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Enron Mail |
This story reminds me of my thoughts about the delivery guy in the elevator
at our last meeting--and our sensitivity to the "common" man. Thanks for packing one of my chutes..... Kirwin Drouet Pennzoil Place--South Tower 711 Louisiana, Suite 1740 Houston, TX 77002 713-223-5800 713-223-5049fax < < < < < Subject: Packing My Parachute < < < < < < Charles Plumb, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was a jet pilot in <Vietnam. < < < After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air < < < missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was <captured < < < and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the < < < ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience. < < < < < < One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man <at < < < another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters <in < < < Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" < < < < < < "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb." < < < < < < "I packed your parachute," the man replied. < < < < < < Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. < < < < < < The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" < < < < < < Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I <wouldn't < < < be here today." < < < < < < Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, <"I < < < kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a <white < < < hat, a bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many <times < < < I might have seen him and not even said "Good morning, How are you?" <or < < < anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a < < < sailor. < < < < < < Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden < < < table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and < < < folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the <fate < < < of someone he didn't even know. < < < < < < Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone < < < has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. <Plumb < < < also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane < < < was shot down over enemy territory--he needed his physical parachute, <his < < < mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual <parachute. < < < He called on all these supports before reaching safety. Sometimes in <the < < < daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. <We < < < may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on < < < something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or <just < < < do something nice for no reason. < < < < < < As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people <who < < < pack your parachute. I am sending you this as my way of thanking you <for < < < your part in packing my parachute!!! < < < < < < And I hope you will send it on to those who have helped pack yours! < < < < < < Have a wonderful day my friend! < < < < < < May God smile upon you. < < < < < < < < < < < < < < _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
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