[Editor's note--In the 4 1/2 months since my last column, I have had several speaking opportunities at rallies and health care forums (thanks to We the People, Kim Simac and Jim Knuth) been doing considerable research for two books (more about that next week and year) as well as preparing for a major speaking at a conference next March in Texas. I completed my interviews of educators, legislators, and school board officials as well as analyzing financial data on the subject of public education funding in Wisconsin but have set that topic aside for now. I apologize for the delay; I will keep my word on completing the series sometime in the very near future. For now there are more economic data to analyze, new topics to pursue, thoughts to ponder, and columns to write.
That brings me to today and one last story for 2009. My last column was about my former principal at Mosinee High School and his battle to recover from a paralyzing fall. This morning, I read his daughter Bethany's posting on caringbridge.org, a not-for-profit Web site that enables people to follow the activities of people dealing with severe injuries or serious illnesses . Her posting brought tears to my eyes and a new resolve to finish the work I started. Thanks, Bethany, for your inspiring words, and thanks, Mr. DeBroux, for persevering long after many others would have given up. May her words and his actions inspire you to press on toward your calling and goals as it has me].31 December 2009
I feel like a newcomer at an Editor's Anonymous meeting. "Hi, my name is Oliver, and it's been four months and 18 days since I wrote my last column." Only my words are greeted with silence, because I am sitting alone. There is no such group.
Since writing my last column, I have thought about returning to the keyboard many times, but failed to do so for a myriad of reasons. There were speeches to make, college courses to teach, research to do, and people to counsel. These tasks filled the days and weeks. The biggest reason, however, was the inability to get the series of columns on public school funding "just right". So I did nothing. I quit, as it were. Being the executive editor, I had no one to force me to give it just one more try.
As a result, economictruth.org sat unchanged. Commentator's work sat in my inbox, Twitter followers twitted away, and pages of research (now over 4,000) gathered dust in boxes and binders both inside and outside the bunker. Even reading Tony Dungy's book
Quiet Strengthdid not motivate me. In truth, as I read in Dungy's book, there were no excuses and no explanations.
Since writing my last column on 13 August about my former principal at Mosinee High School, Mr. James DeBroux, I have continued to follow his progress in recovering from a devastating fall in July through the eyes of his wife and children via their detailed and poinant postings on caringbridge.org. Many of us have written words of encouragement and offered prayer support both on- and off-line. Today's post, however, really hit home and jerked the slack out of me. So, without further words on my part, here are the thoughts of Mr. DeBroux's daughter, Bethany.
"As this is my last entry of 2009 (I am heading back home to Milwaukee tomorrow for a few days' rest), I would like to take the time and say thank you to all of you who have taken the time to read this blog. Back in January, if you could've shown us a crystal ball and shown us what would happen on July 21, none of us would've believed it. Maybe Dad would've taken a few more runs down Granite Peak, maybe he would've flown the family to Cancun so he could take a ride on the spinnacer sail of the catamaran, maybe he would've spent each day at the golf course. Maybe he and Mom would've gone dancing, maybe he would've taught Mike how to cast the perfect line in the river, maybe I would've taught him how to prepare artichokes sooner and maybe Jon would've taken him to the Brewers game where he could finally catch the elusive foul tip. But even though we didn't know what was going to happen, we still were able to take many boat rides, cook many dinners, celebrate a godson's graduation, laugh with good old friends and "zoomie" the dogs in the yard up north.
It would be easy to say that happiness went away on the morning of July 21, but it wouldn't be the truth. Dad's accident helped us to see happiness and joy in places we never thought we'd look. We found happiness in the first smile Dad gave us after having the tubes taken out of his mouth in Marshfield. We wept with joy to see Dad up in his wheelchair the second day he was at Froedtert. When Dad was talking again, we could share in his sense of humor and his wisdom. And when he could eat again in time for Thanksgiving, we all could've turned cartwheels down the hall. We found happiness in nurses and caregivers who shared in our joys and sorrows and became part of our family. We laughed at Mom and Mike and the battle of the dishwashing duty and Jon and Mom and the ongoing war of the thermostat. Happiness does not die in the face of tragedy--it just hides for a minute.
We learned the importance of family this year and just how strong we can be. We learned how amazing and generous our friends, neighbors and total strangers can be. And we've learned how important the power of faith and hope can be. And that when God closes a door, He does leave a window open."
As I re-read Bethany's words, my eyes are misting over again. Thanks, Bethany, and thanks, Mr. DeBroux.
Until next week, be blessed.
From the Editor's Desk Archives You Can't Keep A Good Man Down) (August 13, 2009)
Public School Funding: Fact and Fiction (Part 2) (July 28, 2009)
Public School Funding: Fact and Fiction (Part 1) (July 27, 2009)
Health Care Reform: Protecting the Disabled (Part 5) (July 24, 2009)
Health Care Reform: Protecting the Disabled (Part 4) (July 23, 2009)
Health Care Reform: Protecting the Disabled (Part 3) (July 22, 2009)
Health Care Reform: Protecting the Disabled (Part 2) (July 21, 2009)
Health Care Reform: Protecting the Disabled (Part 1) (July 20, 2009)
And Liberty and Justice for All (July 13, 2009)
