A Life Changing “Vacation”

The person you see in this picture is me on October 23rd.  But, the person writing this entry is a different me than I was back then.  I am pictured with the first sunrise I would see in Joplin, Missouri.  I had arrived mid-day on the 22nd.  I had come to be part of a project with Extreme Makeover, the television show millions watch every week. 

I decided I would take a “working” vacation and do what I could to lend a hand to a town that had almost wiped out by an EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011.  Although most of you look into my site expecting to read about running events, please give me my space to talk to you about an incredible project, with incredible people and an incredible town that is coming back stronger than ever.

Although I went their to work, I left part of my heart and soul with all the people I met during this 8 day adventure. 

How  you will have to navigate through my entries, so you can read about the whole story, might need a little explaining.  You will be able to read my most recent entries just by clicking onto them.  Then, when you’ve gotten through with those, you need to click onto the “November archives”.  That will bring up a short list of slightly older entries.  At the bottom of that list you will see the words “previous entries” (bottom left).  Click there and continue using that procedure to be able to read the whole story. 

You will know you have read them all when you once again see this same picture.  I hope you enjoy the stories and the pictures.  They’re not long.  Take the time, read about the amazing people and their rebound from disaster.  And please feel free to email me at tardy4@comcast.net .  Many people already have and I would love to hear from you, too.