A star is born! Wow, another grandchild takes the stage. There seems no end to the talents they have. I am the proudest grandma ever!

Guardian Angels come in all shapes and sizes. they have a knack of showing up just when you need them. Sometimes they have extraordinary eyesight and a very generous spirit. such was the case this weekend.


David Logan accidentally left his wallet on the bumper of his car when he was loading his bike back onto the bike rack. Unfortunately, he didn't realize it was there and drove down the road. By the time he realized that it was lost, it was gone. After hours of retracing steps and searching, reporting the loss to the police, fear set in that it was gone forever and it would be necessary to notify credit card companies, the bank, get a new driver's license and handle all the requirements necessary when a wallet is lost.


A missed call on the home phone...could it be about the wallet? Had someone found it? David called the number and left a message. Within the hour Dr. Pit Gills called to say they found it along US 19 and would return it. Hurray!


The next day, Sunday, David met Dr. Gills at Busch Gardens where he was spending the day with his family. David tried to give a $100.00 reward for his wallet's return but it wasn't accepted. This good samaritan was doing what was right and no reward was necessary. He is a guardian angel, one with a most generous heart.

Pit Gills, MD Serving you at our Tarpon Springs office

Pit Gills, MD, is a board certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and refractive surgery.

A native Floridian, he completed his undergraduate studies in Chemistry/Pre-Med at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, and then received his Medical Degree from Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina in 1997. Both his medicine internship and residency in ophthalmology were completed at the University of South Florida, Tampa. Dr. Gills completed his cornea fellowship at St. Luke's.

Dr. Gills has been honored to author two published medical papers. The first paper, Microtubule Disruption Leads to Cellular Contraction in Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells, was published in 1998, and the second, Piggyback Intraocular Lens Implantation, in 2000. Dr. Gills has co-authored a chapter, Treating Keratoconus with Astigmatic Keratotomy and Intraocular Lenses, in A Complete Surgical Guide for Correcting Astigmatism: An Ophthalmic Manifesto. He has participated as a guest lecturer many times, including a presentation at the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, where he discussed CLEAR™ (Clear Lens Extraction And Replacement) surgery.

An avid athlete, Dr. Gills has completed numerous marathons and triathlons, including the Hawaii Ironman in 1996, 2003, 2005, France Ironman 2005 and Switzerland Ironman 2006. He has participated in medical missions to the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Dr. Gills and his wife Joy are the proud parents of son, Pitzer and daughter, Parker. They reside in Clearwater.

Professional Affiliations:
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
American Medical Association
Florida Medical Association
Pasco Medical Society

Awards:

Best Paper of Session, Risk Factors for Retina Detachment After Clear Lens Replacement, ASCRS ( Washington, DC), April 16-20, 2005
American Diabetes Association 2005 Father of the Year Award
Mount Zion's 2005 Humanitarian Award

Thanks to the internet details were found about this kind hearted man. Not only does he look like a super hero, it is clear he lives his life like one. Obviously, coming to David's aid is just one of many phenomenal things he has accomplished. In addition, he is setting a fantastic example for his children.

It has been 5 years since my son Jim set me up so I could blog. It has been a fantastic way to cronicle my thoughts, and ramblings. I love that I was part of the first wave of bloggers and was posting before it became commonplace.

In honor of this momentous occassion I thought it would be interesting to post headlines from 2002. Instead of the "normal" headlines I found this site...
http://www.astrostar.com/2002_Headlines.htm

Here are some actual headlines from 2002. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Crack Found on Governor's Daughter
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash
Expert Says Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?
Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over Teacher
Strikes Idle Kids
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
War Dims Hope for Peace
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect
Homicide Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery;Hundreds Dead
Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

In a few days my granddaughter, Hope, will graduate from the sixth grade. Both of us had male teachers for sixth grade. She liked hers. I had a crush on mine.

Mr. Milani was fantastic, at least I thought so when I was eleven and twelve years old. I'm kind of glad I don't know where he is today or what he looks like. This way he can forever remain in my memory just as he was then.

I wish I could be in Tennessee for Hope's graduation. I am very proud of all she has accomplished so far in her life and am excited in anticipation for the wonders and limitless possibilities that lay in front of her.

