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The Finish Line

Blog — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:44:14 GMT

The sun glowed through a light haze and the lip of the Pacific Ocean said, "What are you waiting for?" I was 42 yards from what I had spent the last eight months dreaming of -- a finish line. Some would say the 3.6 million dollars Pat turned down was a finish line. My line seemed microscopic compared to the one he stopped just short of. I looked a little closer at the unending mirror of steel blue water and saw only an unshaven reflection of myself. I turned around and left, looking for the closest feed lot, not having walked across the country, for Pat Tillman.
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Haydee Rodriguez

Blog — Thu, 14 May 2009 04:34:51 GMT

Haydee Rodriguez, a Spanish literature teacher from Central Union High School, drove 104 miles round trip to bring me a quesadilla, steak burrito and a vanilla chai latte. She and her family housed me the last four nights. Haydee speaks three languages fluently and has a range of knowledge that rivals Google. She could live anywhere and do anything. I asked her why she came back to her home town of El Centro, CA to teach high school (where she won teacher of the year last year). She said, "I searched for power most of my life in order to mask my inadequacies; it's in a classroom, the place where I have the honor and privilege of accessing young minds that I have found real power...the kind that makes my soul grow bright and beautiful. Nobody can take this power away from me.
I teach and learn, I love and am loved. My life is complete. I teach in El Centro because I am from here and I chose to return due to an absence of Latina role models, female role models period. I want to be a living message of what is possible, I hope to embody wonder, awe and service and to show my students that someone from Imperial Valley can study at Brown, Stanford and Universidad de Salamanca in Spain, travel the world and enjoy a quesadilla at Camacho's as much as dinner at El Bulli in Barcelona. It's not where you are, its what you make of it."
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Salvation Mountain

Blog — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:04:51 GMT

77 year old Leonard Knight has been building a four storey adobe and hay bale monument to his mantra, "God is Love" for over 30 years. Using the color scheme of a gum ball machine and the blue prints for a mound of mashed potatoes Leonard inspires dozens of visitors a day. Passages from the King James Bible, along with his favorite untoiling or spinning symbol, a flower, ornament the mountain. The flowers are made with globs of adobe and a pressing fist. With a New England accent, Leonard said, "I can make 300 flowers a day." He wakes up at 4 am each morning and lugs gallons of paint and buckets of adobe up ladders and through a maze of caves. Battling the blanching desert sun he tirelessly repaints. Leonard sleeps in his mountain matching box truck when its cold; and on a tattered, clothes strewn couch beside the truck when its warm. He wears a light blue mechanics jump suit and a Quaker brimmed straw hat; both are flecked in the colors of the mountain. I introduced myself and asked about his project. He said, "God speaks to me through my rib. He told me where to find the material to make this (Salvation Mountain). I have been here for 30 years and its starting to receive a lot of attention. It's in the Internet." It is. Sean Penn found Salvation Mountain there and used it for a scene in "Into the Wild." Leonard keeps it simple. Built like an offensive lineman and wearing a T-shirt as a turban, his protege Chey, a disgruntled former music producer from Joshua Tree, CA said, " People come out here with their huge Bibles wanting to explain the more intricate details of Gods will to Leonard. Leonard responds to them with, 'You are all very smart and important people.'" Painted red in a rolled dough font, I look up and see the giant words, "God Is Love" on the cap of the mountain. Leonard has struggled to keep his land. According to Chey, the town of Slab City has cited him for environmental violations associated with the lead paint he used a few decades back; and tried to have the hill demolished. Pro love lawyers intervened and were able to legally designate the mountain a national folk art landmark. Leonards dream will never be touched by town or state. Salvationmountain.us
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El Centro

