"....the luckiest Man...."

Lou Gehrig, famed slugger from the New York Yankees, on the recognition day held for him in 1939 after it had been determined he had ALS, said, "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this Earth." Gehrig was to die two years later.

To borrow Mr. Gehrig's statement, "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this Earth." Some may ask why? Well, today, December 22, 2009, marks the tenth anniversary of the day I died - and, obviously, was brought back to life.

I was hosting my employee Christmas party on the eventful night shortly before the upcoming worrisome Y2K. The speeches had been made. Dinner had been consumed, and it was time for some fun for all - which consisted of approximately 200 people (employees and their significant others). That meant a DJ and dancing. As was my custom, I would hang around for about 30 to 45 minutes, dance with the gang, and then sneak out the back, allowing my staff to have a good time without the boss in attendance. My bride had just left to exchange a present before the store closed and I told her I'd meet her at home in a little while.

What I remember is walking out to the dance floor with two of my female staff. My next memory is waking up in intensive cardiac care sometime the next day with my very worried-looking wife and daughter standing next to me. Neither had had much sleep. I tried to speak, but the tubes in my throat prevented me from doing so. Finally, I asked for something to write with.

What I wrote was, "What Happened?"

While I kept drifting off, my bride had to explain to me - several times that I experienced "Sudden Cardiac Death". I was to learn later that my heart went into fibrillation and stopped. Two of my employees began CPR and kept the oxygen flowing which prevented brain damage until the paramedics arrived. I also learned the paramedics had to administer 6 shocks from the defibrillator paddles to start my heart and stabilize me.

I won't go into all the details of the story here but I spent the next 9 days in the hospital. I received an implanted cardiac defibrillator/pacemaker in my chest during the duration of my visit.

Attempting to return to work was a mistake. The long grueling hours and associated pressure were too much, and my doctors determined that I needed to stop working. I knew this in my heart, but it took my personal care physician - who happened to be a friend - to look me in the eye and ask me what he should tell my wife and kids when I did, in fact, die for good.

Most would say I was given a terrible situation with this malady. A bum ticker. Can't work. Never know when I could croak. But you know what? In many ways it was the best thing that could have happened to me. There is no doubt in my mind that continuing to work would have killed me. Having a type A personality can be a curse. It took a forced "retirement" for me to truly understand that I was driven. Don't know why, but I know that I was. Had I kept working, I would have worked myself to death.

The time I've had these last ten years has allowed me to stop and smell the roses a bit too. I am kinder, gentler. Ask my bride. And I know how blessed I am. I know God was behind all this, and I am thankful to Him.

The experiences I have been able to enjoy because of Him allowing me to stick around these extra years are way too numerous to list all of them, but there are a few highlights I have to mention some:

* So far I've been able to celebrate 10 more wedding anniversaries with the love of my life, my bride of 38+ years.
* I was able to spend one last Mother's Day with my mom, who passed away a few short months later.
* I was able to walk my beautiful daughter down the aisle at her marriage to a wonderful young man whom my wife and I adore.
* I attended the high school graduation of my youngest son - and attended the college graduation of BOTH my sons.
* I was there for the birth of my Grandson, child of my daughter. And have spent countless times with this remarkable boy.
* I've watched all three of my children grow into remarkable, successful adults - all with wonderful significant others.
* I've met new friends and strengthened ties and bonds with old friends.
* I've apologized to people I should have - which has, in turn, strengthened me.
* I've learned that I should tell people I love them more often - and I try to do that.
* I know my family loves me.
* I attended the 50th anniversary of my hero, and brother John and his incredible wife, Joanne.

Yes, I am the Luckiest.