30 years and counting.

[2old2tent]

Cause for celebration?

April 28, 1980 at about 3:00 PM I was a passenger in a fire truck responding to a call. The truck rolled over when we were turning a corner and my right arm was torn off at the elbow.

So today I'm celebrating. Strange huh? Not that I am celebrating losing my arm but the fact that I have had 30 additional years to walk this earth.

30 more years with my loving wife (thank you Linda).

30 more years of watching my children at birth and seeing them grow to be adults that I can be proud of (thank you Joseph and Jennifer).

30 more years of learning from and sharing time with my parents and sisters (thanks to you all).

30 more years of people coming into my life, offering help when needed and humor as well.

I will never know what my life would have been had I not gotten in that truck that day. I was good at being average, blending in, not one to stand out in a crowd.
All of that changed. Even with an artificial arm I no longer blend in. Children will point me out to their parents. People will stop me and ask what happened.
So now I don't try to blend in, I may have taken on things that I would have let go had I not lost an arm. Maybe I wouldn't have kept up with martial arts until I got my Black belt. Maybe I would never have taken up guitar.
I don't feel like I do any of these things to be an example but only to prove to myself that I am no different now than I would have been had the accident not happened.

I believe that the Lord has blessed my effort in attempting these things and only by His strength have I succeeded.

To keep from jabbering on I would sum up my life philosophy this way:

I am not looking at what this world has done to me, I am looking at what the Lord is doing for me.

Thanks to each of you that has touched my life and have a Blessed day.

Jack

[planovet]

So today I'm celebrating. Strange huh? Not that I am celebrating losing my arm but the fact that I have had 30 additional years to walk this earth.

Not so strange at all, an accident like that could have killed you. I wish more people in this world had an attitude like yours.

Here is to 30 more years from today

[robfisher]

You lost an arm. Very tragic to be sure.

But it seems that you have gained a voice. And that IS something to celebrate.

I celebrate with you!

Rob

[Oasis Maker]

Didn't expect to find such a strongly written and inspirational message. I'm glad I clicked on your post. Your words are to my benefit and I thank you for sharing!

Scott G.

[teardrop_focus]

I am celebrating losing my arm but the fact that I have had 30 additional years to walk this earth.

30 more years with my loving wife (thank you Linda).

30 more years of watching my children at birth and seeing them grow to be adults that I can be proud of (thank you Joseph and Jennifer).

30 more years of learning from and sharing time with my parents and sisters (thanks to you all).

30 more years of people coming into my life, offering help when needed and humor as well.

Cheers, Jack! Thank you!

[Mightydog]

Great job of getting up one more time than life knocks you down.

Great story.

[steve smoot]

Jack, thanks for sharing your story with us. Wish I had just a little of your outlook on life...

[2old2tent]

Not so strange at all, an accident like that could have killed you. I wish more people in this world had an attitude like yours.

Here is to 30 more years from today

Mark

The man driving was a good friend of mine. He was killed. That certainly showed me that my lot could have been worse.

Thanks to everyone.

Jack

[Mightydog]

Jack,

Give us a link to an .mp3 of you playing some of that slide guitar. Everytime I see your avatar, I want to hear what you're playing through that little Pignose amp.

allen

[2old2tent]

Jack,

Give us a link to an .mp3 of you playing some of that slide guitar. Everytime I see your avatar, I want to hear what you're playing through that little Pignose amp.

allen

Allen I don't play any slide. Kind of deceptive isn't it. I play chords. No fingerstyle yet. That's the only way I can reach the strings and get any resonable strum.
I do need to record some stuff now that I am playing OK. Always room for improvement though. I play in our church praise band and run through the Pignose, one so that I can hear myself and two because it adds a nice tone to the guitar.

Jack

[BILLYL]

Jack-

CONGRATS

Well written!!!!!!!!!!

And don't forget to always DANCE and SING.

Life is too way short......


ENJOY

Bill

[caseydog]

By coincidence, I was just reading about Steve Jobs, who battled cancer and later had to receive a liver transplant. Here is a quote from Jobs...

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

CD

[TheBizMan]

If we all could only understand how short life really is and make the most of it. This is a great story from a great man.

[Miriam C.]

Seems the Lord had good material to work with too! Happy to celebrate with you!

[Classic Finn]

Your story sure touched our hearts here in Finland. Im glad I stopped in on your thread too.

We also celebrate with you.

Sure would love to hear you play your music as well.