Blog — Sun, 10 May 2009 09:35:03 GMT

The sun was buried deep in the horizon and a faint orange glow was all that remained of the day. I was slicing through fragrent alfalfa fields on abandonded railroad tracks when Phillipe and Rachel pulled alongside of me in a white pick up. I lifted my head from the email I was reading on my BlackBerry to hear Phillipe say, "We saw you in the paper and wanted to bring you water." I left the tracks and walked down a small hill to meet them. We talked briefly about the walk and their professions. Phillip is an electrician and Rachel a social worker. I thanked them, said good bye and ran up to the point where I left the tracks. Calmly coiled like 3 ft. of uncooked Italian sausage in the center of the tracks was a rattle snake. Reading the email in the near darkness I would have stepped on and been bitten by the snake if it were not for Rachel and Phillipe.I found relief from the 107 degree temperatures the last two days with numerous speaking engagements. Yesterday I met five groups of high school students at Central Union High and attended a Red Cross fundraiser. I was late to the Red Cross event. A weak dryer held me and my only pair of pants hostage. I was eventually released and Haydee Rodriguez a teacher at Central Union drove me to El Centro's natural history museum. Stuffed bobcats, elk and big horn sheep watched as 300 RC volunteers and donors listened as Sylvia the MC concluded her speech with, "He must still be walking." I crept behind her, tapped her shoulder and said, "Who's walking in this heat?" The crowd laughed, I apologized for being late, spoke briefly about my walk and experience as a Red Cross volunteer in Chicago. The mayor then presented me with the key to El Centro. Thank you to Joe, Jason and Haydee for including me in the event. Today I spoke at a juvenile detention center. A group of 30 boys and 10 girls ages 11 - 17, uniformly dressed in navy blue sweat suits and black velcro shoes entered a sterile cafeteria under the stern instructions of blank faced guards to keep their arms crossed. They were greeted by me and the smell of food preservatives. The kids sat on teeter-totter chairs projecting from steel picnic tables, bolted to a pale linoleum floor. Socially challenged teenagers are my favorite audience. I spoke and concluded with, "nobody remembers that Pat spent time in a juvenile detention facility. As a matter of fact he once said, 'I learned more from that one negative experience than all of the positive experiences in my life combined.' The kids were extremely well behaved and asked thoughtful questions like, "How has this walked changed you?" "Have you had any trouble with bad people?" "Can we leave with you?" and, "Where do you go to the bathroom?" Haydee Rodriguez has been my tour guide in El Centro the last few days. Haydee was a high school drop out who went on to graduate from Stanford with a masters in History and Spanish. She is the most popular teacher at Central Union. She has been to every country in Europe except Switzerland and is extremely smart and well read. I had a lot of fun talking with Haydee the last few days.
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Four Eyes and El Centro Rotary

Blog — Fri, 08 May 2009 05:00:49 GMT

I cleaned up camp, clipped the belt buckle on my pack, and started towards the road this morning. I soon noticed four eyes crouched behind a bush. I moved closer, and like jack rabbits two dark complexioned teenage boys in jeans and black t-shirts ran north over a nearby sand dune. For a native from Chicago, the moment was as exciting as a Fall black bear sighting in the Appalachians. I pictured the boys sitting anxiously behind the next bush feeling certain our encounter meant their demise. I guess I understand the economic problem of illegal immigration. However, then and there I wanted autographs and a picture. It seemed the two had run across a moderately secure international border, under a desert full moon, without backpacks. I was impressed. I nearly doubled back to share water and exchange notes. I saw a USBP agent less than a mile away. I waived and said only, "Good morning." Walkers don't expose other walkers' hiding spots.
I spoke at the El Centro Rotary club, thanks to Haydee, Bobby and Jeff. Jennifer, a Rotarian, stood up after I was finished and said, "I am donating $20 to the Pat Tillman Foundation. Who else would like to donate?". Jennifer walked around the room and gathered $500. Thank you Jennifer and the El Centro Rotary club!
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The Border, Rick, Jerry, Sally, Jody and Mike

