FROM GOOD OLE UNCLE VIC

July 2006

   Hello everyone, how are you? Have you all survived the monsoons? I haven't seen rain like that since I lived in Okinawa as a small boy. Did you guys read where they think they have found Noah's Ark? No joke. How ironic!

   The answer to last month's quiz, "Among the many factual errors in his book The DaVinci Code, Dan Brown incorrectly referred to a DaVinci painting as Madonna On The Rocks to get an anagram out of it. What is the actual name of the painting?" The answer is Virgin of the Rocks, of course.

   This month's quiz in this Independence Day month, what year did the Revolutionary War end and what was the name of the treaty? Turn your answers in to Lisa, in writing or email- lisa.hemovich@brickbodies.com!

   Sometimes it is hard for me to decide what to write about for my Uncle Vic column. Not this time. I received the following e-mail from a great friend of mine whose son is in the 10th Mountain Division serving in Afghanistan.

   "The phone rang at 3 am. Joel was calling from the mountains of Afghanistan. His message to us was brief as he was only allowed 3 minutes. His unit had engaged in a fire fight and his Squad Leader, Fort Drum roommate and Afghan roommate, Sgt. Davis, was killed in action. Joel assured us he was ok, but his voice conveyed a sense of shock ... understandably. There were many questions I wanted to ask, but no time, as his unit was on patrol again. He did tell us that he is being sent to base camp in Jalalabad over the weekend to attend a service for Sgt. Davis. I imagine Joel, as Sgt. Davis' roommate, will be asked to collect his personal effects from their quarters. As you pray, please add protection for Joel's mental/emotional health. And remember Mom and DAD ... this is tough stuff!"

   Tough stuff? Boy, I'll say. Kind of puts things in perspective doesn't it. Earlier Joel's dad told me his son had been on continuous patrol for 30 days and had not had a chance to shower in all that time. And we sometimes think we have it tough.

   Joel grew up with my son, Jon. They played sports together. They are about the same age. I worry about my son's grades and how he is doing with his sports and his social life. Joel's dad worries about ever seeing his son again.

   How many times do we worry about insignificant stuff and feel sorry for ourselves because things just aren't going our way? How many times do we get caught up in the wrong details as to what is really important in life. It is situations like Joel's that help bring everything back into perspective. The next time I feel sorry for myself or think I have it rough, I am going to think of Joel.

   They once asked the great Hall of Fame pitcher, Warren Spahn, how he felt after losing a close World Series game to the New York Yankees. Spahn, who had served in World War II, replied, "When I landed on Normandy on D-Day I went six weeks without changing my underwear. Six weeks! Nobody died tonight. Nobody was shooting at me. I am going to take a shower, go home, have a nice meal and sleep in a nice bed. I'd say I feel pretty good."

   I know that it is a touchy subject when I bring my spiritual beliefs into this column but I am going to go out on a limb and say it anyway. I am going to pray for Joel. I am going to pray like heck. I am going to pray for his safety. I am also going to pray for his parents. I am going to pray that they see their son again, all safe and sound. And then I am going to call my kids and tell them how much I love them. And, the next time I am stressed about how they are doing or about how the business is going or about other things in my life, I am going to think of Joel. And I am going to count my blessings instead.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY