For those of you who didn't notice, today's date is 4/20 - hence one very happy holiday. Blaze on. Let's see - concerning the inefficiency of my day: I missed my one and only class today, arrived two and a half hours early to a group meeting for my MIS class, submitted my final MIS paper and PowerPoint presentation one day late, postponed a visit to the laundromat until tomorrow, & haven't yet started my Stat lab which is due tomorrow. Meh, atleast I bought/created a heart-felt birthday present for my sister - my day was productive. In addition, I watched a majority of "Scarface" which only leaves me wanting to play GTA: Vice City.
Bad news. I found out today (via a friend in IA City & my dad) that a man I know passed away. A man who had a significant impact on who I am today - I guess some might consider him a mentor of sorts. Know to me as Mr. Tatro, he was my very first Scout Master in Boy Scouts of America Troop 1030. Within me he instilled a great appreciation for the outdoors and also for my fellow man. He aided in my discovery of what is really important in my life and also what will actually bring me love . . . happiness . . . success. His work with me was just the tip of the iceberg as he touched the lives of many young men during his time as a role model in Boy Scouts. I have no doubt that he is in Heaven right now along with everything that brought him happiness in his life. I will not forget him or the work that he did to help me obtain my Eagle Scout and become the man I am at present.
I hope to be able to attend Mr. Tatro's funeral this weekend and provide him with the respect that he deserves - it's the least I can do in return for the gifts that he has given me. To those who are reading this right now, all I can say is that if someone has touched your life in any way, let him/her know - now. You never know what time has in store for the most important people (of any age) in your life so tell them while you can. Good night all - God bless!
Life is a tale told by an idiot -- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
- William Shakespeare
Thorn(s): Mr. Tatro's passing, the feeling of me - behind in life right now
Rose(s): A phone call, seeing my sister happy, dinner and a flic with a friend
Comments (2)
Charles, that is an incredibly nice piece you wrote about John Tatro. As you know John was one of my dearest friends and I choose to remember him grinning from ear to ear while throwing water in my face on the St. Croix river, or in a snow ball fight at the Good Medicine Lodge, or canoeing and fishing in the Boundary Waters, or hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, or cooking soup at the Troop 30 fundraiser, or with 10 boy scouts around him helping make cinnamon rolls, or any of a 1000 other memories I shall cherish forever.
David
Posted by David Burgart | April 21, 2004 2:12 PM
Posted on April 21, 2004 14:12
Mr. Burgart,
He was an important person in both of our lives and he will be missed dearly. Reading your comment brought back so many good memories of Boy Scouts with so many of my friends - young and old alike. I, too, will choose to remember Mr. Tatro similarly and, in that way, he will live in our hearts forever.
Posted by Charles | April 21, 2004 3:31 PM
Posted on April 21, 2004 15:31