Blog — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:21:20 GMT

I walked on a pressed sand road a few yards south of interstate 8 and 100 yards from the 15 foot tall fence that divides Mexico and the U.S. today. Between the sand road and I-8 lie 7'x15' industrial strength white bike racks, 2'x2' lego shaped concrete blocks and ocean liner chains. The second wall tries to keep drug runners and coyotes who drive through the first wall from entering I-8. I noticed some small gaps between the bike racks and concrete blocks. After the walk I am going to drive down old office furniture, mattresses, refrigerators and the like to fill in the holes. I recommend every American do the same thing. Rick Telander from the Chicago Sun Times flew out to walk and camp with me yesterday. It was an honor and a welcome distraction from the 102 degree temps. to visit with Rick. He was a cornerback for Northwestern and has written eight books (ricktelander.com). We met at the center of the world and walked and talked all day; stopping at the trailer outposts for the All American Canal project and Canadian Gas company. We met dozens of employees and savored the air conditioning and cold water at each stop. The employees were probably of different backgrounds, perhaps some even worked in cheap hotels and budget accommodation. We continued on and by mid afternoon had enough of the heat and stopped at Buttercup, the country's largest recreational sand dune park. We met Jerry Vines, the 78 year old Korean War Veteran and park host. Jerry helps fellow RV'ers and dune buggy enthusiasts when they run into trouble. As an unofficial under cover Border Patrol Agent he watches over the dunes at night. . Thanks to Jerry's vigilance many unsuspecting drug runners and illegal immigrants have been round. Jody, Sally and Tia brought dinner and a 6 pack of Guinness for Rick and I. We ate, laughed and then said good by to the extremely thoughtful ladies. Under a full moon Rick and I marched over to the base of the dunes, which were the back drop for the opening scene of Return of the Jedi, to camp and talk over a fire. If the walls of the old Chicago Stadium, the Coliseum in L.A., the Boston Garden, Yankee Stadium and every other major sporting facility in this country could talk they would be less interesting than Rick. From Steve Kerrs first encounter with John Stockton, to the motivations behind Rocky Blyers football career, Rick had first hand knowledge of it all. We talked politics, religion, documentaries and books well into the night. It was unforgettable 24 hours. Thank you to Jody, Mike and Sally who drove a steak dinner, candles, a small picnic table and chairs out to me tonight. Together we ate and looked like a scene from "Out of Africa" in the sand a few yards off the shoulder near I-8. Thank you Rick, Jody, Sally and Mike.
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The Center of the World

Blog — Tue, 05 May 2009 04:33:55 GMT

I walked to Official Center of the World; which is a dot on a bronze plaque within a pyramid in Felicity, CA. The center of the world, or universe, can be anywhere. However in this case it was set by law, based upon a childrens book. "COE the Good Dragon at the Center of the World." The pyramid was suggested by the author's wife as he wrote the book. "It's in the desert, why not a pyramid?" He took his wife seriously. The author built the pyramid, named the town for his wife, and ran for Mayor (Felicity means happiness). Landmarks are scattered throughout the small town (pop. 2 people), The gnomon of the 15 ft. Sundial at Felicity is a three-dimensional bronze of Michelangelo's Arm of God painted on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. The arm points to theÂ Church on the Hill at Felicity built in 2006.Â The Hill of Prayer,Â site of the Church, was built in January 2002 byÂ moving 150,000 tons of earth. The church is the highest point in the town. There is a sculpture at the entrance which is the 25 ft. high section number 12 of the original stairway of the Eiffel Tower. In 1983, the Government of France removed approximately 500 ft. of the original stairway. It serves no practical purpose. There is also a history of humanity etched in long slabs of granite. Felicity is a town of uninhibited imagination that says we are a rock circling a star in the middle of an infinite universe. Live where you want; build what you want; believe what you want; but do it all with respect for your fellow man and surroundings.
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Jody, Tia, Pat, Sally, Charlie, Marlon and Tom

Blog — Mon, 04 May 2009 05:44:46 GMT

Jody, Tia, Sally and I walked the last miles out of Arizona and into California together. April 21st they lost their father, husband and grandfather to cancer. Tom Doyle was a strong Irish Catholic from Chicago who went to high school with Dick Butkis at C.V.S.. His favorite things were Notre Dame, Chicago Bears football, John Wayne and military history. His prayer card was a book mark because he read so much. He spent over 30 years working for the railroad as a conductor. Immediately before we crossed the Colorodo river we walked underneath the tracks Tom rode on and heard the train whistles toot. Tom was with us this evening as well. Sally, Jody, Charlie, Tia, Pat, Mike, Bill and Marlon have been a tremendous support the last few days in Yuma. Crossing the California line with the Huebner/Doyle family could not have been a better reminder why I am out here. The last seven months of walking have not been about an individual physical accomplishment. They have been about the support I have received and the life long friendships I have made along the way. They have been about Sally, Jody, Pat, Charlie, Marlon, Tia, Mike and the 1,000's of others who have helped keep Pat's epic example in people's minds through kindness and generosity.
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Juvenile Detention Summit in Yuma

