My son decided to join ROTC in his junior year. One particular week a local Marine Corps Sergeant stopped by to run some drills with the class as a special treat. The sergeant began to bark out orders as the class began to march around the room. Suddenly my son tripped and fell to the ground. As David was getting back to his feet the sergeant came running over and began to yell "Soldier, what's the matter with you are you BLIND, get to your feet!"

My son got to his feet. Saluted the sergeant and replied back "Well, yes sir, as a matter of fact I am."

You see, no one ever told David he wasn't supposed to join ROTC.

My son is my life, my inspiration and my soul. There is nothing he can not do or accomplish with the right ambition and attitude.

Bonnie Pugh

Dr. Mark Stieg, (Scottsdale, AZ) had spent many months and countless hours studying for the AAO board exams. Most doctors can tell you the amount of preparatory work involved in becoming certified, and the testing itself are tantamount to an ordeal.

The day finally came for Mark to leave for St. Louis, home of the American Association of Orthodontists, and put those seemingly infinite hours of prep work "to the test". The day he left for the airport was a particularly hectic one with last minute emergency patients, missing keys, heavy traffic and other unforeseen events that added to the anxiety and stress level he felt.

At last he arrived at the airport and with time to spare! As he approached the gate, he noticed off in the distance a large banner held by some women and lifted in the middle by balloons. Wondering what celebrity or team was on his flight, he slowly focused on the sign and to his amazement read, "CONGRATULATIONS DR. STIEG!"

His staff cheered as he neared them. Though choked up he managed to say to Kim, his TC and office manager, "But I haven't taken the test yet."

She replied, "Oh that's just a formality. You're already a winner."

Mark took the banner with him and hung it up in his hotel room in St. Louis as a reminder that pass or fail, he had already won and that he had one of the greatest staffs in the world who believed in him.

Yes, Mark did pass the boards. Most would say that his staff had little to do with it. But Mark knows otherwise.

As Dr. Gib Snow (Palmdale, CA) drove into his office parking lot at 7:00 the morning of his 55th birthday, he was both annoyed and surprised that there were no cars there. Where were his 28 staff members? Why weren't they there for their daily morning huddle?

He walked into the darkened outer office and through the operatory. As soon as he flicked on the lights, all 28 women shrieked "SURPRISE!"; and indeed he was! Unbeknownst to Gib, his staff had arrived at the office at 5:30 am to hang decorations, toss confetti, and arrange hundreds of helium balloons, giving the office a party atmosphere. They were all dressed in formal evening attire, and had spirited Gib's tuxedo from his home for him to change into after he had arrived.

The staff had purchased over 100 birthday cards, and they had each patient sign one and give it to Gib when he was at their chair. The staff had also notified Gib's friends and colleagues around the country of the surprise party, so all day long there were a stream of singing telegrams, congratulatory phone calls, and even a "live on-air interview" with a local radio station. Every hour someone sounded a horn and the entire staff ran to where Gib was and sang another silly birthday song to him. At the end of the day, the staff ambushed him with silly string.

A man who buys any new and fun looking gadget as soon as it's available is a challenge for anyone wanting to buy a birthday present for him. But the collective creative genius of 28 women pales even insurmountable tasks! Everyone agreed the best part of the day was when Gib came through the door for the first time in staff's memory, he was left speechless! Not once in the months of preparation did Gib get the slightest clue of what the staff were planning, (Who says 28 women can't keep a secret!). And never will he be able to forget his "speed limit" birthday and the staff who made a major deposit in his memory bank that day.

A young mother brought her 5 year old daughter in because she was having pain during eating. The dentist's diagnosis was she would need six crowns. Her teeth were so decayed they were sensitive to air and any type of touch. The treatment coordinator went over the treatment plan with the mother. When she told the mother the price of the treatment, she immediately looked down. Suddenly her tattered clothes and disheveled hair became magnified. She and the child were actually quite pitiful looking. She said she was an unemployed single mother with no insurance and she asked if the dentist could fix the worst tooth that day and hold a check as she could not afford even the one crown. The remaining five decayed teeth would have to wait.

There is no easy balance between a business mind and the human heart; and it is truly financially irresponsible for any dentist to treat every patient in this situation at no charge. But what about the innocent 5 year old in pain?

The TC felt great conflict with her own emotions, seesawing between harsh judgments of the mother, compassion for the girl and her mother, amazement that this should be so in such a prosperous nation, etc.

Suddenly she remembered that the office needed a cleaning service in the evening. She decided to ask the doctor if he would consider one week of office cleaning as barter for one crown. And if so, could the mother work off all the crowns that way? She questioned herself if maybe this was crossing the line between employee and employer and figured it probably was. But the bigger issue was how she would feel about herself and about the child if she did not at least ask the dentist. Besides, the worst that could happen was that he would say no. Not only did he think it a good idea, but also a contract was signed and dental work began that day.

The mother came to clean every day, on time, and did a wonderful job. When she had worked off her debt for the dental work, the dentist offered her a permanent position which she accepted. In addition she got work from other offices nearby and is now successfully self-employed!

Story sent in by the TC, Kristen Matthews: "It is difficult to step into someone else's shoes, especially when mine are more comfortable. But sometimes humanity is more important than humility and I am glad to take a walk down another road every now and then if it means I might be able to get those shoes to walk a better path."

Dr. Art Najera's staff has always done something special to celebrate their doctor's birthday. One year the doctor's birthday happened to fall on a Wednesday, his day to go to his Kiwanis meeting at lunch.

Since Dr. Najera is kind of a cowboy at heart, an excellent horseman, and a lover of western art and history, it was decided that all the staff would dress up as "cowgirls" with bandanas tied around their faces, and "break in" on his Kiwanis meeting! After the doctor left for the meeting, the staff quickly changed into their cowboy attire and headed over to Harry's Plaza Cafe. With a large cake in tow, and with the support of the restaurant staff who were in on the surprise, the staff headed through the restaurant to the private room in the back where the Kiwanis meeting was being held.

With their bandana masks on, the staff burst through the double doors to the room and shouted, "Where's that cowboy Art Najera? We're looking for that cowboy!" Dead silence and unexpected scared expressions ensued for a few moments until the people realized that this was not for real. It even took Dr. Najera a few moments to recognize his own staff! The big birthday cake they wheeled in helped to give away their secret identities.

Dr. Najera then got up and announced that this was in fact his staff and it was his birthday. He then introduced them to the group and bragged that he had "the best staff anyone could ever have!" The following week the event was mentioned in the "Kiwanis-Gram", the weekly newsletter, and named the women ..."the Na-Harem staff"!