maintained hiking trails are spread throughout the area, with maps leading you to starting points for each one. Trails range from ½ mile to 7 miles and are challenging and yet manageable by even the most novice climber.

We chose the Arethusa Falls hike in the Crawford Notch State Park, 1.4 miles leading to a 200-foot waterfall. The slope was steep at first and then ascended through open hardwoods and mountain streams.

Many climbers bring picnic lunches, their families and even their dogs on the trip. Arethusa Falls is spectacular and worth every bead of sweat shed.

Another outdoor spectacle is the Swift River's Lower Falls. About 15 minutes from North Conway, Lower Falls features gradual drop-offs of the lower mountain streams. Kids can slide down the falls and swim in the pools at the base. There are plenty of picnic areas nearby with changing rooms and pavilions. The Albany Covered Bridge is just a short ride down the river from the falls.

The focal point of the White Mountains is Mount Washington. The summit of Mount Washington should be experienced by every traveler. You have several choices for reaching the summit – hiking, driving or riding on a train or shuttle bus. Not an easy climb at 6,288 feet, the peak is the highest point on the East Coast.

The brave at heart can drive their cars up the narrow path. You can also ride the Conway Scenic Railroad train to the top or, if you prefer to have someone else do the driving, there are van tours that leave from the lodge every 20 minutes. We took the van and were glad we did! The tour guide explained the history of the area and the mountain.

The summit is cold, more than 40 degrees colder than ground level. Fortunately, there is a cafe and souvenir stand at the top with hot chocolate and long-sleeved shirts.

The highest recorded wind speed in America, 231 mph, occurred at the top of Mount Washington, which is easy to believe as the winds were over 50 mph the day we were there. This is a must-see site with views of the ocean to the east and the Great Lakes to the west. Sunrises are glorious, and sunsets, which we saw, are spectacular.

Todd Salen is a real estate agent from Champaign.

Travels with Nathan

 I know I might have written about Nathan Kelsey before.  I can't remember how long ago I wrote about his stories, and well, I think I'll just tell his story again.

I first met Nathan when we was a pledge in my fraternity.  Idealistic is an understatement.  Nathan is an open minded, trusting soul.  He had an idea he wanted to host a golf outing as a chapter fund raiser.  In my days with Pepsi I had been involved in a large number of golf events so I was pleased he was coming to me for advice.  

Now Nathan was a caddie in high school.  I grew up close to Olympia Fields Country Club, site of the 2004 US Open and many time host of the Western Open, now the BMW Open. Many of my friends either caddied or worked on the grounds keeping crew, so I totally understood it took a special breed of person to caddie.  I mean you need to carry a heavy bag or two for a couple of miles, and constantly listen to old men talk about how good they almost are.   So the fact that Nathan caddied told me he was a man of character.  This is very true. 

Nathan picked my brain for the best course in the area, best practices for a golf outing, and best way to reach and register alums.  He set up a terrific event, raising several thousand for the Steve Acheson Scholarship, a fraternity scholarship near and dear to my heart.  Perhaps the best thing he did was reach out to Jim Acheson and invite him to the event.  This was over 10 years ago and Jim has stayed involved in the chapter largely due to Nathan's invitation. 

Nathan and I became fast friends, brothers and golf partners.  We both love to play and he loves bending my ear with stories.  As you will see, he was a remarkable young man who lives life to the fullest.

Soon after the golf outing our national fraternity had a convention scheduled for New Orleans in the summer of 2006.  Nathan wanted to attend the convention, and I was happy to have him ride along. Naturally we planned to stop to play golf on the way to New Orleans and played a few rounds in the Big Easy as well.

I was director of Philanthropy for the national fraternity at the time and had scheduled a community service project with Habitat for Humanity in their musicians village. The build was the day before the convention, so we needed to get there a day early.  Nathan told me he had never volunteered for a community service project before.  It was about 100 degrees, sun beating down, and here is Nathan working in the framing of the roof on one of the houses.  He met the soon to be owner of the house and had lunch with him.  Nathan's direction in life literally changed that day. 

The convention ended and we were heading home. First we dropped a brother off at the airport and then headed out on the highway destined for Champaign.  Nathan was on fire, so charged with the experience of serving others.  He was talking about 100 miles a minute. About 3 hours into the drive I asked Nathan if the surrounding looked right?  I didn't remember a bridge we were crossing.  He said yes and we continued. Shortly thereafter we saw a sign for Beaumont Texas.  Opps, we went the wrong way.  There are two ways to get to Champaign from Beaumont, drive to Dallas and head north, or return to New Orleans and retrace our path.  We chose the New Orleans route.  Our 11 hour trip turned into 17 hours and we were both a little fried when we arrived.  But...we had an amazing conversation.

When Nathan graduated from college he joined the Peace Corp in Africa.  I was not surprised.