Blog — Sun, 03 May 2009 04:51:00 GMT

I spoke at the juvenile detention summit at Phoenix college, here in Yuma. It is a once a year but mandatory conference for kids ages 14-17 who are on intensive probation for various criminal deeds. Carolyn Pendergast's friend Charlie Huebner arranged for me to speak. Charlie is one of eight U.S. Olympic committee chiefs. He is in charge of the entire paralympic division. He could not hold a more distinguished and important place in the Olympic community. In spite of his position Charlie is incredibly humble and thoughtful. He outfitted me with fresh U.S. paralympic apparel and paid for three nights at the Homewood Suites while I make my way through Yuma. Thank you Charlie! After my talk Marlon Shirley took the stage. Marlon and Charlie work closely together. Marlon was abandoned by his mother at age three. He managed to survive by living on the streets of Las Vegas. He eventually found his way into foster care but at the age of five lost his left foot in a lawn mower accident. Several years later a high school football injury resulted in the further amputation of the lower section of the same leg. Marlon overcame all of this and more to go on to win two gold medals in the paralympic games. He owns the world record in the 100 Meter dash and has earned the designation as the only amputee to break the 11-second barrier in the 100. Additionally he won the US paralympic spirit award, the silver medal in the high jump in Sydney, two ESPY awards and numerous other awards and sponsorships. He was on all McDonald's packaging last year. The 97 teenagers hung on his every word. He was someone they could all relate to. He vowed never to let his past hardships be an excuse to fail. It was a huge honor to listen to Marlon address these kids. The morning was filled with additional speakers who went through some of the most horrific situations imaginable as young children but managed to fight their way back from near death and abandonment to help others. We heard from girls who overdosed on heroin multiple times by the age of 9 and were victims of rape and severe sexual abuse. The stories were jaw dropping. The fact that these speakers had the courage to return from the absolute darkness to help other kids who may have had similar experiences was incredibly moving and inspirational. I don't think I have ever been in a room with more heroic and courageous people. I walked ten miles with Charlie's brother Pat and I spent the evening at the Yuma Relay for Life with Pat, his mother Sally, his sister Jody and Jody's daughter Tia. I will write about them all tomorrow--an amazing family!

Outside of Yuma

Blog — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:46:10 GMT

The sun lost its temper as I walked through 23 miles of desert outside Yuma, AZ. Like it was an irrational step father I apologized in vain and waited for a motherly and protective cloud to return home from work. I am well wrapped in 2 garbage bags next to a feed lot. The bags are a light and effective alternative to the sleeping bag I sent home a few days ago. Save the noxious smell of plastic I can't tell much of a difference between the two set ups. The cows at the steak factory next door appear to be confined to shoots resembling the ones used in bull riding competitions. They all spend 90 days marbling in the pens. This process is otherwise known as reverse lipo suction. I could use 90 days in a feed lot. Rather than mutant corn and sorghum I would order Gardetto's.
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Larry

Blog — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:02:36 GMT

Larry pulled over in his white Lincoln, white beard, white hair and white cataract and said, "do you need a ride?" I explained why I didn't and thanked him. He drove off and stopped 300 yards down the road. White reverse lights lit the back of the Lincoln and I soon heard him say, "Do you have a radio?" I said, "No. Why?" In a tone of poorly masked excitement he said, "Stay away from large cities and Mexicans. Something called the Swine Flu has infected 1,000's and killed a hundred in Mexico." I said, "Larry thank you for the heads up. You may have just saved my life!" He drove off undoubtedly feeling like a character in a Hollywood melodrama. I had heard of the Swine flu but didn't want to ruin the moment and steal Larry's thunder. I wondered if he thought 100 people in a country of 110 million is a high percentage? I wondered how many roadside crosses I have seen relative to the number of people who died from swine flu. I wondered if this was the excuse Larry waited his entire life for to justify his, "Stay away from Mexicans" comment. Considering there is a cure and I wouldn't want anyone saying stay away from the Irish I am going to disregard Larry's warning and continue on through the major metropolitan area that lies between me and the Pacific. I remember sitting in the movie theatre at age 7 thinking the guys wearing the astronaut suits in E.T. were the most villainous on screen movie characters imaginable. I would rather catch the swine flu than don that suit.
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Things to Avoid in Southern Arizona

