Before you die, give thanks and apologize.
Give thanks to those teachers who inspired you
and believed in you, and taught you, anything.
Don't just think it. Do it.
If they are still alive, call them.
If you can't or will not call them,
write them a letter.
When I was 10 or 11, Officer Paul Claffey came to talk
to the young Boy Scouts in my home town.
He said "Be good, be careful and don't get into trouble.
You are young now, but as soon as you turn 16,
you will have a permanent, criminal record that will stay
with you for life"
I was arrested 2 months before my 16th birthday, on May 13, 1964
for Grand Theft Auto. It was not my first time.
I survived the juvenile detention center and solitary confinement
and went on to do well, marry, have great jobs, a great family,
and then I decided it was time to make the call...
I called Officer Paul Claffey. His wife answered and said he had retired.
I asked to speak with him.
We talked. I said "Thank you for trying to help us kids and thank you
for helping me. I am sorry for the trouble I caused in town. I am doing
fine now and I wanted to call and say thank you.
He thanked me for calling and we said goodbye.
I could not have done that if I waited too long
to call and was told that he was dead.
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