We Always Have A Choice......

This really isn't a thread where I'm looking for responses, though if you have a similar story that either you, a family member or friend experienced, please, as I've said before, my threads go where the members take them. You'll never go OT in one of my threads, so feel free to post em.

This gentleman, Jim Studebaker, was one of the two most important professional mentors in my life. He was at the pinacle of arguably one of the most lucrative areas in medical/surgical device sales, the orthopedic implant(hip/knee) market segment, and he had the world by the balls. I was hired by his distributorship, and as I looked at the reps there, he made the most, he knew the most, and he was considered the best in the city.

So I decided I attach myself to his hip, much to his chagrine, I'm sure, LMAO.

However, he tolerated me, my never ending questions, and my knocking at his front door to discuss protocols, cases and the nuances of surgery that is not taught in med school, training or clinical studies. Nuances that can only be learned by being in the OR.

Well, it was no surprise that he was a great teacher, as that's exactly what he did professionally prior or getting into implants. And he was a renowned and very successful HS basketball coach, which should come as no surprise as he was a three sport star in HS and played college football.

So he taught and I learned. When I felt that I was ready, I left his distributorship and went out in my own.

It was my hope that I could build my distributorship and then go to Jim and have him join me.

That was not to be.

Fate has a way of throwin curve balls.

But this curve ball didn't keep Jim down.

He had a choice.

He was a rock solid, "traveling" 5hdcp prior to his stroke.

And to boot, he has the sweetest, prettiest woman that a man could hope to find, especially someone as temperamental, cantankerous & driven as Jim, LMAO.

Rudelle has stayed by his side every step of the way.

And they sold their home here in the Burgh and moved down to FLA.

So, I hope that you enjoy the article.

And if any of you live near Jim and want to give him a call for a round, PM me and I'll give you his contact info.

I promise that you'll enjoy the round, see some amazing one handed shots, and hear some stories that will match those in any 19th hole around.

And they're all true, LMAO.

That's the amazing thing :)

Thanks for reading

Fairways & Greens My Friends

Great story

Thanks for sharing R

Where there's a will there's a way. Not only does this give me hope that someday I'll make an ace, but also demonstrates that you don't have to give up the game when your body no longer functions as it did in its prime.

Wishing you well Richard. Thank you for sharing.

A very strong individual Richard. Hole-in-one or not. :-)

Thanks for sharing Richard. Very inspirational to say the least.

Life is about decisions which are followed by consequences. Those who waste time feeling sorry for themselves have no one to blame but themselves when things don't turn out as they had wished. For life is exactly what we make of it, no more and no less.

This moment and today were a gift. Tomorrow is not promised. Yesterday is now the past. Life, like any marathon run, should be spent more looking forward then back. Because if we spend too much time looking back we will more certainly end up tripping. Those who understand these simple concepts are happier in my experience.