Message-ID: <8572439.1075841877582.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 03:13:00 -0700 (PDT) From: tracy.ngo@enron.com To: nolan.steiner@avistaenergy.com, kate.symes@enron.com, jeffrey.oh@enron.com, todd.perry@enron.com, elliot.mainzer@enron.com Subject: Fwd: FW: THIS IS SO MEANINGFUL Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: Tracy Ngo X-To: nolan.steiner@avistaenergy.com, Kate Symes, Jeffrey Oh, Todd Perry, Elliot Mainzer X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \kate symes 6-27-02\Notes Folders\Rainy day X-Origin: SYMES-K X-FileName: kate symes 6-27-02.nsf There's always time for jokes... and this message doesn't have a joke... > >>> > > > >>> > > > So, take your time... and read this NICE message 'cause one >way or > >>> > > the > >>> > > > other... > >>> > > > "IT COULD BE YOU, OR IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU!" > >>> > > > > >>> > > > > 1 - Most Important Lesson > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > During my second month of nursing school, our > >>> > > > > > professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious > >>> > > > > > student and had breezed through the questions,until I > >>> > > > > > read the last one: "What is the first name of the > >>> > > > > > woman who cleans the school?" > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the > >>> > > > > > cleaning woman several times. She was tall, > >>> > > > > > dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her > >>> > > > > > name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last > >>> > > > > > question blank. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > Just before class ended, one student asked if the last > >>> > > > > > question would count toward our quiz grade. > >>> > > > > > "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, > >>> > > > > > you will meet many people. All are significant. They > >>> > > > > > deserve your attention and care, even if all you do > >>> > > > > > is smile and say 'hello'." > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > "I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her > >>> > > > > > name was Dorothy. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > 2 - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American > >>> > > > > > woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway > >>> > > > > > trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had > >>> > > > > > broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking > >>> > > > > > wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young > >>> > > > > > white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in > >>> > > > > > those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to > >>> > > > > > safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a > >>> > > > > > taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote > >>> > > > > > down his address and thanked him. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. > >>> > > > > > To his surprise, a giant console color TV was > >>> > > > > > delivered to his home. A special note was attached. > >>> > > > > > It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the > >>> > > > > > highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my > >>> > > > > > clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. > >>> > > > > > Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying > >>> > > > > > husband's bedside just before he passed away. God > >>> > > > > > bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving > >>> > > > > > others." > >>> > > > > > Sincerely, > >>> > > > > > Mrs. Nat King Cole. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > 3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those > >>> > > > > > who serve > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a > >>> > > > > > 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at > >>> > > > > > a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of > >>> > > > > > him. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and > >>> > > > > > studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain > >>> > > > > > dish of ice cream?" he inquired. > >>> > > > > > By now more people were waiting for a table and the > >>> > > > > > waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," > >>> > > > > > she brusquely replied." > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have > >>> > > > > > the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought > >>> > > > > > the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked > >>> > > > > > away. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and > >>> > > > > > left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as > >>> > > > > > she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside > >>> > > > > > the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies - > >>> > > > > > You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had > >>> > > > > > to have enough left to leave her a tip. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > 4 - Fourth Important Lesson - The Obstacle in Our Path > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a > >>> > > > > > roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if > >>> > > > > > anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's > >>> > > > > > wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply > >>> > > > > > walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not > >>> > > > > > keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about > >>> > > > > > getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came > >>> > > > > > along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching > >>> > > > > > the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and > >>> > > > > > tried to move the stone to the side of the road. > >>> > > > > > After much pushing and straining, he finally > >>> > > > > > succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of > >>> > > > > > vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road > >>> > > > > > where the boulder had been. The purse contained many > >>> > > > > > gold coins and a note from the king indicating that > >>> > > > > > the gold was for the person who removed the boulder > >>> > > > > > from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us > >>> > > > > > never understand. > >>> > > > > > Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our > >>> > > > > > condition. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > 5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a > >>> > > > > > hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who > >>> > > > > > was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her > >>> > > > > > only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood > >>> > > > > > transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had > >>> > > > > > miraculously survived the same disease and had > >>> > > > > > developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. > >>> > > > > > The doctor explained the situation to her little > >>> > > > > > brother, and asked the little boy if he would be > >>> > > > > > willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him > >>> > > > > > hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath > >>> > > > > > and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her." > >>> > > > > > As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to > >>> > > > > > his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the > >>> > > > > > color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew > >>> > > > > > pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor > >>> > > > > > and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to > >>> > > > > > die right away?" > >>> > > > > > Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the > >>> > > > > > doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his > >>> > > > > > sister all of his blood in order to save her. You see, > >>> > > > > > after all, understanding and attitude, are everything. > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > Now you have 2 choices.... > >>> > > > > > > >>> > > > > > 1. Delete this email, or 2. Forward it to people you > >>> > > > > > care about. I hope that you will choose No. 2 and > >>> > > > > > remember..... "Work like you don't need the money, > >>> > > > > > love like you've never been hurt and dance like you do > >>> > > > > > when nobody's watching."