The day Mom left

Tomorrow is one of those anniversaries that is very bittersweet. It will be four years since Mom (Teddy Fritts) left us. I try not to write about me in this blog. The purpose here as you know, is to write about heroes who change the world - people who make a difference. For me, there is nobody who made more of a difference than my mom.

Last year March 25th was Good Friday. It's a very solemn church day, but we looked ahead a couple of days when my friend and I went to visit her final resting place. I stood there thinking not only of how much I missed her, but of how much she gave me. That's what happens with our heroes. They make us better. Mom most certainly made me the person I am today. She also influenced countless others.

This weekend, join my sister and I in thinking about our mom. Think too of your own parents and of people who made a difference to you. Let them know what they mean to you, and always keep them in your heart.

Community comes out to say goodbye

Last Friday I was present as the local community paid tribute to a law enforcement officer who had died after a long fight against cancer. I'll be part of the local Relay For Life supporting your American Cancer Society later this spring because I have personally been touched so many times by cancer. What I want to talk about though is this hero and the people who loved him. I'm living in a relatively small town these days, and so it is much more common to know many people in different parts of town. I don't think I have ever seen such a huge turnout though, except for celebrities.

The day began at a local church, where every seat was filled and the mourners even stretched out the front doors and spilled onto the sidewalks outside. Next there was a special luncheon, and the number in attendance was even larger. Immediately after the lunch, there was a civic memorial and the number of folks had doubled. Men and women in uniform were present, with family and friends and folks who barely knew him. Tribute after tribute said the same thing - this was a kind and caring man who loved his family, his God, his community, and his friends.

What really impressed me was how many people came out and the diversity in the crowd.  A deputy sheriff died - not some horrible crime related death while performing his duties, but a slow and painful death from disease.  People weren't talking about how his life ended though - they spoke of how it was lived, and boy was it lived!

About Colin Kaepernick

Last summer I wrote here about Colin Rand Kaepernick - more specifically, I wrote about him taking a knee during the singing of The Star Spangled Banner (our National Anthem).  I quoted him as saying "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." We went on saying "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

I also stated that I agreed with him, which prompted a nasty reply to me.  I have since gone further and on social media I have called Kaepernick a hero, because he stands up for what he believes in and because he makes a difference.  Isn't what this blog is all about?

Now I want to point out that all of my information is second hand.  Although I lived in San Francisco and was present at games in which he played, I have never actually met Colin Kaepernick.  I follow him on twitter, but have never been in direct contact, so therefore I don't have all the facts, but I have listened to public statements he has made.  He continues to say he respects the military and that he is not trying to show any disrespect at all.  What he has tried to do, and has been successful at, is calling awareness to a problem. 

I already know there will be some negative comments on this.  Every time I mention Kaepernick, somebody has a negative thing to say.  Clear your mind though and look at the facts.  Then, join him and together we can truly make a difference!