January 19

It was tough to switch gears on the phone call this morning from talking about schools to talking about losing a friend. I didn't want to answer Ginny when she pressed me about my passions, but I'm glad I did.
When my next door neighbor, Donna, told me in November that she had only weeks to live, I was paralyzed with fear. It used to be so easy to meet in the yard and chat. I found myself second guessing everything I wanted to say to her and so I said nothing for 2 weeks. A week before she died, Jim and I went over and sat with her. After a few moments of small talk, I broke down and cried, telling her I was sorry for not visiting sooner, but I had been scared. I told her all the things I had wanted to say and hugged her. I learned a valuable lesson that it wasn't what I said that mattered to her, it was that I was there for her. Now I am going to be there for Mike.
I sat down this afternoon and wrote an email to the Maine State Troopers Association board president, a retired Colonel. I explained what I was doing with My PowerMall and how it could give Mike peace of mind to know Betsy was going to be ok financially after he died. (Mike was diagnosed with brain cancer shortly after they were married about 15 years ago. His life insurance is based on his pay at the time he went out on sick leave, so it isn't much.) I gave him their mall link and directed him to the WCM video. I then asked his help in spreading the word to the troopers. Julia is right when she says how careful you have to be to stay within appropriate boundaries. I can't solicit them directly, but it's ok through the association.
Jim and I put together a list of people who could help us with a sort of telethon. I would get 5 or 6 people on board, explain our objectives, and we would start calling. There are over 300 Troopers, so we could use the extra hands. I am going to make the calls tomorrow to get our team together.