Teddy and the Three Other Guys – closing thoughts

When visiting Mount Rushmore I made sure to focus on the image of Theodore Roosevelt. Not that I don’t think Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln weren’t great statesmen, clearly they were. If not for them, there would be no United States. But, they simply don’t inspire me like Teddy Roosevelt does.

Teddy charged up San Juan Hill in Cuba as a Rough Rider and worked as a cowboy in the Dakotas. He was a conservationist, a naturalist and was responsible for establishing many new national parks, forest and monuments intended to preserve this nation’s natural resources.

During his political career he was responsible for the “square deal” which promised the average citizen fairness. He broke up the trusts, created regulation for the railroads and established standards for pure food and drugs. He began the construction of the Panama Canal and he won a Noble Prize for his work in ending the Russo – Japanese war.

I could go on, but what’s the point, suffice it to say, I think Teddy was a doer of deeds.

For many years I have had a framed picture of one of Teddy Roosevelt’s quotes hanging above my desk; which often times brings me inspiration.

It is as follows:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, who’s face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

In this, the closing post of this most recent chapter of our journeys, Diane and I would like to thank all of the kind souls who helped us over the past few days. Every word of encouragement and act of kindness had a significant impact on us and helped us work through a difficult challenge.

Louis and Bonnie were absolutely amazing. For those of you that know the Fishers, it will come as no surprise that from the second they heard of our plight, they focused all their love and resources on getting us through the aftermath of this terrible event. We can’t begin to list the many things the Fishers did to lighten our load.

Bonnie and Louis are truly doers of deeds.

Thank all of you for reading and sharing this blog with us, as we journeyed back west.