- To my oldest son Nathaniel, thank you for giving me the gift, the ability, the capacity and the chance to care for someone else more than myself. While the majority of our life together was on a part-time basis, you never, ever made me feel less of father to you. You’ll never know how generous that makes you.

- To my youngest son Shane, thank you for continually showing me that one of the most beautiful things this world has to offer is the innocence of youth. I’m not sure I can ever repay the vast amount of smiles you have already given me.

- To my daughter Casey, thank you for the gentle nudges that reinforce the fact that to be a good father, I need to be a good man. If you see me as such, then I have won the game.

- To my wife, thank you for still being a mystery to me. After more than 15 years together, I’m still looking forward to the clues and pondering if I have what it takes to piece them together. Keep dropping those crumbs!

- To my mother, thank you for proving that a patiently yielded life can be anything but.

- To my father, thank you for showing me what it means to be a professional. When I find it hard to get up in the morning, I think back to you always being gone to work before we were even up.

- To my 5th grade teacher Mrs. Klinger, thank you for being the first teacher to make me feel like someone special. Her real gift was that everyone else in that classroom probably felt the same way.

- To Ken, thank you for being a living legend - and showing me that living a genuine and authentic life was the right thing to do long before social media pushed the buzz words.

- To Shawn, thank you considering me a liked-minded person. It is an honor to be among those in that circle.

- To people I really barely know, like Jody, thank you for being an inspiration and a hero to many. You have the gift of being a remarkable human being.

- To Andy, thank you for being an inspiration to me as runner. Whenever I’m feeling beat, I think of you in Kona and become instantly stronger.

- To my high school track coach, thank you for being what I consider a friend.

- To Dr. Heyen, thank you for introducing me to Walt Whitman. His words, his philosophies, his spirit have helped to shape many of the things I stand for and believe in.

- To Doug, thank you for the painting. It was one of the most generous things anyone has ever done for me. It’s hard to give away what we create….