“… So I shaved my head!”
I am taking a cue from recent news headlines to bring you my thoughts.
Several years ago, when I worked for one of the big box retailers, a coworker was diagnosed with cancer and faced along painful regimen of chemotherapy and radiation. After being away for several months we learned that he was scheduled to return to work. I got together with the rest of my coworkers and we decided we needed to do something to show our support and solidarity during this very difficult time for our friend. So I shaved my head! Everyone in the department shaved their heads except the one female and she cut her hair much shorter than she normally wore it. When our friend returned he was brought to tears to see that everyone in the department was his bald as an onion just like him.
My hair eventually grew back and my friend lost his battle but from that moment on he knew he wasn’t fighting alone. It was such a little thing yet it had such a big impact. I guess it’s only natural as we age there were going to lose friends, family members and associates. If we are lucky enough to be the last one standing there are so many little things we can do for the people we care about we should be sure and make that little extra effort to do them. A phone call once or twice a week, a hospital visit with the gift of something to read to pass the time, a daily email just to check in, perhaps a card, a Facebook post, or some small gift means so much and costs a little.
I’m reminded of the song lyrics from Matthew West’s song Do Something “If not us, then who? If not me and you. Right now, it’s time for us to do something. If not now, then when? Will we see an end to all this pain. It’s not enough to do nothing, It’s time for us to do something.”
When you think about visiting that friend currently in the middle of their personal battle, remember the song and do something today. Tomorrow could be too late. By the way, this message is as much for me as it is for you.
On a more positive note, let me say thank you and how nice it was to see so many familiar faces at the AAW in Phoenix, SWAT in Waco and at the Woodworking in America show in Winston–Salem. For the off–season it’s been pretty busy. One last turning symposium in Dalton, Georgia this coming weekend at Turning Southern Style before my show–season begins for real the middle of October. My schedule is posted on the website hope to see you somewhere face–to–face this year.
