Mabel Edith Brockman (my Mother-in-law) just one last note.

Hospice is tough, just the thought that your helping your loved one die is intimidating enough, for so long we have cared for my Mother in law Mabel, thru many illnesses, and we always witnessed her amazing recoveries, she was like teflon. but this time we were told she would not escape mortality...of course at some point neither will we...and frankly I had not thought much about our mortality until this grueling experience, I actually must prepare my heart, mind and spirit for death. I must stop kidding myself that i have loads of time to accomplish my dreams. by the way, what IS important in life ? what are those dreams anyhow ? wealth ? NO. Popularity ? NO. then what ? well, even from her death bed Mabel taught us a few important things

1. FAMILY, without a family your life has no anchor, no sense of familiar and really no true identity.

2. AUTHENTIC LOVE, to truly think the best in people, to not be cynical towards others actions, to have a genuine transparent heart is to be the better man in every situation.

3. INTEGRITY to do business and handle relationships in a moral, ethical bubble regardless of what politicians and others do, stay true to your own integrity.

4. GRACE Mabel also taught us how to die, she was the sweetest patient on the hospital floor, anyone who came in contact with her loved her manners, her decency and graciousness, she NEVER complained or responded with anger, even if the nurse was trying for the fourth time to find a vein, she would say "that's ok" or "Sorry it's so hard".

Now Lorna and I face empty nest syndrome, we sit at restaurants where we used to tell the wait staff "we need to hurry" (to get home to mother) now we order dessert because our services are no longer necessary, our marriage was greatly impacted by the needs of my mother in law and now we sit here on the edge of a new life with no limits on our idea's on where to start or how to get used to our freedom...we are open to your suggestions...and God's leading. Mom we miss you.

JUNE happenings

well May is over, I'm another year older and ALOT has been happening...nothing good on the job front, I have met with many folks who seem to really want to hire me but Michigan just isn't in the risk business right now, it's very disheartening.

   Nationally the country is consumed with an Oil disaster that is never ending...President Obama has dropped the ball but everyone blames BP anyways so it's not that big of a deal...Michigan is still recovering, there are signs of life which is very encouraging...personally some interesting stuff has taken place, I've met with 4 radio outlets, all expressing a serious interest in my knowledge but not one offering a job on the spot. in fact all of them have gone back to their management to see how they find a way to pay me to work for them, so far I'm still a free agent, Lorna and I have had some rough days financially but were hangin tough, her mom is doing far better than we could have hoped and for that we're grateful to God...I've been getting a little more involved with Church, I opened a worship service one sunday, led a Prayer night for an hour on my birthday, and assisted my Brother Mark with his yearly sermon for  high school Graduates. my Tigers have been struggling but the season still has a long way to go, Two legendary CCM folks have passed away, Kevin Thomson of Sweet Comfort Band (Who I never met but their music certainly had an impact on my life) and Dana Key of DeGarmo & Key, Who I met SEVERAL times and I was really torn up about losing him, he was like a distant spiritual mentor to me, I loved him and his music. my youngest Niece Allie had her graduation from High School and her party so I saw lots of family and friends, it was a wonderful gathering with lots of effort put forth by Steve & Lydia, on a deeply personal level I must confess I think I'm addicted to Facebook :) I find it provides me with several outlets, first of all I feel more creative, I try to post things that are fun or clever or worthwhile, my success rate may only be that 3 out of 10 things I post are actually funny, I enjoy the challenge of trying to be relevant, humorous and witty, secondly, I'm able to keep up with friends and relatives more then ever, I love it. I'm also able to keep updated on dear friends who are battling serious health issues, my good friend Foster Braun for example has had a bitter battle with multiple myloma and Facebook allows me to be updated on his condition daily, there are several others who post health updates etc...very good way to keep in touch. I do believe that once I get a job, purpose and vision facebook will be the first casualty in my life, but for now it is one of my purposes for living (sorry Chuck Swindoll:)  most importantly, if you know of anyone who could use my knowledge and experience please pass along my name, I really need the work, THANKS.

ERNIE HARWELL - MAN OF GOD

This week I drove down to Harwell Field in Detroit for the Public viewing of the late Ernie Harwell, I was joined by my brother Mark and nephew Nathan,
over 11,000 fans made the special trip downtown to remember a man that touched many, many souls.

Ernie was a man of God.  even the most cynical, hate filled people among us would have to admit that Ernie was not your typical, hypocritical Christian. 

Ernie Harwell like a fine wine got better with age, his Christian Faith grew, his love for people grew, his legend grew and most importantly his integrity and character grew.

His friends included Dr. Billy Graham and Paul Harvey two more giants of the Christian Faith who also maintained character and integrity.

