The Tick

The Greatest Communicator

Over a year ago I read a book about Ronald Reagan's ability to communicate. I've been thinking about a the story the author wrote about in the first couple of pages and now may read the book all over again.  The author started the book with this:

"On February 23, 1984, I walked into the Oval Office and found the president standing beside his desk holding what appeared to be a photograph.

"Mr. President, what's that you've got there?" I asked.

"Well, Dick, I just got of the phone with this young man."

As the president turned the photograph around for me to view, I winced at the haunting image staring me in the face. It was the picture of a twelve-year-old boy who had been severely burned while attempting to rescue his two younger brothers when their family's trailer caught fire. The first brother he found easily, and simply passed through the window. Saving the second brother, however, proved much more difficult. While frantically searching through the flaming trailer, the young man sustained severe burns before carrying his sibling to safety. As a result, the president explained, the boy's face and body had been seriously scarred and disfigured.

"I called this little fella to see how he was doing and to tell him how proud I was of his heroism, Reagan said.

Still shaken by the image, I struggled to get something out.

"I'm sure he appreciated your call, Mr. President."

As he looked back down at the little boy's visage, a smile spread slowly across the president's face. "Dick, at the end of our conversation the youngster said, 'President Reagan, I sure wish I would have had my tape recorder on so I could remember our call together.' So I said, 'Do you have it there?' He said he did. So I told him, 'Well, son, turn it on and let's chat some more.'"

The Greatest Communicator by Dick Wirthlin

A Fun Weekend

Camping!

And then straight to the BYU vs UCLA game!

130 Years of History in 2 Hours

After we attended Aunt Marie's funeral on August 23, 2008 in Vernon, Arizona... Joyce, Guy and John Nicoll sat down with others in the family to talk about the history of the ranch and our family history.  We really wish Aunt Phyllis could have been there and hope we can connect with her soon to do something similar.  

All things considered, it was a great weekend and I enjoyed the time the family was able to spend together.  

I hope everyone in the Naegle Family will take the time to watch this.  If it spurs any memories for you, please find a way to write it down and share it with the family.  Our family has a heritage worth preserving and the only way the next generation will know about it... is if we give it to them.

It's easier to view this on YouTube's site: 

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E5525675D0630625

Second Grade

Consistent with all the motherly weBLOGs out there crying about their kids growing up and getting older... this dad's also emotional about his son getting older.  I don't remember much about my year in the 1st grade, except for drinking straight from a mustard bottle with my best friend Justin Hunt in the back of class.  He drank more than me but I enjoyed it just as much.  Everything else is pretty much a blur.  

2nd grade however is a different story.  I remember getting out of school early to go skiing with my older brothers.  My oldest brother Don, whose 17 years my senior, spent the entire day putting me around.  (Thanks big brother).  I remember the snow patrol having to go pick up my other brother Nick after he hurt his leg hot dogging it trying to do a flip (or something like that).  

Although it wasn't released that year, I remember always listening to Van Halen's song Jump!  Does anyone else remember when music used to be fun?

I definitely remember who the cute girls were and to my embarrassment, letting them know I thought so.  I still cringe at that.

I remember on January 28, 1986, watching the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster... live as it happened.  I remember seeing my teacher, Ms. Hydrick, panic because she didn't know whether to run and turn it off, cry or just pass out.  She almost immediately ran to the classroom next door to see if the same thing happened on their TV too.  I remember watching President Reagan on TV that night.

2nd grade for me was the year I realized the dumb stuff I did was dumb, and the good stuff was good.

If my boy's experience is any thing like mine was,  to him I simply must say and have told him, "Boy, please just do a little more of the good and a little less of the dumb."  He's only going into to the 2nd grade... I know, but for some reason I feel like he's got a little more on the line than I did.

I love you bud!

Aunt Marie

Marie Nicoll Hunter

August 28, 1922 ~ August 17, 2008

Aunt Phyllis & Aunt Marie

Aunt Marie & Uncle JT

This isn't my first memory of Aunt Marie but one that I really appreciate. Back in 2005 when my Uncle Kenneth passed, we were all up at the ranch for the reunion. That Fast Sunday Aunt Marie bore her testimony in the Vernon branch and said once she heard that Kenneth had passed, her thoughts and concerns turned to my dad (John). She said that she wanted to make sure that he was okay. This was special to me because I know that many of my dad's older siblings had much of the responsibility to raise and care for him when he was young. Even after all these years, Aunt Marie continued to feel the need to "care" for my dad.  

Tour Guide

I picked my parents up from the airport today.  They just returned from a very nice trip to England.  On the drive back to their house they were telling me about all the stories their tour guide had shared with them as they drove from place to place.  They said his English accent was fun to listen to as well.  When they drove past an old police station, this guide told them of an interesting robbery that happened there.  Some thief had came in and stole all of their toilets.  When someone asked the detective if they had any leads, he said, "Unfortunately NO!  We have nothing to go on."