A few years ago Nathan married a beautiful physician.  In the wedding announcement she mentioned she was attracted to Nathan because of his time in the Peace Corp.  I thought, you owe me brother!  If  I hadn't taken you to New Orleans, you would have never planted the seeds for his servant heart, and he would have missed out on the wonderful wife.

We still get together occasionally to play golf. And he lives in one of my favorite cities in America, Boston.  

Lou Henson - The man who painted Champaign Urbana Orange

Illinois basketball coach Lou Henson passed away this past weekend.  I am honored to have been a very small part of his story.  Our paths crossed many times over the years starting with my freshman year, his very first season as coach at the University of Illinois.  Let me take a minute to share a few stories:

Orange Krush - I think I actually first met Lou during my sophomore year.  As a freshman I had season tickets and watched nearly every home game.  Audie Mathews played for the Illini back then and I had played against Audie in high school.  I would catch the games, watch practice and say hello to Audie and Coach Les Wothke who I knew from my high school days.  Les and my high school coach were friends and had coached together at Argo and Rich East.  Les was one of Lou's assistants.

Sophomore year we invited Les and Lou to come by and talk at my fraternity.  Lou was starting a student cheering section, similar to football's Block I and was enlisting members.  I was certainly up for it as I loved to watch basketball and 5 or so members of the fraternity signed on to Orange Krush.   By now I had started officiating and couldn't get enough.  In Lou's first year there was no one on the floor except the team, the officials, and the scorekeepers.  With the addition of Orange Krush things changed in year two.  I think there were maybe 100 of us on the floor.  Great seats, court side and encouraged to bring our best enthusiasm to each game.

The band soon joined us, I think year in 3.  I was an active and hell raising member.  I yelled at the teams, the officials and the fans who were sitting around not cheering.  Orange Krush was to become one of the premier student sections in the country.  Numbering over 2000 now, the group is truly a difference maker for the team and for the community as they fund raise for priority points in the club.  The energy and enthusiasm at State Farm Center was Lou's vision.

Senior year Hawaii trip - Lou invited John Aymond, a friend from IFC and a member of ATO, and me
to join the team in Hawaii as our graduation trip.  What a trip!  Lou let us sit behind the bench and as we won the tourney, beating eventual National Champion Louisville while we were at it.  I'll never forget the time spent traveling around the island, eating great food and getting to know Lou and especially Mary on this trip.  I would write an article about Mary for the student newspaper later that year.  I came to appreciate how Mary made sure Lou had everything he needed to be successful.   She is a remarkable woman, perhaps the greatest "assistant coach" in NCAA history.

Detroit scouting - I had gotten to know Bob Hull well during the trip to Hawaii.  Bob coordinated scouting for Lou and was an assistant coach.  In the early 80's there was no ESPN and no Fed EX.  Lou and Bobby built a network of scouts in the Big Ten cities.  Lou had perhaps the most extensive catalog of college basketball tapes in America.  I'm certain he had tapes of 1000's of games and would watch and make notes on all of them.  I had moved to Detroit to start work for Proctor and Gamble.  Bobby asked me to be the Michigan scout then sent me a huge beta max, lots of tapes and shipping boxes to send tapes.  I would tape games from Detroit TV for Michigan, Michigan State and even Ohio State as their games were broadcast on Toledo TV and I could get that at my house. I easily sent over 30 tapes a season to Lou and Bobby.

I would tape a game, then drive to downtown Detroit the next day, put the tape on a bus to Chicago and then it would be transferred to a Champaign bus in Chicago.  Same day service!  In exchange Lou invited me to sit on the bench and stay with the Illini on the road for the teams I "scouted".  I had four great years on the bench at Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State.

And when I came to Champaign Lou would take care of me as well with tickets. One year, 1983, we were playing Kentucky on Dec. 23.  Kentucky played Michigan State on Dec 21 and Lou wanted the tape as soon as possible.  I taped it and started heading to Champaign right after the game, arriving at Lou's house at about 2 AM December 22.  This was the only time I ever saw the Lou "do" not in perfect shape.  The next day one of the worst storms ever hit Champaign.  I was stuck there for Christmas, but did get to watch the Illinois Kentucky game from the first row.

Later that season Lou invited me to join the team in Bloomington for the Indiana game.  Sitting on the bench there was one of my most memorable Illini moments.  In those days Bobby Knight and Lou were still best of friends. They would arrive in town early and often the coaches and wives would head out for a meal.   I will never forget seeing the two of them argue at the shoot around about "who the worst official in the Big 10 was."  A few years later they would have some major issues and I don't believe they ever reunited.

Also later in the same season Lou invited me to Lexington for the NCAA regional final.  I was witness to the famous game where the officials blew a call in the last minute, giving Kentucky the win and a trip to the NCAA Final Four.  This would be the game that would change NCAA hosting forever as the home team never again would host at their own arena.