Blog — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:28:26 GMT

I saw my first rattle snake and border patrol agents today. Both were surprisingly receptive. The rattler was sunning him/her self and barely flinched when I walked within a few feet. The BP agents hopped the center median in two white and green trucks with jail cells mounted on the beds, lit their red and blue lights and nearly drove through a barbed wire fence when they saw me collecting fire wood a few hundred yards from the road. Smiling, I casually walked up to them using my staff as a surrender symbol and said,"I guess my silhouette fits a certain profile out here, doesn't it." They were quickly disarmed by my complexion. Jennifer a freelance photo journalist was walking with me at the time. Her next project will be on the border documenting the lives of Mexicans who are caught and sent back to Mexico. She wants follow them home to see what happens next. She had a hundred questions for the agents. In addition we talked about the relative safety of the area and they kindly alerted HQ 15 miles down the road of the walk.
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Mauri

Blog — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:03:30 GMT

I am finally in the picture on the front page of my website. Shed snakes skins and the soft crumbling of abandon creature dens detail my path. I am paralleling interstate 8 a half mile from the road. I don't think I am legally allowed to walk on interstate based on passed experience so I am essentially hiding. No problem. The ground is flat and hard except for the snake and jack rabbit holes (which are numerous). Mauri in his infinite kindness drove out to drop off water, hot sauce and soup for me today. I had been reading Peace Pilgrim, the true story of a 70 year old woman who spent 3 decades walking across the country for peace. She carried only the clothes on her back, 50 cents and the faith that her needs would be taken care of. I was thinking to myself, 'if this 70 year old woman can reduce her comforts to such a base level I can reduce mine' (although not a big deal at this point considering I am less then 270 miles to the Pacific and in the desert). As I was wondering how far the next post office was to send home my tent, sleeping bag, coat and extra clothes, Mauri pulled up. I gave him all of my gear, an address and money for postage. I am down to my trusty poncho liner a popped air mattress, an extra shirt and a rain coat. My pack is 80 percent lighter and I feel liberated. Thank you Mauri for driving out today. What a terrific surprise! Thank you again to Carolyn and Colleen. They dropped me off at 8:30 am after a magnificent Italian feast last night, a hearty breakfast this morning, plenty of laughs and great overall weekend.
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The Le Blanc's, The Pendergasts, Darren and Williams Production RMT

Blog — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:23:02 GMT

I walked with the geckos today. They are as numerous as the mice from the rice fields of Arkansas but much more fun to watch. They zip back and forth on two of their four legs without much deliberation; oblivious to my best wishes for their health and welfare. The LeBlanc's drove 100 miles round trip to take me to lunch yesterday. Mauri has been following the walk since Charlotte. His wife Cindy teaches at Sunset Elementary and arranged for me to speak at her school last Friday. They brought their two boys Jake (6) and Brady (5) with them. Brady, Jake and I bonded over our favorite movie, Rocky 4. The Leblanc's collected and handed me a donation for the PTF from Sunset. Thank You Sunset! Mauri has been a fan of Pat since his ASU days. He said,"It seems there is always an asterisk that follows celebrity. He was a great athlete or a talented person in such and such a way but he didn't pay his taxes, or had a problem with alcohol or woman etc... There was never a but with Pat. Everyone spoke so highly of his character. Thats why the Valley had an extremely hard time with his death. It is so rare to see someone work as hard as he did and do it with uncompromising character and integrity. He should not have played college football. He should not have played in the NFL but he relentlessly willed it for himself." The LeBlancs embrace their time with their young kids. They were on the way to the Phoenix science museum after lunch. I could see how much they have invested in the boys by how well behaved yet confident they were. It was a terrific reprieve from the desert heat visiting with the LeBlanc's. Later in the day Connie and Carolyn Pendergast picked me up and brought me into Gila Bend. They surprised me with a room at the Space Age Lodge and a buffet of fine wine and cheese. The nicest hotel in Gila but I'm sure the counter next to the sink had never seen such a fancy spread. Dorritos and Mountain Dew maybe but nothing like this. We watched the draft and focused on the Kansas City Chiefs picks because their brother Clancy is the new Defensive coordinator. It added an exciting twist to the evening. It was unbelievably thoughtful and generous of the Pendergasts to drive out here for me. It has been great fun spending time with them. I received the following email from Darren Kirkwood from Denver today. "Hey Rory, I wanted to let you know that my company, Williams Production RMT, will match my $1,000 donation to the Pat Tillman Foundation. Attached is the letter I am sending the Pat Tillman Foundation with the necessary paper work to be filled out to receive the matching funds. Please add $1,000 to your total dollar count." Thank you Darren and Williams Production RMT!
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Pictures

