My Weekly Inspiring email:

The following is an weekly email that my sister in law sends to me, she is full of inspiring stories, this one happens to be about my husband: Good morning, All. Happy Monday. I recounted this long-forgotten story over dinner with a friend this weekend. The recollection tickled me such that I wanted to share it with all of you. I hope it will serve as an example of the true power each of us has to make those in power responsible to us..."the masses". I was probably 9 years old -- that would make my baby brother about 6, almost 7. We were piled up in front of the tv one Saturday morning when a Wrigley Spearmint Gum commercial came on. A man is standing on the edge of a mountain, a breathtaking view of big sky and rolling hills carpeted with majestic evergreens before him. As he strapped into his hang-glider, he pulled a piece of gum from a pack, opened the shiny silver paper, and folded the gum sensuously onto his tongue. Then, with a new determination to highten the experience, he grabbed the bar and sailed off into the postcard-worthy wilderness...musically accompanied by some "chew our gum" drivel. And the tiny little voice beside me exploded "Daddy! Did that man throw his gum wrapper on the ground?!! Mommy said we can't do that. It makes the world ugly!" little brothers are so stupid. this is tv dumdum head. Hang-gliders aren't real, and you are stupid. uuggghhhh... shut up! Scooby Doo is back on!!!! And my father said..."I don't know, son. Maybe you should write a letter to the president of that company and ask him that question!" "I will!" was the little pain-in-the-asses response. And yes, my friends, he did. My parents made some calls, found out the name of the executives that ran the show at Wrigley, and I watched as my brother proudly affixed a stamp crookedly to the corner of an envelope, holding the letter -- in his own words -- and 1st-grade handwriting -- that would ask a corner-office executive in a $1000 suit to explain himself to a child. "I might want to visit that mountain some day, mister," the jagged handwriting commented, "Will I see gum wrappers all over it? My mommy says that's not right. My daddy said to ask you." And in the mailbox it went...like so many letters to Santa and the Tooth Fairy. That kid is so STUPID! Like that guy is going to actually ANSWER you!!! Whatever -- you dumb little dum dum head. But he did. Two, three weeks later, a letter arrived for M -- the six-year-old dum-dum head. From some executive vice president whoever....in response to his correspondence. And no, it wasn't a form letter. And no, it wasn't condescending. And yes, it answered the question ... (and no, they didn't litter -- it was a studio shot -- the backdrop was fake.) AND....for being the socially responsible, courageous young man he was, my dum-dum-head smelly little brother got coupons for about three years worth of Wrigley gum....because they "appreciate future customers like him." Rock on, little man. Speak your mind. Reminds me of a George Strait song from the early 80's entitled: You've got to Stand for Something. : "You've got to stand for something, Or you'll fall for anything You've got to be your own man, Not a puppet on a string. Never compromise what's right, And uphold your family name. You've got to stand for something......or you'll fall for anything." -- We all have the power. Some have the courage. Speak.