im happy because i know people out there love me and i love them all back:) im definately greatful for life and friends :)

Since my surgeries in '01 EVERY DAY I'm optimistic! Every minute of every day I'm happy! I see bright light, clear blue skies and chains of rainbows - from right in front of me to the horizon! At sunrise and sunset I see ALL of Nature's beauty and splendor! The pinks, purples, whites, oranges, reds, grays and blues of the rising and setting sun! In the evenings I see tens of thousands of twinkling stars in constellations and stars which I learned as a young man. I see different colored planets, the beautiful moon, comets, asteroids and "shooting stars" [meteorites]! How and why do I see so much? I'm "forever the optimist". To me, the glass is never half-empty. It's ALWAYS half-full! I feel the same today as I do every other day: I feel TERRIFIC! I feel GREAT! I'm EXCELLENT! And every other positive adjective and adverb! There's no other way for me (or anyone else) to feel or believe. Why do I feel that way AND respond that way? I'm a "survivor". I THINK I answered the part about being depressed my whole life. I'm DEFINITELY high on life! Now for the "Why". I have two true stories to relate: TRUE STORY #1: In 2001 I had two operations - 8 days apart. About 2 months after those operations, I had a meeting with my surgeon. He asked, "Ron, so HOW ARE YOU doing?" In a VERY positive, upbeat and enthusiastic tone, I answered, "I'M doin' GREAT, doc! How are YOU doin'?" He said, "I'm doing fine. Ron, doin' fine. You seem like you can handle what I'm about to tell you: I'm going to tell you something I don't tell to too many of my patients. Young man (I was 54), you had us quite concerned. But you made it through the procedures quite well. He put his hand on my leg above the point where where I had my surgeries. I looked down, noticed it wasn't a threatening gesture and looked in his face and eyes. He said, "Ron, you died twice on the operating table." Then we continued and completed our conversation and meeting. TRUE STORY #2: Earlier this year I was in the market. As I usually do, I struck-up a conversation with the person who is in front of me or behind me. On this particular occasion it was a gentleman - a total stranger. He asked how I was doing. I replied 'terrific', 'great' or some other positive response. I asked him, "How are you doing?" He replied, "I'm doin' great, too!" He paused for a few seconds, then said, "Yep, we're doin' better than ________ (A famous celebrity who passed away the previous day.). We're on THIS SIDE of the dirt!" I adopted and adapted that expression. When someone asks me, "How are you doing?, etc., this is what I reply, "I'm doing great! In fact we're BOTH doing great! We're on THIS SIDE of the dirt." Once in a while I get a laugh or chuckle. More often than not we continue our conversation. It only happened once when someone asked me what I meant. Thanks for asking your Q! I enjoyed answering it! VTY, Ron Berue Yes, that is my real last name! Sources: My wonderful family! My terrific teachers, instructors, professors, mentors and coaches! On a regular, dependable basis, I volunteer at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. "THE University of Hard Knocks" Also known as ("a/k/a") "life's valuable lessons".

I am happy to know my friends and family are happy safe and well and i am grateful for the life i have.

Yes. My grandmother's generocity.