One fine summer day in 1989 I was flying home from a business trip in Denver. I landed in Iowa instead. If you go to www.video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5213018608655473877 you will see the landing.
My heroes in life will always be the fine men in the cockpit who did such a great job trying to land a DC-10 with no hydraulics. Just a big glider that could only make right turns. Thanks to them, I’ve had almost 20 years since that day. That’s twenty more than I though I would have that day. Years to watch my two daughters have children of their own.
My six grand kids are a big, big part of my life. Before that day, I might have put lots of things before family. After that day, never again. I retired early to make up for time I didn’t spend with my kids when I was building my career.
So, here’s my Christmas gift to you. You make plans and God smiles. Tomorrow you may step in front of the beer truck and be history. This Christmas season most of us will be with family. Take a little time and look around and enjoy being a part of a family celebration.
If you are unhappy, chances are you are a big part of your own unhappiness. Stop making yourself unhappy and let the world back in.
I haven’t had too many unhappy days in the past 19 years. I haven’t found too many things that beat me down. I know what a bad day really is. Many of you have no clue. My friend Ken Dozier who is a frequent contributor to this blog does. He had a second surgery for a brain tumor last week.
have never forgotten some of the people who weren’t so lucky as I was that day. Kids who didn’t get the chance to live their lives.
Paying back is part of my deal when I walked out of that cornfield in 1989. Maybe reading this will help someone realize they have no reason to be unhappy.
I really don’t like talking or writing about flight 232. It does play a role in why I do this blog. My concern for the future of my grand children is genuine. When I started this blog in January of this year, things weren’t all that bad. How fast that has changed.
We don’t have enough heroes in the cockpit of this country. We really need to work on that.
Merry Christmas.
Thanks for the best Christmas story I’ve read this year. While we need more heroes indeed, most of us also need occasional reminders to be grateful. Thanks for the brilliance, and for remembering the deal. Wish I could see you all today, but I’ll look forward to next time and count myself lucky for it.
Thanks for the inspirational message, Bill, and for reminding us that we need to keep our lives grounded. Like I always tell my kids, regardless of the problems you might have, there are millions in the world who would give anything to be in your shoes. After spending Christmas day today with three generations of my wonderful family, I realize that there is nothing more I need to feel fulfilled. God has blessed me with something whose value cannot be measured. Merry Christmas to you!
Thanks Matt and Anna for your comments. Christmas with the family was better than ever this year.
Bill