Saying thank you is such a wonderful feeling

Hello everyone:

I am up here in New York and trying to sort everything out before I start my new job on Tuesday. These last few months have been quite an adventure for me. The experience allowed me to find out a lot about myself and my life, not the least of which were the lessons I learned about the value of the friendships I have.

Of course there are many mixed feelings and emotions here given the nature of the solution and the situation that has subsequently been created. Given my age and other challenges that I had to face head on under the circumstances I am thrilled to have found a new job. I will be challenged and also given the opportunity to make a real contribution to something meaningful. This is the sweet side. On the other hand I have to be separated from my family and say farewell to my friends. This is extremely difficult for me.

I am very lucky to have a wife of 36 years whom I am still madly in love with and who can still make my day just with her smile. I miss her very much already. I also miss my daughter and I'm probably driving here crazy by calling the house 12 times a day. I've learned a great deal from both these women over the years. Not being there with them in Florida is very very tough for me as you might imagine.

What I also learned though is how important my friends in Florida have become to me and how much I miss them already. Of particular note are the friends I have made through the Nameless Walking Group. It all started out as a noble pursuit in the interest of health maintenance, but this group turned into something much more than that for me. I will remember for the rest of my life the Saturday and Wednesday walks, the discussions about various topics...the kids, the grandkids, photography, jobs, spouses, politics or anything that suited the moment. Breakfast.

I thank you all for these wonderful experiences and memories. Mary and Tony, Keith and Val, Bonnie and Bonnie, Deborah, Marie, Julie, Pam, Bob, Cindy and family, Christine, and everyone else I had the pleasure of walking with....THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Special Thanks to Bob O'Donnell. Bob, I hope we will always maintain our friendship and I can't thank you enough for all the things that you have introduced me to. Don't forget Gasparilla in '09. Mary and Tony...you are magic! Nobody could ever ask for anymore out of a friendship than I have experienced from ours!

As soon as I'm settled down here I will resume my walking. I don't think that my miles can count toward the club total, but know they are being clocked in the spirit of this thing we have started. I hope at least to be there in spirit with all of you when the 2008 mile goal is reached.

For all those who took me to breakfast and gave me such a nice sendoff....I can only say thank you once again. I carry my digital picture frame on my key chain.

Thanks for everything and it is my hope that everyone who has experienced the Nameless Walking Group will continue to put a priority on their health maintenance and will include walking as a mainstay for that pursuit!

Later.....