Good morning! Any decorating going on in your house or office this week?

Us too, and we love it!

Earlier this week, Liz had been bringing our holiday containers down from the well-insulated WWAD Attic when she knocked on my cubby.

"David, what's this?!" Her curiosity was as wide as her smile as she handed me a worn soft leather journal, covered in a ¼ inch of dust. I wiped off the dust, some of it finding it's way onto my tweed vest. The dust was so thick; I had to take a second and third pass.

"I'll be darned. Walk with a Doc - 2002", I proudly announced to the room.

The memories came pouring out so fast, I had to sit down.

I raised the turtle shell bifocals comfortably hanging around my neck as I gently opened the cover.

"David, I'm confused. Last week you said the walk started in '05?"

I remove my glasses, and rest my teeth on their frame.

"Young, young Liz. So, so young with so much to learn"

Still confused, she glances over at Kathryn, who's assembling tool-kits, answering phones, returning emails, and hanging garland in our conference room.

Rolling her eyes and gently shaking her head she subtlety holds up the five fingers of her right hand, intended only for Liz' to see - confirming her question.

I'd been thumbing through the pages as I landed on a wonderful memory, page 47.

"Please have a seat young Liz as I share with you a story of a time long ago."

"It had started like any other Monday in early June (don't they all). James McElroy was my first patient of the morning..

"James, how are you?! Enjoying this beautiful spring day?" I continue reading.

"I wish I could Dr. Sabgir. It's been an extremely tough year. Over the last eleven months, I've been taking care of my mother who's come to live with us. She's battling Alzheimer's and it's been hard. I'd been on steroids for a COPD exacerbation and that's been really messing with my blood sugar. Dr. Smith just got done lecturing me yesterday on my hemoglobin A1c being up. Then to top it off, my Moose Lodge buddies are hiking in Tahoe this year and because of all this stuff, I've put on 18 pounds and I'm too exhausted to join them. It's killing me."

"David, why did you write this down?" Liz asks. "And, this isn't a medical office. Isn't storing this here a HIPAA violation?"

Quiet, then a just few crickets.

"James, we're starting a free exercise program, called Walk with a Doc that I think you might like. We'll have hot coffee, fresh fruit, and plenty of smiling faces. Come check it out this Saturday; we'd love to see you there."

I gently close the cover and return my glasses to their resting place.

"Wait! David, what happened?! Did James show???"

Filled with a warmth only years of pride can release, I continue on, sharing the memories of that historic Saturday.

"Oh yes Liz. James showed, and it was glorious!"

"When James arrived that morning, we had a couple WWAD Ambassadors waiting for him. Moments later they stood together in a huddle as they listened, shared, and laughed as one.

I spoke a few minutes talking about the latest medical study, followed a 50+ minute moderately paced forest hike, they returned to the oak pavilion just as they left, smiling to ear to ear. The 70 or so of us remaining were further uplifted by their enthusiasm. I'd been hanging with an old fraternity brother, Shawn, in town for the weekend.

Mike, one of the members in this Bob's walking group gathered the crowd's attention, "You all have to hear Bob Jone's story. This guy's awesome."

He went on to share with this large group all the stories James had told me plus additional obstacles he overcame that I hadn't heard that Monday.

When Mike stopped, the crowd applauded as they turned their eyes and their attention to James. He was now off to the side looking down at his weathered Nikes gently kicking the dirt. You could literally feel the intensity of his emotion and his absolute fear of raising his head and seeing the faces of those now feverishly supporting him.

It was at this point where he ever so slowly lifted his head, devoid of any reaction. The park grew silent; all of us hanging on every movement.

He then curled his left lip and shook his to the right and then back to left. Tilting his head to the right, he looked into the crowd and with a resounding inner confidence he uttered,

"If you're having health problems, I feel bad for you son; I got 99 problems but The Walk ain't one".

Hysteria ensued.

The mass descended on James thrusting him up on their shoulders as the horde pumped their fists in celebration of Mr. McElroy's courage.

You may recognize my fraternity brother, Shawn Carter, by his more commonly known stage name, Jay-Z.

Shawn did appear to leave Columbus inspired that weekend.

 *Please note that while we've included the clean version of Jay-Z's hit single, 99 Problems, many of you will still find it offensive and not suitable for work.  

Thanks David. If you'll excuse me, it's time for dinner.