Illini moments -  I would have the ultimate pleasure to work with Lou and the DIA during his final years at Illinois.  I was working baseball primarily but also working with football and basketball marketing.  Lou loved anyone who would be working to fill the stands and always said yes to all of our ideas.  Some ideas we added back then, the County Market Grocery Delivery Game, t-shirt cannons, and spin on a bat and run to the baseline.  The scoreboard in those days was very small so we always tried to find things that would involve "C" section.

One regret, for Midnight Madness in 1992, Halloween night, we asked Lou to get in a casket and be wheeled in.  He was dressed like Dracula.  Unfortunately a few days later his son Lou Jr was killed in an auto accident.  Attending the funeral with Lou Jr in another casket was just too bizarre for me.

But everyone who knew Lou knew what a great coach and GREAT MAN he was.  He always had a smile, always wanted to know how you were doing and always an encouraging word. 

Inspiring fighter - During my cancer treatments I would run into Lou and Mary at the Carle Cancer Center.  He was the consummate fighter of cancer.  I had 45 rounds of chemo over two years.  He had many more over 17 years. I would read and hear about his chemo treatments at the famous Anderson Cancer Center and be in awe of his courage and will to live.  When it was my turn to fight this fight Lou graciously inspired me to live my life and keep fighting. Truly an hero to me.

So I hope everyone wears Orange for awhile in honor of Lou.  Orange has come to mean Illinois Loyalty in Champaign, due almost entirely to Lou's wearing of the Orange jackets at games.

I'm thankful I had a chance to cross paths with this man as well as his lovely wife Mary.  You left a legacy that truly will never be forgotten. 

Silent Saturday, one day away from a miracle

I was watching a Max Lucado sermon last night and he mentioned that today, the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter is called Silent Saturday.  I had not heard that phrase before.  For me Silent Saturday is a day that is the most humbling.  I'm reminded of the disciples of Jesus, who on this day, just one day after the crucifixion, must have wondered if this incredible man they had been following the past three years was the real deal or not. 

Can you imagine spending the time with Jesus, listening to his words, seeing his miracle.... it must have been superhero like.  I'm certain I would have thought he was indeed immortal.  Shoot he walked on water, he brought people back to life, he healed the sick, he did it all.  

And then he died.  And they carried him to a tomb and buried him.  I'm sure I would have been silent as well on this Saturday.  How could I possibly face my friends and family.  Don't you know some would have been trying to convince me all along to come home and get back to work.  And now my leader was gone forever.

So when I think of the silence of this Saturday I'm reminded that no matter how low I might feel at any given time, no matter how hopeless things might seem, I may be just a day away from the greatest miracle in my life.  

Isn't that what happened with Jesus?  The disciples, his family, his followers, were totally disheartened.  And then in one day the world changed forever.

Hang onto that thought as we work through this virus.  We are all in a very tough space.  But the world will change again.  Maybe tomorrow, maybe in a week, maybe next year.  But it will change.

And when it does, we can all celebrate together 

Jule's Essay for Boarding School

Jule's Essay for Boarding school
(Jules is my nephew.  I'm humbled)

Describe a person you admire or who has influenced you a great deal:

Many people have influenced me but one of the most important is my mom’s brother, Todd.  He has taught me the values of positivity, hard work and consistency. Todd has become a second father to me.  
Todd taught me the value of positivity. In 2016, he was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer.  He did 6 months of the most aggressive chemotherapy, which had no impact, and then did an experimental drug trial.   Miraculously, after 4 months of this trial, he had no cancer. I attribute his success against cancer to his positive attitude.  Todd is always grateful, always smiling. I remember visiting him in the hospital over Christmas and he was cracking jokes and making ME feel good.  Todd taught me that half the battle is my frame of mind and with the right attitude I can accomplish anything.

Todd taught me the value of hard work.  His day job is a commercial real estate broker but he also produces regional theater musicals, he’s president of his state fraternity chapter and he’s a deacon of his church.  What Todd is really known for is his mentorship. When he was sick, men who he had mentored over the years came from all over the country to support him. Even now, in the middle of his cancer fight, he’s actively mentoring.   Watching him work so hard and have such a big impact, reminds me that I am capable more.  When I am losing confidence on the football field, Todd is in my ear telling me to push myself and work harder. When my grades are slipping in school, he is there, reminding me to study harder, and that my education is the most important part of being a student athlete.  And when I'm going down the wrong path Todd sets me straight and make sure I stay focused.

Todd has taught me the value of consistency. He texts me every day, since I started middle school, to let me know he’s rooting for me.  He did this even during his intense chemo. These check ins make me feel cared for. He shows up every single day, good or bad and that’s taught me that the important things require the discipline of daily affirmation.  Because of his constant presence, Todd has been a part of every big decision I’ve made.
In conclusion, Todd is a second father to me, teaching me the values of positivity, hard work, and consistency.  I can always count on him to keep me focused and on track. Todd has been a big part of my life since I was little, and I know he will play a big part in my decisions in the future.