Our son Dan turned 38 today. Except for two significant differences, we shared similar college athletic experiences; those differences being that he was a striker and sweeper for Cortland's soccer team. (Interestingly, while at Cortland he crossed paths with fellow Wagner housemate Ron LaDuke's daughter Katie.)

Anyway, a couple of years ago I encouraged Dan to reach out to old teammates, friends, and colleagues. He followed my advice and was very happy that he did.

On that theme, here's an excerpt from an article I came across recently.

...........a palliative care nurse, working exclusively with people who were 3 to 12 months from death....made a habit of asking them about their greatest regrets, and she heard the same five regrets time and time again.
Here is one...

They wish they had stayed in touch with their friends. When you get caught up in your weekly routine, it’s easy to lose sight of how important people are to you, especially those you have to make time for. Relationships with old friends are among the first things to fall off the table when we’re busy. This is unfortunate because spending time with friends is a major stress buster. Close friends bring you energy, fresh perspectives, and a sense of belonging, in a way that no one else can.

Happy to be a Gray Eagle!

Frank Connell, #75

Rochester, NY