Blog — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:29:52 GMT

I uploaded 65 fresh pictures this morning.
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The Pendergasts

Blog — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:43:09 GMT

Carolyn introduced me to her parents Clarence and Alice Pendergast yesterday; and they graciously invited me to stay at their home in West Phoenix. The Pendergasts were one of the first families to settle in Arizona. They have run a large cattle and dairy farm for many years. The new Cardinals stadium sits in their back yard. The Bidwells, the family that owns the team, purchased the land for the stadium from Alice and Clarence. Ironically Carolyn's brother Clancy drove a tractor as a kid on the same land he coached the Cardinals to an NFC Championship on as a defensive coordinator. Carolyn and Alice walked me over to see Pat's statue which stands next to the stadium and in front of a reflecting pool. It is perfectly cast from the same photo that is on the front page of my website. Needless to say it is a special place. We left and went to lunch with two of Alice's wonderful friends. We then drove to the fire station where Alice donated a few dozen Teddy Bears to the department. They will be handed out to young children who undergo traumatic experiences like a fire or car accident. Alice is incredibly humble and wanted no fanfare for her generous donation. The Pendergasts took me to their country club for breakfast and dinner. I looked like a hobo who had been living in a boxcar for the last 10 years relative to the to the rest of the members; but that did not bother my hosts in the slightest. Thank you to Carolyn, Connie, Alice, Clarence and Edwin for taking such great care of me.
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Perryville Prison

Blog — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:25:57 GMT

I held a microphone and 350 women in orange jump suits stared at me in the "yard," as the sun set into 85 degree temperatures at the Perryville minimum security prison. This is why I never try to predict the future. If some one would have asked me, "where do you see yourself in two years" two years ago, I am fairly certain I wouldn't have said Perryville Woman's Detention Facility talking about bears, Ramen noodles, pit bulls, the essence of freedom, the kindness of strangers and the impact Pat Tillman's life has had on me and American culture. Unique, introspective and intelligent individuals who have potential for great acts of goodness began to emerge from the sea of orange. I was not amongst the banished members of society, I was with fellow humans trying to figure out our place and purpose in this giant universe. Perryville is a Cool Hand Luke type prison. There are no cells and the woman have privileges higher security prisons don't. Cots outfitted with individual TV sets fill a large common area with concrete floors and easy access showers and libraries. The woman work for the highway department during the day and socialize freely at night. Many of these ladies led positive lives as nurses, teachers, soldiers, mechanics, mothers etc... and slipped up once. The time spent in prison has fueled imaginations and prepped many for an impacting reemergence into main stream society. They want to make up for perceived "lost time" by creating a positive difference in the lives of others when they leave Perryville. We had a lot of laughs. I asked if there was a gift shop where I could purchase an orange jump suit as a memento before I left. One woman asked if I carried any weapons on the walk. I said, "why, are you looking to buy one?" The respect and appreciation these women had for Pat Tillman was as strong as any group I have stood in front of. One woman asked, "What do you think Pat would be doing now?" I said, "All I can say is right now his example is inspiring me along with all of you and millions of others to become better."
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My Ramblings with the Tillman Scholars

Blog — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:49:16 GMT

I had a nice chat with the Tillman scholars today. I spoke for a little longer than I am used to but I think we all hit upon some interesting points. They certainly helped organize my thoughts and asked deep, thought provoking questions. Here is the hodge podge of notes I used:The historically unprecedented leisure time we have in the U.S. is potentially the best and one of the worst things that has happened on this planet.With leisure we can pursue comfort/security or peace. A fine but deadly line separates the two.Comfort/security is a glorified animal response to the environment. When comfort is the driving force of our daily action we insulate ourselves from people and our own creative potential. The pursuit of comfort and security is a largely selfish act that divides us from a sense of the whole. But with leisure we can also choose to calm the waters, find stillness and time for self reflection; which begins the road to peace.Self reflection is a marveling in the everything you do: eating, walking, breathing etc. Self reflection keeps us present and identifies the unique impetus within ourselves to move and grow in a positive and loving way. This leads to a genuine understanding of who we are and a recognition of the potential of personal passion. Through self reflection we come to identify the need for compassion or an understanding that we all spring from the same source. We won't be complete or at peace until everyone rejoins the whole. We manifest our passion through action, exhausting it in a complimenting cause that will benefit from the action and help bring the pieces back to the whole. The energy and understood importance of the greater cause reduces our wants-- they seem small in comparison. The less we are attached to our wants the more we release our selves from the shackles of the self. We then unite with the oneness and find peace and bliss. Walking along side road kill everyday has driven home the fact that I will inevitably be an oil stain. In 5000 years all personal accomplishments will have been long forgotten. All we can do is respect ourselves and find balance in our surroundings by growing in compassion for all life; because we will all return to where we came. Duty is peer pressure or empty and false movement. Never do something out of a sense of duty. All action must spring from love. As Gahndi said, "Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy."Thank you Caryoln for fasciltaing my talk today. Your tireless efforts on my behalf is incredibly appreciated.
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Shawn, Kevin Carolyn, Kyle, Kellen and Darren

