Great Deeds

Steve Jobs died a day or two ago.  Maybe you've heard the news.

Not really a shock, we knew his time was limited.  2003 i think, right?  That was the initial diagnosis.  My dear friend Amy's father was diagnosed the same thing Steve had.  The cancer was found at the end of March.  Mr Anderson died on July 8th.  Not nearly enough time for the trans-formative power cancer can give certain people.

I watched this unaired commercial and thought of someone else who wanted to change the world...



I made me think about Mark Louis Francis Nicholson enough that I had to take a moment to write this on Mark's FB wall:

The passing of Steve Jobs, and all he accomplished after his diagnosis reminds me of all you accomplished in your short time with us. I think of all the people who's lives were deeply touched, all because you had cancer. It is a horrible thing that it ultimately took you from us, but at the same time allowed so many of us to be inspired by your soul, your courage, your compassion, your radiant light. I miss you Mark.

And now I think I have something in my eye because they are watering so much that I can't really see clearly right now.  I'm sure those who were close to Steve must feel the same way I feel thinking about Mark.

Excuse me a moment. I have to close my office door.

We can all conceptually agree that to live life the way Mark and Steve did post diagnosis, to fight and beat the odds the way they both did.  Add Dr. David Servan-Schreiber to the list even maybe.  We know what we might do if we were given a short time, but without the certainty and the deadline, do we really ever push ourselves the same.  Can we even push ourselves that much?  For 99% of the people out there, no we can't.

Rolling through the growing list of friends and family who've fought and lost the battle with Cancer, I hate it more each day.  I have great frustration in the lack of a desire to work on prevention in favor of a cure, there's far more money to be made in treatment than prevention and as I've said before much in the same way Type II diabetes is being dealt with.

I'm  just reflecting a bit.

I have been more cynical and negative about the press and media hype about SJ's passing than maybe I should, that said, even reflecting as I am now I still feel it is a bit overblown.  But the human race does involuntarily select single individuals out for greatness, despite the fact that they never act alone, and never achieve their greatness alone.

I tend to reflect on Mark's  life more around Cyclocross season because of the few races I picked him up at and we went to together.  The time talking with him in the car was awesome.  He always did well too and nothing ever phased him except when he thought he lost the green fuzzy scarf, and then it was more sadness and resignation than anger or frustration.

To me, Mark will always be a great individual.  And my daughter's words after spending the day at the bike race with him will ever ring true, "Daddy, he is my favorite Mark."

Yes, little one, he's my favorite Mark too.

Heddwch
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