Marc Glass, aided by best spouse Lori, offered a well-researched invocation which included some Mark Twain thoughts. Some quite apropos for our club:
“Sing like no one is listening.
Love like you’ve never been hurt.
Dance like nobody’s watching,
and live like its heaven on earth.”
But, significantly, before Marc began his inspiring message he mentioned that he has now been a member of our club for nine years, and during that time, we have lost some wonderful Rotarians. Aware that our most recent lost was our beloved George Agnelli, he asked us to spend a moment of silence thinking of those we have lost.
Taking editorial privilege, I am going to add this, because I want to think of these amazing Rotarians: including, among others, Bob Brown, Jim Sheehan, George and Jay Stewart, Dean Roland, Steve Tamiso, Carmen Piscatello.
“Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the star shine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.”
Forgive me if this makes you sad. For me, it inspires me every time I enter the Ridge and remember how each of these people inspired me to be a better Rotarian, to really believe in Service Above Self.