Dave's Accomplishments

My Accomplishments These aren't much compared to the accomplishments of the great people in our world, but I was not destined, nor have had the desire to be one of those movers and shakers of the world. They are a few of the things I am proudest to have been able to achieve, though. :-)

FIRST AND FOREMOST is that I have been able to help people, sometimes in big ways, sometimes in small ways. None of us lives in a vacuum, and I have been lucky enough a couple of times to see the help I have given to someone travel on and allow them to help others later. THAT is the greatest of my accomplishments in this world. (You wouldn't believe how many people there are who will do everything they can to dissuade you from helping someone, unless of course, it is they who find themselves in need of that help. )

I was able to achieve a lifelong dream of learning to fly and becoming a pilot. I have a friend in Texas named Troy to thank for giving me the kickstart on this. I became one of less than 350 wheelchair pilots in the world, and also was lucky enough to have an excellent flight instructor named Bill who's very thorough education and patience with me taught me to fly safely and got me out of a jam or two during my brief flying days. Both of these men have my absolute gratitude. I lost my pilot's license due to medical complications, but God granted me a couple of years of knowing that joy and freedom and excitement of being able to fly, and I have memories I will carry with me always.

I was an Adult Literacy Tutor while in New Mexico, and had to joy of being able to help teach people to read and write. (Never make the mistake of discounting someone as stupid because they can not read or write. These people that I met are some of the smartest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.) I think the greatest moment of joy for me in this was when a student of mine wrote her first letter to her son in college. If you could have seen the joy and pride in her face as she showed me the letter before mailing it!

I was a volunteer at the Carrie Tingly Cripple Kids Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico for awhile years ago. My job was to cook popcorn for the kids on clinic days. If you ever want to see courage in it's truest form, visit with a child with a severe birth defect or disability some time. It will make any problem you may have or be facing seem small, and you will gain strength by seeing how they cope with the seemingly impossible to cope with.

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