"It's Nice To Be Seen."

Dear Friends,

I was thinking of the time the late great Robin Williams appeared at one of my friends universities. My friend said to him, "It has been so nice having you." Robin replied, "It has been so nice being had." People say to me now, "It's so nice to see you." And I reply, and mean it, "It is so nice to be seen" It is nice to be seen, to be included. The first thing Drury University, Iowa State University, Elmhurst College, Whitman College, Linfield College, the University of Redlands, Seattle University, Western Oregon University, and Eastern Oregon University did when they found out I had cancer was to immediately book me for the next Fall. Have you any idea what it means to someone with Stage 4 Melanoma to have your speaking contract extended when you have been told your life contract may not be? That said, I have been invited to do three wonderful events in June and July and I wanted to thank the good people who invited me, had faith in me, and believed I would be around to complete the tasks assigned. One event has already happened and the other two are on the immediate horizon.

 I was blessed to be asked to do a baby dedication for Avery Grace by her parents Ryan and Shannon Starwalt. I had officiated at their wedding earlier in our lives together and had dedicated Avery's older sister Payton nearly six years before. Ryan is a teacher and baseball coach at Crescent Valley High School and Shannon is on the Pharmacy Faculty at Oregon State University. It meant so much to be with them and their families again. The greatest gift you can give a person with cancer is hope. And what could be more hopeful than a baby girl whose parents are promising to raise her in a home filled with love? I carried my devotional book "God's Promises" with me to their home to share a scripture about parenting and Avery, who was born in September, immediately took in from me and looked at it with a look of interest and joy. The Spirit works in strange and wondrous ways! Thank you Starwalts for including me in your major life events.

On July 17th I will officiate at the wedding of Matt Caires and his fiancee Brandyn Roark. I have known Dr. Caires since he was a senior at Washington State University serving as student body president. Not a month has gone by in 20 years that he didn't check on me and me on him. He helped my niece Katie Volz with her admission to the University of Wyoming while he was there, and our family friend Paul Puettman with his entrance to Montana State where Matt is currently the Dean of Students. He has become a dear friend and he finally met a woman in better shape than himself. Brandyn is an educator and sponsored extreme athlete and Matt has to struggle to keep up. This gives all of us who have been left in the dust by him on the hiking trial, the ski run, or the path to the river great joy! He now follows her up the hills and down the mountains but claims the view is so good he doesn't mind. We will ride the ski lift up on Schweitzer Mountain in Sandpoint, Idaho to have a ceremony fitting for two rugged individualists and outdoors people.

After the reception in Sandpoint, Donna and I will hit the road for Bend, Oregon where Mark Lea and Annie Perrigan will speak the vows of love to each other at the Rock Springs Ranch. Our family has known Annie since she was a friend of Christa's in middle and high school in Corvallis. Mark is a  high school teacher and football coach. Annie is the College Recruiter for Northwestern Mutual Life and its Summer Internship program in Portland. As I will be in Idaho with Matt and Brandyn, Christa Keim Schmeder will take care of the rehearsal in Bend for me. Recently Christa stepped in for me at the Ford Family Foundation Ford Scholars event in Eugene when I was having a bad week and took home the highest evaluations at the Conference. She is so gifted and is doing amazing work at Corvallis High School. I will, God willing, arrive in plenty of time to officiate the ceremony.

I've messed up a lot of things in my life, but our children are amazing. My dear friend David Coleman says, "Our children are our legacy to people we will never meet." So true. So profound. The lion's share of the credit for Christa, Sami, JJ, and Hannah goes to Donna, but I added what I could and gave what I had. Our children never doubted for one minute that they were loved and wanted. And that is the gift that Ryan and Shannon, Matt and Brandyn, and Mark and Annie have given me. They have made me feel loved, wanted, and despite the battle raging inside me, needed. What else does a person really need but that? I don't want to go Lou Gehring on you, but there are days when I hurt and am afraid, but the majority of my waking time I honestly believe I am the luckiest man on the Earth. That is why my friend Tracy Maxwell, a three time cancer survivor, told me early on the cancer would teach me what was really important in life, clarify my beliefs, and activate my appreciation for each moment.

I would not wish cancer on anyone, but it has been instructive, clarifying, and motivating. I want to beat it and share what it has taught me until I die of natural causes and old age. Thanks for reading this and God bless you. Carpe Diem. Be present. Be mindful. We all have much to be thankful for!

Will