Dedication

I dedicate my life and purpose to our three girls and my partner and muse who has always given me so much and helped keep me a work in progress.
I dedicate this site to the inspiration left with me by Max, and others like him, whose energy lifted all he encountered and who left us too soon and whose light we carry forward.

While some might say “this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you” there are many of us that feel blessed that you spent time with us here.

Dear Max,

I remember well the conversation when we interviewed you and also the one when I called to make you the offer, but what I remember most was your smile, laughter and demeanor that always made my day that much better.

Now that you are no longer with us in your physical form on this plain, we each may have different beliefs in how you live on.

For myself, I know you live on in my heart, soul and memory in the form of the light you brought to so many of us.

You touched us with your spirit in ways that lifted us

not only on the days we were with you but also in ways that stay with us.

You changed us.

The light you gave us lives on within us,

allowing us to shine some of that light both on our mutual friends as well as on others you never got to meet.

The warmth, kindness and humor that emanated from you was like a butterfly affect that continues to spread and ripple out like the waves from a pebble.

We will honor your gifts of joy, happiness and laughter that you shared with us by sharing them with others.

Your light shines on, radiates out and will continue to warm souls as we pass on the gift you gave to us to those we encounter.

Thank you for that gift and all the wonderful memories of you that we will carry on forever.

Your light has not faded, it shines and grows brighter with each day and each opportunity to share this gift you gave us.

In comes to me that we last connected last Thanksgiving,

it seems fitting that on this day I am thankful to have known you and to have been one of the many lucky recipients of your gifts.

You live on my friend, and your impact continues.

A Gift

In 1979, as I rounded a corner on my way to class, I crossed paths with this fellow who I didn’t know.

As we looked into each other’s eyes and souls, we recognized a kindred spirit.

With his look, smile, nod, quiet laugh and kind blinking of his eyes, this stranger somehow deeply touched my soul and gave me a gift of his light.

I didn’t know who he was, but he helped me appreciate my calling.

With each kind soul l encounter, I value their gift of light to me,

much as with each encounter I feel it is my place to pass on some of that light that so many have given me.

In Max I recognized a giver of light

much as l had in the Dalai Lama when I first met him.

I have been very blessed to have crossed paths with so many givers of light in my life that have also helped me to learn

to experience the joy that comes when you can offer light to another.

Thave also learned that with this often comes hand in hand the ability to feel sadness and experience its burden

when we feel we can’t do enough to help all those we would like to help.

When I was lucky enough to have another encounter with the Dalai Lama again 30 years later,

I still saw the joy and happiness he radiated,

but I also detected the hint of sadness that comes with all that he has seen.

He is a gift to this world,

but this world is not always a gift for those who see through the eyes of compassion.

Max too was a gift to this world

In his time, he too brought light to many of us, but I also recognize in this kindred spirit

that he too must have felt some of the burdens this life brings us.

I will strive to carry forward the gift you and other like you have given me

so that others may feel that warmth your light radiated.

Thank you Max