The question is WHY ? what makes these three men so common in their Lives to present Jesus to their culture without a public moral failure for 90 years or more ?

here are a few of their Shared qualities:

STRONG FAITH AND MARRIAGE

Ernie Harwell was Married to Lulu Harwell for 67 years !  on the month of their 40th wedding anniversary Ernie was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

"Faith is the No. 1 thing, but that doesn't mean just going to church," Harwell says. "A lot of people who go to church every Sunday don't have a good relationship with Jesus. And that's the main thing with me." Exercise is a regular part of Harwell's routine as well. When he's home, he skips rope and works out on a trampoline. On the road, he takes brisk daily walks. "Well, I've exercised all my life," Harwell says. "I feel just as good now as I did 15 years ago." Harwell has missed only two broadcasts in his career -- once to be inducted into the National Sportscasters Hall of Fame and another to attend a brother's funeral. "He just loves baseball," Lulu Harwell says. "He's been that way as long as I've known him." (CBS SPORTSLINE)

Billy Graham was Married to the late Ruth Bell Graham for 65 years, Even though Billy's travel schedule often kept them apart, he and Ruth were able to keep their marriage strong.
 
Billy about Ruth's death: "I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we've had in the mountains together. We've rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven."


Source: Mike Baker. "Billy Graham's Wife Ruth Dies." SFGate.com. 6/14/2007.
 
The Late Legendary Radio commentator Paul Harvey was Married to Lynne for nearly 68 years, They worked as a team most of their marriage. Lynne worked as Paul's inspiration, producer, director, editor, and writer. They were a smart couple -- they each had their own offices !
 
Paul proposed marriage on their first date while they sat in her parked car but Lynne didn't say yes until a year later.


"Under the pretext of needing a ride to the airport, he asked Lynne for a lift. She drove a snazzy white Nash Lafayette coupe with such speedy abandon that one of her nicknames was the "blond blizzard." The pair wound up on a dinner date that night. Before the entree arrived he was calling her Angel, a nickname she had had since childhood. After dinner, sitting in her car, he asked her to marry him."

Paul when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005: "This is the highest honor I have received since 60-some years ago, when Angel said 'I do.'"


Source: Aaron Katersky. "Paul Harvey's Wife Dies at Age 92" ABCNews.go.com. 5/03/2008.

BIRTH YEAR:

Ernie Harwell, January 25, 1918

Billy Graham, November 7th, 1918

Paul Harvey, September 4th, 1918

AWARDS:

Ernie Harwell was named by The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association  Michigan Sportscaster of the Year 19 times, and inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 1989. Harwell was also honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981 as the fifth broadcaster to receive its Ford C. Frick Award, and was elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and the Radio Hall of Fame in 1998, among many other honors. In 2001, Harwell was the recipient of the prestigious Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting, awarded by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association (DSBA). In 2009, Harwell was named the first recipient of the DSBA's Ernie Harwell Lifetime Contribution Award. The award, called the Ernie Harwell Lifetime Contribution Award, is named after the Hall of Fame Detroit Tigers announcer. Harwell is the first winner of the award. The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame inducted Harwell in 2008. In 2010 Harwell was named as a recipient of the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award from Fordham University radio station WFUV. The press box at Detroit's Comerica Park was officially named the "Ernie Harwell Media Center" following his retirement from broadcasting. In 2004, the Detroit Public Library dedicated a room to Ernie Harwell and his wife, Lulu, which will house Harwell's collection of baseball memorabilia valued at over two million dollars. On April 26, 2008 Harwell was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from The University of Michigan at their Spring Commencement ceremony. One week later, on May 3, 2008, he was presented with another Honorary Degree of Laws this time from Wayne State University.

Billy Graham has frequently been honored by surveys, including "Greatest Living American" and has consistently ranked among the most admired persons in the United States and the world. Between 1950 and 1990, he appeared most frequently on Gallup's list of most admired people. The United States Postal Service has said that Graham is one of the few Americans, along with the current President, who can be delivered mail that simply reads his name and the country: "Billy Graham, America." He has received the Congressional Gold Medal from the United States Congress and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Reagan, America's highest civilian honors. President Bill Clinton and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole awarded Graham the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in 1996. In December 2001, he was presented with an honorary knighthood, Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), for his international contributions to civic and religious life over 60 years. In 1971, Graham's hometown of Charlotte held "Billy Graham Day" at which President Nixon made an appearance. In 2000, former First Lady Nancy Reagan presented the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award to Graham. Graham has been a friend of the Reagans for years. Graham received the Big Brother of the Year Award for his work on behalf of children. He has been cited by the George Washington Carver Memorial Institute for his contributions to race relations. He has received the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion and the Sylvanus Thayer Award for his commitment to "Duty, Honor, Country". The "Billy Graham Children's Health Center" in Asheville is named after and funded by Graham.

