Awe yeah, the almighty red carpet! When people imagine the red carpet, they often envision – lights, camera, action – Hollywood! Star strutted status of various anticipated prestigious awards! Or Royalty and their entourage. However; there are numerous monumental red carpet moments in every ones life! Be it a Prom or Graduation. Job promotion or Career transformation. Marriage or get the Cradle ready. A Recreational recognition in Sports, Art, the Community, etc. The Cherry runner is afoot endlessly for any ripeness!

Oh, but heed the slippery slopes whence lay the thinly padded ‘blush mat’ of Shame. For even many a President have walked this crimson carpet. For example, he who could not quote “Fool Me Once Shame on You; Fool Me Twice Shame on Me”, has now ironically earned the name, ‘Bush Shame’.

And so there are occasions to proudly roll out the ‘burgundy carpet’ and there are times to tread lightly upon it. Today though; I learnt about the ‘ruby carpeted Encore’. Whence from behind the camouflaged curtain a figure appears to take a final bow. However; if any of us had to walk this red carpet, surely none could ever be as diligent as this distinguished Gentleman.

Scene: Work

Gathering: Employers, Employees, Co-Workers, Friends

Enter: Distinguished Gentleman

Précis of Speech: As most of you all know, today is my last day as I have been diagnosed with a rare inoperable stomach caner and will be going to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland for treatment.

This Distinguished Gentleman continued, I am not much of a religious man yet. However; if some of you are – please remember to include my Wife in your prayers also. He then added his usual sense of humor to what has to be the bleakest moment in his life. Having returned home from War some years ago, he promised himself milkshakes! Stating, and though there is no scientific proof rather Arby’s or Wendy’s or McDonald's… milkshakes may have contributed to his stomach cancer; he sure enjoyed them as we all can tell by the size of his belly. He continued by humorously going into detail about how our Security Personnel adamantly would not let him enter the work premises today because he inadvertently forgot his proper identification. Ending, he therefore must leave before Security towed his car off.

Here is a man; already burdened with irrefutable fate, having to put his best foot forward for his peers – Friends…, whilst being ridiculed by his and our own Security System. Yet instead of giving up, turning his automobile around, and just returning home; he – being the Distinguished Gentleman he is - merely parks his auto on the side and walks inside his place of employment, sequentially to pace the ‘ruby carpet’ for us.

Surely cancer does not stand a fighting chance against such a Man with this kind of admirable caliber!

"Is That All There Is" by Peggy Lee