A fair number of the people that follow this blog and my twitter feed are familiar with the events surrounding my father-in-law’s open heart surgery during the past week.  Your many thoughts and prayers and the work of the skilled and dedicated medical professionals have all combined to give my father-in-law, Bob, a good chance of sharing his great stories and corny jokes and infectious belly laugh with us for years to come. Of course, continued good thoughts, prayers and karma are all appreciated as we move day by day to get Bob healthy and back on his feet.  Thank you.

Bob is a true American classic, a U.S. Marine (retired, Korea) and the loving and heroic father of his daughters and  of his 4 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson. He’s been a part of my life since I met his beautiful daughter 31 years ago in high school.

After 9 hours of open heart surgery on Monday, Bob started coming around in the past day and while he’s not himself yet, even the post surgery affects of anesthetic and the various drugs can’t keep him from rasping out a string of corny jokes and one-liners with surprising frequency.  Like everyone else that this man touches, the medical staff adore Bob and they laugh with him as they help him through the early recovery process.

In fact, everywhere we go, we are discovering how deeply this kind, gentle giant of a Marine touches people.  From his brothers to his good friends and neighbors to the service providers…bankers, doctors, restaurant managers that have learned that Bob is fighting, their concern is genuine and their thoughts immediately on their wishes for his recovery. His calling cards…an ever-present smile, good humor and his kind soul create friends everywhere.

Bob has a lot left to do. There’s the countless number of barbecues (he’ll be eating lean meats, chicken and vegetables); the marriage of his granddaughter next fall and the growth of my sons into young men that Bob must be around to observe and enjoy. And yes, he’s got people to meet and smiles to pass along and of course, those stories need to be heard many, many more times by all involved.  I’ve not yet memorized the history of most of the twentieth century that Bob lived, and I remain his student.

I’ve learned much from Bob, but perhaps the most important reminder that he serves up is for us all to touch everyone that we come in contact with in a positive way. And while much of this blog focuses on dealing with the tough issues of leading and managing, even the tough issues offer opportunities for positive touches. Bob was a Marine Drill Instructor, and I’m fairly certain that there was nothing fun about the experience that he subjected his recruits to during basic training.  However, even those tough touches were intended to help people fight and win and most of all, survive to pass the lessons along.

Bob’s in-process lesson for all of us is crystal clear: touch everyone that you come in contact with in a good way.  And while the touch cannot always be with a joke or even a smile, you need to go out of your way to make that touch.  You might save a life, impact a career or offer a fresh start to someone that needs it.

Keep fighting, Bob.  We’ve got more to learn from you.