Way to go, Joan! E ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joan E Snyder" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2004 7:36 PM Subject: blessings never expected... > You never know when or where life will lead you and tonight, I just had > something wonderful happen to me that teaches me a grand lesson about > "seize the moment." > > I was feeling all lonely and depressed: all of my dearest "parkie" > friends were in Kentucky at Winks' house for the gala marriage of > > AJ & Greg. My son has spent the last two weeks in Puerto Rico and heck, > yesterday morning, even my mom & my sisters flew to Florida to meet up > with Mitch and attend a family reunion. So, I was feeling neglected, > dejected and rejected. > > I did however have tickets to the baseball game tonight from my good > friend Jane at IPMR (Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. > This was her big fundraiser and since part of the money that we make > from Shake, Rattle & Roll goes to IPMR, I felt that we should go. Stan & > I got ready (one of us more eagerly than the other) and the first thing > I did when I got out of the jeep was to step on uneven ground and fall > flat on my ass-off to a great start, I was sure. > > Anyway, the fundraiser was entitled 'Legend at the Ballpark' and the > guest of honor was the legendary Lou Brock. OK, think I, maybe this > might be kinda cook anyway. Our free tickets were great-they got us good > seats and free dinner and complimentary beverages (beer is a must for me > at a ballpark!!...but Stan drank sodas) but we were right in the wrong > place to see Lou Brock so I somewhat faded on his speech until I heard > him mention Sandy Kofax-who was my all-time favorite pitcher in the > world and it occurred to me that this very well was living history! And > this guy knew them all-I just sat and became lost in my own "Field of > Dreams." After his talk, he was whisked right by me out onto the playing > field to throw out the honorary first pitch-but first they needed the > game ball. It was delivered by a parachutist who was a double > amputee-Dana Bowman!!! Needless to say, it was a breathtaking experience > to see this man float down to land just inches away from the pitcher's > mound. OK-I'm impressed. > > My friend and personal photographer, Craig Kendall was also at the game > and when he came looking for 'the girl in the wheelchair,' he found us > and he had his camera. > > Soon, Craig was taking pictures of Stan & I with Pete Vanochen- Harry > Carey's drinking buddy and ole Harry could never tell a drinking story > without mentioning Pete's name during those long ago days when he > announced for the Chicago Cubs. I had two copies of my book "Voices > from the Parking Lot-parkinson's insights & perspectives" and so I gave > one to Pete. Then they wheeled me over to the long line that snaked > along the 3rd base side of the stadium to get a picture of me & Mr. > Brock. I was sitting there patiently looking at a myriad of butts (good > & bad-but hey-that's my viewpoint) when suddenly a friend from IPMR came > and said that this would take too long and she pushed me right up to the > front of the line!!! Lou Brock was & is larger than life and as he shook > my hand and accepted a copy of the book, I heard my friend tell him > about the money that I had helped to raise for a "gait-analysis" carpet > for IPMR. I wasn't prepared (everything had happened in such a rush!!) > and all I could do was smile and look at that huge athlete-still at 65 > years of age while Craig shot pictures. As I asked for an autograph, I > was suddenly being propelled backwards and found myself face to face > with the most incredible man that I have ever met...Dana Bowman. Dana > was a Special Forces soldier and a member of the US Army's elite > parachuting team-The Golden Knights. In 1994, a mid-air collision with > another jumper during a special tandem jump turned horrific and Dana > lost both of his legs; his teammate was killed as they hit each other at > 300 mph. He no travels, inspiring people and speaking with his motto: > "It's not the disability-It's the ability-Never quit." > > When I noticed his jumpsuit with prophetess sticking out where there > should be legs, I knew him. We spoke for along time, we connected > somehow and made a lot of plans. He knows about Shake, Rattle & Roll and > wants to jump in for it next year and he is expecting a book in the mail > and we exchanged emails, addresses and phone numbers. Before he had to > turn to his clamoring fans, he signed a card for me that says: > "Joan-this just shows you that some of us never quit. Dana." > > I must say that something inside me told me that this guy is the real > deal-the whole enchilada-the big kahuna. I immediately sensed that we > will become great friends and that we will work together. I just know it > to be true. I cried and I know that he knows this, too. > > So begins another of my wonderful friendships with people who inspire > and teach me and help me to remember to always "seize the moment." > > -- > Joan E. Blessington Snyder 51/13 > http://www.pwnkle.com/jes/jes_web/index.htm > <[log in to unmask]> > "Hang tough...........no way through it but to do it." > Chris-in-the-Morning (Northern Exposure) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn