#60 - Jason the Jedi

30 years ago I saw Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope in a drive-in theater with my parents and baby brother. I barely remember it, but I knew I had to see it again, and again. For the first 3 movies I identified with the young desert moisture farmer, Luke Skywalker, who found out that he was the heir to a great legacy of powerful knights. He found out that his father was the greatest Jedi Knight but that he turned to darker powers to try to save his mother who died in childbirth. Luke became a Jedi himself and defeated the evil Emperor by drawing out the good that was still in his father. I loved the adventure and the themes of the movies and the philosophical insights of the Jedi. In the next 3 movies we get to go back and see the transformation of his father from good to evil and learn of his close relationship with his mentor, Obi-wan Kenobi. Now that I'm older I identify more with the older, wiser Jedi Knight. I decided several years ago to start assembling a Jedi costume and this year my mother-in-law and my wife collaborated to make it happen for me. I've got to say that I have not felt such joy in a long time as when I put on the costume for the first time. It took me back 30 years and brought out the kid in me. I wore it to work on Halloween and chaperoned my sons in the costume while they were trick-or-treating. Nobody messed with us - either because they respected the uniform, or they thought I was crazy. Now I've got to resist the urge to wear it for fun, like right now.

#18 - Blood for Blood

My sister-in-law Melinda needed over 80 units of blood products to help her survive 3 weeks before she died in August. I was a blood donor before that and frequent blood donation made this list. Now however it feels very different. Many people had to donate their blood to keep her alive. I was thinking about that today when I was donating another unit. I know that this blood will help keep someone else alive, maybe to save their life, maybe to allow them to say goodbye. They'll let me try to repay this debt again on 12/22/07.

#71 - MacQueen's Apple Orchard

I didn't get to any true farmer's markets this summer like I intended, but I kicked off this fall with an annual tradition. Today we went to the MacQueen's Apple Orchard for their annual Apple Butter Stir and Festival. Part of the morning's festivities included a chance for us to pick our own apples straight from the trees. We filled a half bushel bag full of the tastiest, crispest red delicious, golden delicious, and honey crisp apples - better than anything shipped in from Washington. Those apples are bred for shape and transportability, but not for flavor. I dread getting to the bottom of the bag.

#19 - Funds for a Cure

Through the generous support of friends, family, colleagues, and patients, we were able to raise $1770 for the Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure, sponsoring breast cancer education and research. The total on the NWO Komen website is over $131,000 raised in donations, plus registration fees for all the runners. I am overwhelmed. I thought it would take all 1001 days to get to my goal of $1000. I realize now I set my goal too low. We're not stopping here. We have to find a cure.