This is a Truly Great Day - - April 9

You see it was two years ago this morning at 7 A.M. that I was wheeled into an operating room to have a 4-5 hour surgery...a QUADruple bypass cardiac surgery. That was obviously successful, I had God on my side, a tremendous loving wife, daughter, Dad and many other very loving family members and friends as well as two exceptional surgeons and an excellent cardiologist. I know this because as I came out of surgery back to my room I crashed, my heart went into ventricular fibrallation I believe it was called, where it raced big time and my blood pressure shot up to dangerous limits. They had to use electrical paddles on me to get things back to normal. Other than that no complications.

On this day in April two years later I am able to run 5 miles without any significant problems and certainly no cardiac issues. I feel so blessed to get a second chance and that I've re-discovered running as one way of staying healthy. I have one of my younger brothers to thank for that. He began training for the 2007 Houston Marathon last year and kept me informed of his progress. I was able to run the last 6.5 miles of the Marathon with him this past January, much to his surprise. His courage to run that marathon has put me back on the road, literally, pounding the pavement early morning as well as late in the afternoon on days that I don't run in the mornings. I'm so thankful to him for being my guide.

I am also thankful for my wife, Bonnie, and her steadfastness with me through the surgery and my recovery afterwards. She is a dream of a mate and I am so very lucky to have her by my side. She has been a pillar and so quick to pick up on any small problems that I might have felt over the past 2 years. Now she is my "atheletic supporter".....her words not mine, and she has been at the start of every race I've run and at the finish of each one and many times some places inbetween. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful cheerleader for a wife.

This will always be a day of thanks to my Saviour Jesus Christ and to those closest around me for all they have done. The 5 miles that I ran today are more than just my anniversary run, they are my expression of thanks to all that had faith in my recovery.

I will turn 52 later this month and I will finish the month by completing the Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon, my first.....but not my last. I'm so glad to be alive, and I am so excited to be able to be active again.