Blog — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:56:50 GMT

Shawn and his wife Maggie invited me over for a late lunch yesterday after the Tillman scholar banquet. They have a great house in Scottsdale. We chatted for a while about the non profit Shawn set up in his late wife's name and their two hilarious pugs. Then Shawn and I drove to Kevin's house. We played catch and grilled in the back yard. We discussed A-Z well into the night. It felt like I was back in college. Often times people lose their thirst for knowledge, healthy dialogue and debate upon entering the work force. Not Kevin he is constatantly learning and improving himself. What a treat it was to talk with him and Shawn last night. Kevin dropped me off at 5:45 am and I had 15 miles under my belt in no time. The heat was oppressive (100 degrees). I called it a day at 2:00PM. Carolyn picked me up with a cooler full of much appreciated cold water and Gatorade. I cleaned up and we grabbed Sushi. I had a terrific time. Thank you to everyone who turned out for Kyle and Kellen's fundraiser for the PTF at the Waterhouse in Chicago. I am thrilled there was so much support for the walk. Also, thank you Darren, an engineer from Denver. He approached me at the run with his friend David and said he had been following my progress for a while and handed me a check made out to the PTF for a $1,000.
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Pat's Run

Blog — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:01:56 GMT

I was up at 4. Carolyn met me outside the Hampton Inn at 5:15 and we drove to ASU for PAT's Run. We arrived outside the ASU football stadium, drank a cup of coffee and I was taping a segment for Good Morning America by 5:45. GMA was out covering Pat's Run. I had less than 4 hours of sleep and was not in top form but was happy to reach a national audience with the PTF message. It should air Wed.. After the interview 20,000 runners lined up to hear Jade Johnson sing the National anthem. She is the 16 year old daughter of Eddie Johnson, former forward for the Phoenix Suns. Jade's voice has smooth and sophisticated depth. The crowd was electrified and I will undoubtedly one day say, "I met her before she was famous." The PTF gave me the huge honor of pressing the air horn to start the race. The course ran 4.2 miles and finished in Packard Stadium at the 42 yard line. Images of Pat flashed on the jumbo tron and the ASU football team lined the enterance and cheered every race participant into the stadium. It was incredibly moving. After the run (which I did not participate in) I had breakfast and a wonderful conversation with Mary Tillman. Her compassionate and sincere spirit overflows with kindness and warmth. Yesterday I met Mary, Kevin, Candy, Pat Sr., Jade Lane and his girlfriend. Kevin introduced me to his old baseball coach Tom Murphy who coached at Notre Dame and knew many of my family members. We all chatted in his office which overlooks the baseball stadium. I then addressed the team before they took the field against Stanford. ASU is ranked #4. Their locker room is filled with leather couches and flat screen T.V.'S. It was a humbling honor to talk with such a storied team. I met Johnny Ruttiger from Joliet Catholic. He is the nephew of Rudy and a standout outfielder at ASU. I learned a few behind the scenes stories on the making of the movie "Rudy." Notre Dame initially wanted nothing to do with the film. Rudy's persistence finally convinced the the right people the movie would do good things for the Univerisity. After that Mary Tillman gave me a painting of Pat in his ASU uniform. It is a gift I will treasure for the rest of my life. We then went to the Mission Palms for a few drinks where I met many more friends and supporters of the Pat Tillman Foundation. It has been a wonderful past few days.
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