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.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>







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