Hope epitomizes the term, "Beauty and Brains." This isn't just a grandma bragging; one look at her will prove the beauty part. One conversation will verify she has brains. She's brilliant.

I love that my sons and their wives afford my grandchildren every opportunity to participate and try a variety of things.

Hope is multi talented as is her brother, Noah. The family is always busy with one activity or another. From cotillion to sports (you name it, she plays it). Thanks to her parents and her own quest to experience a wide variety of situations, people and places Hope is evolving from a girl into a spectacular young woman.

Please join me in congratulating her on graduation and wishing her fun and continued success as she moves forward to conquer the next level of academics.

Next fall when you see geese heading South for the winter, flying in a V formation I hope you remember this. I recently learned this amazing fact and wanted to share.

By flying in a V formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if the bird flew on its own. As each bird flaps its wigs, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. The geese honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

When a goose gets sick, or is wounded and falls out of formation, 2 other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly, or until it dies; only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.

It would be wonderful if we had the caring sense of a goose. If we would follow their example we would work together and stand by each other in times of need. I hope you find yourself "goosed" today.

I wish I could fly to Tennessee tomorrow and see my grandson, Noah, as he plays the piano in his school's talent show. I know he will be terrific.

I am blessed, super blessed to have 4 remarkable grandchildren. In the next few days I will share some special thoughts about each of them here on my blog.

Noah has so very many assorted talents. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be anything he sets his mind to be. Most parents and grandparents tell their grandchildren that they can do anything they choose when they grow up. It isn't just words, in this case it is absolute fact. He is smart and creative like Einstein. He read to me while we were together at my nephew's graduation and it wasn't only an example of how smart he is and that he is a good reader but also that he is very caring. It meant alot to me that he read it. He didn't really want to do it but did it anyway. Lucky me. Yeah Noah!
I think Noah has the spirit of a warrior. He isn't combative, I don't mean it like that. He stands strong for what he believes in and that I admire. Like a Jedi or Knight or Super Hero.

Noah seems to have a personality like the MacGyver character on television, creative and ready to tackle anything. He has been an actor in a play, had recitals in music and dance and when it comes to sports he is not only an avid spectator but also a talented player.

Although I can't be at his school tomorrow and give him a standing ovation I will be thinking of Noah and sending applause across the miles that is loud enough to challenge the sound of thunder.

It seems like each of us has at least a small tendency towards procrastination: we wait for reasurrance, after I finish the next project, when I retire, after the children are out of school, as soon as I get my degree, etc., etc.

Sometimes we unintentionally trap ourselves in our own version of the movie "Groundhog's Day." Each day becomes similiar to the day before. We need to create a plan of action and dare to set goals. That doesn't mean they need to be set in stone, hardly. Constant, unexpected changes in our lives are a given. As John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens when you are making other plans."

I set goals for myself. I formulate a direction and timetable BUT I allow myself to be easily distracted. If given the opportunity to explore, enjoy an adventure, or share time with someone that becomes my priority. My biggest obstacle between my dreams and goals is me. With renewed dedication I will get out of my own way.

May your goals and dreams become realities. I wish you a clear plan of action that will help you avoid the repetition of "Groundhog's Day."

This is a day to be reminded of the blessings of a "nice day." The people in Kansas and Missouri are recovering from the devastation of tornadoes and fighting back rising waters and floods. High winds and hurricane like conditions are causing problems off the coast of North Carolina. Here in Florida and in Georgia fires are burning.

This morning St. Petersburg is covered in a cloud of smoke so heavy that visibility is limited and breathing is difficult. I can't imagine what it must be like to be close to the fires. We are several hundred miles from the closest burning and still the smoke here is fog-like.

The weather and fires today are a reminder that many people are still recovering and trying to rebuild their lives after fires, mudslides, tornadoes, hurricanes and flooding destroyed their homes even years ago. Each day we receive a "nice day" we are blessed. It is easy to take them for granted.

I am wishing you a "nice day." Speaking of "nice" I had the pleasure to have a spectacular weekend with family this past weekend preceded by an awesome fun visit with my niece last week. I will write about it soon. Right now I have to catch up on some "have tos" and "need to take care ofs" that I neglected while enjoying the feeling of bliss consciousness enjoying time with my family.