It was once disclosed [about  me], many years ago by someone who shall remain nameless that I could not rub two sticks together to build a fire if my life depended on it. At the time that was true. However, like any good big brother who was also a Boy Scout and Cub Scout, my "Brother Big" as we affectionately called him, showed me how to do just that ... he took the knowledge he gained through his association with the scouts and taught me what he knew. He wasn't Wally Cleaver, but he was my big brother!

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Moving forward on the life-journey timeline, there was a time when in my vanity [shame on me] I decided to host a birthday party for myself. Well, the party was a flop [serves me right for being vain], however, my brother, who always shared with me in his own way that he loved me as his brother, comforted me at a time I think I needed it most. In that moment he practiced what he preached.

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In January 2013, my brother Frank collapsed at work. It was then that he learned he had cancer and was given approximately eight months to live. He passed away in August of that year. After learning about the cancer, my brother called me on the telephone, explained the situation, asked me to be strong, and told me he loved me. In that moment, my brother reached out to me.

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It was in that moment after hanging up the phone with my brother that I came to understand my mission moving forward ... teach what you know, practice what you preach, and reach out to others.