By Matt Forck
It was hard for Ann Nelson, even at 30 years old, to hold back her excitement. Her mom and dad, Jenette and Gary, could hear that exhilaration through the phone, even all the way back home in Stanley, N.D. Ann had called to report that she had landed her dream job. She would be a bond trader working in New York. It was a firm called Cantor Fitzgerald located on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center. It was early 2001.
One can only imagine Jenette and Gary's weeks following Sept. 11, 2001. It might have been boxes being delivered from Ann's apartment—furniture along with personal items. Images from TV coming straight to their home ... to their hearts. A suitcase, more boxes. Pictures. Clothes, personal belongings and more boxes.
A laptop computer was found but never turned on. "To tell you the truth," Jenette said, "it was just too painful."
In the summer of 2002 some art students, taught by Jenette in the basement of her home, found the laptop and showed her how to turn it on. "But," said Jenette, "I just left it there." Almost 30 months later, in the fall of 2004, she turned it on again. In the quiet of her home she was able to see the pictures stored on the computer—her daughter.
Over time Jenette would use the computer as part of her day, getting lost in games of solitaire and hearts. One day she opened a file she had seen but never looked at—"Top 100."
The list read: 1. Be healthy/healthful. 2. Be a good friend. 3. Keep secrets. 4. Keep in touch with people I love and that love me. 5. Make a quilt. (Jenette commented that the quilt would have been made, mother and daughter. 6. Nepal. 7. Buy a home in North Dakota. 8. Get a graduate degree. 9. Learn a foreign language. 10. Kilimanjaro. 11. Never be ashamed of who I am.
The list continued: 12. Be a person to be proud of. 13. Always keep improving. 14. Read every day. 15. Be informed. 16. Knit a sweater. 17. Scuba dive in the Barrier Reef. 18. Volunteer for a charity. 19. Learn to cook. (Jenette reported that by her late 20s, Ann had become a decent cook—even remembering those late night phones calls when Ann would ask, "What's drawn butter?"). 20. Learn about art. 21. Get my C.F.A. 22. Grand Canyon. 23. Helicopter-ski with my dad. 24. Spend more time with my family. 25. Celebrate birthdays!!! (Ann loved birthdays, celebrating for a week and not a day).
26. Appreciate money, but don't worship it. 27. Learn how to use a computer. 28. Visit the New York public library. 29. Maine. 30. Learn to write. 31. Walk. 32. Learn about others cultures. 33. Be a good listener. 34. Take time for friends. 35. Kayak. 36. Drink water. 37. Learn about wine. (Ann put these into practice—she was supposed to attend her first wine class the evening of Sept. 11. 38. (Left blank.)
What is your top 100? Remember, the only way to make your list a reality is to work safely today.
About the Author:
Matt Forck, CSP & JLW, is a leading voice in safety. Matt keynotes conferences and consults industry on safety's most urgent topics such as safety awareness, employee engagement and motivation, cultural alignment, accountability and leadership. To learn more about Matt, book a presentation or download free safety tools, go to www.thesafetysoul.org .
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