Hey friends and family. It's been a year since the last letter from us - my son Ian and me. You know, prior to my 1st St. Baldrick's event, my hair was pretty long and thick. You couldn't see my scalp - NO WAY!!! And, when getting haircuts my barber would say how lucky I was to have a nice thick head of hair, albeit mostly gray. But, enough about my hair, after tomorrow's shave it won't matter 'til next year. What can be said, though, is lot's of good news for Team Connor and Connor since then. As you may recall, little over a year ago Connor was diagnosed with ALL (lukemia). Connor had been a Scout in my Den for 4 years and I and his fellow Scouts and Scout families came to know, love and appreciate his energy and creativity. Though challenged with a "fight for his life" and having lost his hair, Connor's never-ending optimism, the support of St. Baldricks, family and friends, Connor beat the cancer and endured the several months of treatment and its side-effects. Unfortunately, he also experienced the passing of one of his new-found cancer stricken friends whom he got to know during their treatment sessions. This underscores the importance of supporting the fine work of St. Baldrick's. Besides what's already been mentioned, not much else has changed, except that Connor now has lots of hair!!! Oh, one more thing - Team Connor has raised several thousand $$ for St. Baldrick's!! And, while there's awesome news for Connor and his family...there's still great challenge ahead for many children and families facing cancer diagnosis and treatment. You know, my barber says I'm lucky to have such a nice thick head of hair. Well, yes - I am lucky. My family hasn't had to deal with the grief, fear and challenge of a cancer diagnoses. We have been blessed and it is with this blessing my gray mop will again be forfeited for the children and families helped by St. Baldrick's. We all know gas is $3+/gallon, grocery prices are going up and home values have declined. And while lots of us may wonder how to make ends meet and how we're going to get through these economic challenges our burden is without the additional challenge that many families face dealing with a child being diagnosed with cancer. So, step up...if you can't shave your head for a great cause, at least search within your own blessings and do what you can to support the families and childhood cancer patients helped by St. Baldrick's Foundation. You can do it and will be glad you did! BUT WAIT!!! You'll also receive the added bonus - in addition to feeling great about helping a worthwhile cause - of seeing pictures of my and Ian's newly shined topper. Isn't that worth a little of your support for St. Baldrick's and perhaps a good laugh. Oh, and one more thing...NASA has approached me to go up on the next shuttle mission to direct sunlight to the solar panels of the ISS using my head......jus' kidding. STEP UP! Do something good for someone else!! You'll be glad you did.