Just as we are quick to give our opinions on people, many of which we shouldn't, I feel it is also very important to stand up and pay tribute from time to time. All to often we are quick to bitch and complain, but never often enough do we recognize those in our lives that have effected us in some positive way.

Each and every one of us has people in our live we look up to.  Whether as a roll model, mentor, or someone who possibly holds charatcer qualityres we admire and aspire to acheive. If we're lucky these are people in our lives we can call friends or at least aquaintences.  More likely however, these are people we will never meet.  These are the people whom I feel compleled to pay certain tribute to or feel the need to speak in honor of - and why.

• My Children - I honor them in their memorial.
• USAF CMSgt Charles G. Dusing - 31 Oct 95 POW South Vietnam (South Carolina)
• Andrew Vachss - an attorney who represents children and youth exclusively
• Anne Lilley - she gave me strength when I had none left
• Oprah & Dr. Phil - 'Change Your Life' TV changed my life
• Brett Butler - "Knee Deep in Paradise" - her strength and perseverence is admirable
• Michael J. Fox - Read "Lucky Man" and you'll know
• Darrell - who gave me hope and let me know there was still something to believe in
• Moran Hcivekborow - for reminding me that insanity is never far away
• Bruce & Sue Lincoln - for renewing my faith in the truth
• Rusty - for showing solid, consistent, good sportsmanship
• GriefNet - for being there when they were
• Jim & Mollie Crittenden

In those two + years I was stuck alone at home, and the next two + years that I felt completely alone in a crowd, not only did i develop a new way to look at people, because i was desperate to find good in people, everyone, anyone.  I was desperate to renew my hope in people or maybe in myself.  I doubted everything, and every move I made.

Also - when you're in that state of mind, people in general can have a very profound effect on you, depending on where you're at in your internal progress.  At some point, I don't remember when, it dawned on me:

rosieism  We have got to make more of an effort to pay tribute, even if ever so slightly, at least acknowledge those who have a positive influence in our lives.  We have to.  If not to give them the thanks they deserve, then at least for our own selves, to "bank" that hope in humanity.