A Somber Memorial Day

 Over the last few years, I’ve had the great honor of working with, listening to and photographing a multitude of veterans. I’ve been even more blessed to call many of them friends.

Some have served during times of peace; some have served during times of war. Some have been wounded; some bear only invisible scars. Some have served on land, some in air, some on the ground.

There is but one thing that they all have in common: the uncommon willingness to put their lives on the line for others.

I can’t imagine the sacrifice one makes when he or she joins the military. I can’t imagine what it would be like to leave my children. I can’t imagine what it would be like to kiss my husband as he left for deployment.

Today, we honor those who have paid the ultimate price – who have given their lives for the freedoms we enjoy.

My children know that though there are many heroes in their lives – veterans who have genuinely and warmly opened their arms to my children and who teach them things only veterans can– there are some who never return.

This weekend, I covered the Nation of Patriots Tour for some publications. An American Flag will make its way through 48 states in 100 days and will return to its location of origin on Labor Day. Founder Bill Sherer grew the trip from a single man’s attempted journey, to an American Flag arriving in each state with ceremony and dignity. It was incredibly powerful to speak with the flag bearers and to talk to some of the people who were accompanying the flag on its journey. Even more incredible was the emotion behind the oath as the flag passed from one set of hands to the next.

This morning, my children watched as United States Marine Cpl. Timothy J. Crabb stood watch at the Killed In Action section of bricks of the veterans memorial (that he designed and spearheaded) at the Woodstock Harley-Davidson. My girls know that these men and women left, never to return. They fought valiantly and with courage.

We also attended the Memorial Day ceremony on the square where we listened to servicemen give tributes to fallen brothers and sisters.

And, later, we will spend time with family – not because we don’t care about the true meaning of Memorial Day, but because we do. What better way to explain the military to children, than by describing it as the family it is.

Thank you to all of the active-duty and veteran military men and women in our lives. We look up to you and cannot thank you enough for your service. I’ve seen your sacrifice and I’ve heard your stories.  Thank you doesn’t seem like it is enough.

Today, we honor and remember those who gave all to their country. There are no words for that ultimate sacrifice.

Vietnam veteran U.S. Marine Cpl. Timothy J. Crabb stands watch over the Killed In Action section of bricks.

Standing watch

My girls watching as Cpl. Crabb stands watch over the KIA memorial bricks.

Nation of Patriots Milwaukee Flag Bearer

Daughters of the Revolution

~ My family ~ 

I Interviewed a Multimillionaire

This weekend, I covered what I thought would be an easy story for a national magazine. I try to prepare ahead of time, but I wasn’t prepared for a secondary event taking place at the same location.

In an effort to figure out what I really needed to write about, I tried to look for someone who could help me with the details.

Unbeknownst to me, I interviewed a multimillionaire.

As a writer, I take people’s stories seriously. I fact-check. I ask questions. I craft my articles with dignity and respect. I think that shows in my interview style.

This particular event was something that I really had no knowledge about – and it showed. I asked questions an experienced reporter should have known. I clearly had no inkling of the magnitude of what was happening.

I was upfront with the gentleman in saying that I wasn’t told his organization would be there. He took me under his wing and explained the ins and outs of the sport. He made me feel comfortable. He took the time to point out the highlights. And, he talked about his family and other casual topics of conversation. He was genuine, caring and kind.

He didn’t have to be – he was the president of the organization. He could have found more important journalists to speak with. He could have sent me to his public relations head. He could have told me just to look at his website.

But he granted me quotes and a serious interview – and spent time with me when he could have been overseeing the event.

In retrospect, it is clear that he breathes that same kindness in his employees. When I found myself unintentionally in an “off limits” area for taking photos, the security guard gently asked me to leave, but then he also held a conversation with me. And when it was time for the most famous competitor to show what he had, the security guard called me up to get a shot of the match.

It was only when I got home to research more about my interviewee that I understood just how important that man was. Yet, despite his multimillionaire status, his multibillion-dollar companies and his television presence, he was incredibly humble, and, quite obviously, he cared about people.

I interviewed two other men. One was the owner of the event venue who spoke with me on a wooden bench about family values while he watched over his grandson. The other man – a vice president of another large company – picked up on my unfamiliarity with the topic at hand and explained much more than he had to, but we also talked about our lives. I also learned about his family, his father, his small-town values and how hard he worked to be where he was.

The common bond here is that these VIPs care about people. They put relationships first. They appreciate others, and it shows.

Honesty and integrity breed honesty and integrity.

I hold my moral ethics above my journalistic ethics.  I always look for what I can highlight in others – and I put that first, no matter how an interview goes. I feel incredibly blessed when others treat me with the same respect and care that I put into the stories I write. And, whether it was the security guard or the president of a major corporation, that day, everyone did.

More details and a blog highlighting these companies to come ~ after the article is released:)

Also:  I should have taken a selfie!

Perfectly placed people

Coincidences Perfectly placed people

About a month ago, our community lost an inspirational woman.

The following weekend, a friend of mine set up an informal coffee to reminisce about this woman’s wide-reaching impact.

I stopped by to say hello and to offer my condolences and, in doing so, I met my friend’s friend Kathleen.

Before we knew it, Kathleen and I quickly had bonded over horses – my love of photographing them and her love of riding them. Furthermore, I learned that Kathleen’s sister Karen owned a local farm – a family-run farm, and, as perfectly placed people do, we talked a little more and I discovered that Marmont Farm was having their 10-year anniversary this year.

An article was begging to be written, and the editor of our local paper let me write the story on Marmont Farm and Karen. Find it here!

Two weeks later, I set foot on the grounds at Marmont Farm, and I instantly felt something a little magical.

I met Karen for the first time – a modest woman with a big heart. She showed me her arena where a group of women carriage drivers were practicing for their upcoming season. I spent some time conversing with these women – each of whom spoke very highly of the barn as well as the owner.

Karen then took me to the stables – and the gorgeous horses she owns and boards there.

As she spoke about the horses – one, a mare with whom she once stayed up all night as she birthed her foal (a moment she said she’d never forget) – her love for the animals was palpable. She said she gets up every day to take care of the horses – and she does it herself. She feeds them, cleans the stalls, sets them out to pasture, works them and brings them back to this peaceful place tucked away in rural Woodstock.

As Karen spoke, it was clear that her life’s passion was horses, but her kindness also extended toward people in a deeper sense as well.

Horse people sometimes may appear withdrawn, but usually it is because they are so in-tune with their horses; they are contemplative and intuitive – because they have to be. Karen is no exception. She knows her horses inside and out, but she uses that same intuition when choosing friends ~ and those friendships at the barn carry over into her personal life. Marmont Farm isn’t just her business; it is her family.

My takeaway? The things we are passionate about in life tell a lot about who we are. I’m blessed in my job to be able to meet a wide variety of people. Their passions may not always align with mine, but their deep-rooted commitment – no matter what the passion – usually is to make a difference in the lives of others. And it is that commitment which draws me towards them.