Faith and new opportunites

The first week in November 2010 was the week from Hell for me.  I was sore from running The Marine Corps Marathon (where I had raised $13,000 for cancer research), my beloved dog Molly died while we were in D.C. and Gannett decided to cut me to part-time.  I hurt physically, emotionally and financially. Then to add sprinkles to the crap cupcake, my son had to have surgery, leaving me thousands of dollars in the hole (and worried about his health.).  I shook my head and felt lower than an ant’s belly. My week had turned into a damn country song.  My family’s life was in chaos.

But I made a choice to be as positive as I could. I didn’t focus on the bad things.  Lord knows it would’ve been easy to do. I had several opportunities to trash the paper on TV and radio. I refused. No, instead, I sat down outside the C-L building that fateful day and wrote down all my blessings in my life:

1. I still had 1/2 a job.

2. I was married to an amazing woman who knew me when I had been a janitor. So I knew that my job wasn’t how she saw me.

3. I knew people in the community supported me.  I was already hearing from them.

4. I have an amazing family who I knew would support me.

5. I was cancer-free.

I  looked around at the rubble of my situation and saw lots of salvageable things. And I started rebuilding. Stronger. Better.

It wasn’t easy.  Anger kept poking its nose under the tent.  And I kept beating it back — some days better than others.  Looking back depressed me. But thanks to some amazing friends, I was able to look forward and see amazing possibilities.  Doug Wilson (of car fame) was one of the first to reach out to me.  He’s an amazing, upbeat man who kept me out of the depression ditches.  Brilliant accountant Paul Breazeale helped me set up my business and offered advice. The amazing Andy Chapman and his partner and wife Marianna Hayes Chapman showed me the potential for the future.  My cousin Dave provided me with a great role model and tons of great advice and encouragement. Christopher Powell, the Rector at St. James, gave me counsel and a video to produce.  Blake Wilson helped me keep the faith.  My parents offered me support as only parents can. Barbie Bassett gave counsel as well. Bo Bounds showed me a path to success.  Kevin Webb, the general manager WJNT offered me an opportunity (that I eventually did not take, but am very appreciative of.)  Groups had the faith in me to hire me to speak.  My wife Amy kept her head in the middle of economic and emotional chaos.  My best friend Randy would check up on me from time to time to make sure I wasn’t insane yet. Other dear friends found the right words at the right time, offered prayers and encouragement. The MRBA on my C-L blog reminded me that my work still meant something. Every time I needed a shove in the right direction, someone crossed my path and helped me.  Wow.

The last four months have been a blur.  I know I have probably forgotten to mention someone and I apologize.

Tuesday I start a new adventure.  It’s one where I get to use my talents in a new way.  Yes, my cartoons will still appear in The Clarion-Ledger part-time.  But I now have another opportunity that allows me and my family to stay in a community that has given us so much over the past 14 years.  Monday is the official announcement. I can’t wait to tell you more.

Dave e-mailed me right after I was made part-time and said, “This will be the best thing that ever happened to you.”  You know, once again, he’s right.