Paul Harvey was named Salesman of the Year, Commentator of the Year, Person of the Year, Father of the Year, and American of the Year. He was elected to the National Association of Broadcasters Radio Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and appeared on the Gallup poll list of America's most admired men. In addition he received 11 Freedom Foundation Awards as well as the Horatio Alger Award. Paul Harvey was named to the DeMolay Hall of Fame, a Masonic youth organization, on June 25, 1993.

In 2005, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' most prestigious civilian award, by President George W. Bush. On May 18, 2007, he received an honorary degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

HUMBLE BOOK TITLES

Stories from My Life in Baseball -Ernie Harwell

Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham

Paul Harvey's For What It's Worth

and they all Started and finished their careers ON THE RADIO!

Ernie Harwell signs a baseball at our Church event

Ernie Harwell & Frank Beckmann

two legendary play by play announcers talk shop.

Lorna in front of Ernie Harwell just outside the Tiger Stadium radio broadcast booth in 1997

Ernie Harwell and me on Ernie Harwell Weekend in Detroit,September 2002
at the WJR Studios for his Tribute.

My "Tuned to Baseball" book was included as part of the Comerica Park Viewing ceremony on May 6th, 2010

Life in these united states in 2010

for all the HOPE language that was tossed around for the 2008 elections, life in these United States in 2010 seems far from HOPEful, my wife and I take a walk around our neighborhood nightly and thursday nights have become quite the adventure...you see friday morning is garbage pick up on my street, but lately there hasn't been that much garbage left on the street by friday morning...GARBAGE PICKERS by the droves invade our neighborhood after dark and begin to load up their old trucks with ANYTHING remotely valuable...some come on their bike, others by car but this trend of seeing Americans so needy that they steal others garbage is sad and discouraging.

I also have noticed a genuine maliciousness or anger between Liberals and Conservatives, They both snarl or despise the other (more harshly then I can EVER remember) and agreeing to disagree doesn't work anymore, due to ACTIONS by one party or the other. This is civil war preparation it seems and our nation is weaker because of it. and neither side has a solution or calming leader to handle the intensity of those feeling this anger...I only HOPE someone will step up on both sides and calm the rhetoric and vitriol and unite this nation for greater good. NO HOPE IN ANY OF THIS.

also this year (2010) we will lose one of Televisions best examples of Integrity and courage, were down to the last few weeks of JACK BAUER of 24...he will be killed off along with the series 24 in the coming weeks...Jack kept my faith and HOPE alive in the men and women of our Armed Forces and Secret Service and FBI that they are motivated by the principles of love of country and character, not by money or power... my HOPE is that real life Jack Bauers are plentiful, could it be ?


i know these are random thoughts but forgive my Bob Talbert like methodology won't you :)

what has happened to Music ? I can't find a solid, worthwhile song anywhere that was written since 1995 or so...has pop/rock music reached it's pinnacle for creativity ? and Church music is even tougher to take with lyrics like "You're the Famous One" etc...c'mon! songs of HOPE are needed now more than ever.

something different...being unemployed in Michigan

I left Beautiful Aspen, Colorado on January 4th driving the two day haul back to Michigan, My mother in law's health requires that my wife Lorna and I be available for her 24/7...I left Colorado with no guaranteed job back in Michigan, something I would normally NEVER do. but I come back Trusting God for a new opportunity and exciting challenge.
all of sudden virtually everything I do is seen thru the eyes of an unemployed man...I went to see a film called "Up in the air" about a man who travels the country FIRING PEOPLE...I watch a DVD called "Sunshine Cleaning" about a woman who starts a company cleaning crime scenes but things go bad and she loses her job...what's going on ? why is the world ganging up on me ? every person I see or talk to all of sudden is asking.."find a job yet?" I hate this. my Church wants to put in the bulletin that I need prayer for a job and for some reason I battle the image of loser...but the truth is I am anxious yet excited about the potential, how many times in your life do you get the chance to try and make a decision like this ? 2 or 3 times ? another battle I face is trying to lose or leave my identity with my former employer (having been there for 18 years) I still get calls from folks daily who want me to put them on a radio show I left 8 months ago! it's bizarre, so now I look at the future, what do I want to be ? do I want to conitnue all I've ever known as a radio producer ? do I want to make a transition into Politics or marketing ? do I want to make a huge leap into the medical field or retail/sales ? what is my purpose ? what is my vision for the next 5 years ? my Church has tried to help me decide these issues...friends like Foster Braun, my brothers, my wife and other old friends have been giving me encouragement and ideas but it's alot tougher than I would have thought while I was living in Aspen. Michigan unemployment numbers are intimidating and trying to define who I am with out my job/career has been confusing and difficult. bareing my soul here probably is a bad idea but I really do feel like this crucial next step will make me or break me, GOD HELP ME. I know you will, I'm already blessed just knowing you God.