Happy Fathers day - a tribute to my father

 Happy Father's day | The Ghouse Diary.com

On  this father's day, I will be dedicating half an hour to reflect on my father; Mohamed Abdul Rahman.  He is one of my mentors, and an affectionate and caring father who opened many windows of knowledge for me.

If I am a pluralist today, if I respect the otherness of others and have no prejudice towards others, it was his teaching; living by example.  With what happened in Charleston two days ago, McKinney a few weeks ago, Baltimore and St. Louis a few months ago, his stand on equality in thoughts, acts and talks makes a whole lot of sense. 

If you are one of the parents who teach your children to look down on people other than your own kind, you are essentially running a sewer in their body system and messing them up for a life time. It would be difficult for them to live with people who are different than them.  You must turn in yourselves into some educational courses to set yourselves free from prejudices. If it is you, please go to interfaith meetings and  inter cultural events, it will gradually fix you up by removing the sewer line and replacing it with oxygen. 

In the 1950’s and 60’s India was pretty much like the United States, both nations treated their Blacks and Dalits shamelessly. The Dalits, also known as untouchables were not allowed to step in your homes – my father broke all the wrongful norms of the society, not only did they come in our home, they also ate from the same plates as we did, and drank the tea from the same cups. Both of my parents were free when they left this world, they were mukt, got their moksha earned their nirvana and received their salvation with Nijaat.

It was a big no-no at that time,  and many of his friends said unsavory words, but my father stood his ground. I see that streak in me playing it out all the times. Thank you Dad for inculcating the value of treating every human with full dignity, and that is just one of the thousands of things you blessed me with. I love to see all of God's creation treated fairly and justly.

Indeed, my father endured criticism and some abuse from his conservative friends; Hindus, Muslims and others at that time.

 My parents told us (me and my siblings) that we are all one family, from Adam and Eve and that we will have differences and have to learn to live with each other. they often quoted the verse from Quran, to respect the otherness of others - Lakum dinakum Wali addin.

My prayers also go to my father figure Mr. Everett Blauvelt, who opened the doors for me to enter the United States.  He was indeed a very caring man and named me Mike. He was a good listener.

I miss them both today. I also appreciate my friends who are father figures to me - Davendra Maini, Bill Matthews and Harbans Lal.

My heart goes out to those who did not have a good relationship with their fathers but, despite that they have survived, and they can give that affection to their off springs and others. Father's day is a difficult day for them, while others are cherishing their fathers, they are struggling with mixed feelings to the feelings of hate. It's not easy, and there is no quick fix to it, other than reflecting on it, and taking the responsibility to your own life. Life is given to each one of us as a trust,  and at least we can live up to it.

Life is all about expressions and completing transactions. Every emotion, thought, action or a change creates a new debt or a favor that needs to be re-balanced. Obviously we cannot reciprocate the favors in full, but we have been able to do that with a thank you in the most simplistic way and that is good enough.

One of the incomplete transactions of my life was not being able to do the things I wanted to do for my father. As a kid I would step in and take over the work from him so he can take rest, an Indian tradition that I cherish. When I moved to Saudi Arabia on an assignment, I sent my first check to him with which he started paying off my loan. With the next check I asked him to buy clothes for the family and wanted him to replace his old black Jacket he wore forever with a new one. He said no, first things first. In the first week of December 1977 my check paid off all my loans, and with the next check I asked him to oblige me, and he said he will. Man, I am feeling a deluge of emotions as I am writing this for the 2^nd time, darn it. my eyes are welled up again.
 

He did not get the check; he passed away a day before receiving it.  He lived up to his own words, "Until my last breath, I will be earning my living and taking care of my family." Darn it, he did it. I was angry for my helplessness, and was happy that the man kept his word. But that created a huge vacuum in my life and I continue to recover my balance by serving the senior friends in whatever little way I can. You can always count on me to drop everything off to attend to a senior's request.

My father is my hero and opened the doors of wisdom to us. Pluralism indeed runs in my family. He taught one of the biggest lessons of my life in social cohesiveness and dealing with extremism that I continue to reflect in my talks, acts and write ups.

During the communal riots in Jabalpur (India) in the early sixties, both Muslims and Hindus were killed in the mayhem. I wish every father in India, America and elsewhere teaches this lesson to his kids. He was crystal clear on his take; He told us the "individuals" are responsible for the bloodshed and not the religions; he would emphasize that you cannot blame the intangible religion and expect justice, we must blame the individuals who caused it and punish them accordingly for disturbing the peace and thus bring a resolution to the conflict by serving justice. He said you cannot annihilate, kill, hang or beat the religion, then why bark at it?
 

My father was a Mayor of the Town of Yelahanka (The town gave birth to Bangalore in 1537) and served the council for many years. He was also the president of the Muslim Association of the town. We grew up with no barriers between us and other human being. 

He treated all of us kids with dignity and I am pleased I got to be disciplined at least once in my life. I guess I replicated that with my children to the point my kids would actually say, Dad, you should have disciplined us. I did not see the need for it. I am fine and they are fine too. I gave them the cold shoulder that my father had given me to straighten me out, and it worked both ways, although my daughter was a tough cookie, she would not budge.
 

I was about ten years old and watched a man fall off his bicycle with his big bag of rice and was struggling to get back on it, and I wasn't going to help him, instead I was laughing at him. I saw my father about 100 feet away and the way he sped towards me, which got me frightened for the first time, I dashed inside the home and a few minutes later after helping the guy,  he came in dashing… I climbed on top of the paddy bags in a corner of the house, I thought he could not get me there, so he goes outside and plucks a long branch off the mulberry tree and gives me a few good ones. "My son will never do that" after that conditioning, I have developed the habit of stopping for everyone who needs help. I dare not watch and not do something about it.

To those who have not had a father or had a negative experience, God has offered guidance through the instrument of forgiveness to release you from the pain. Just do it. I will be happy to be a big brother or even a father figure in the moment of your need. It's an open offer to call me at (214) 325-1916, let’s keep it to 5 minutes.
 

God bless us all, Amen!

Thank you,
mike ghouse   
(214) 325-1916

Mike is a speaker, thinker, writer, pluralist,  TV-Radio commentator and a human rights activist committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His info in 63 links at MikeGhouse.net and writings at TheGhouseDiary.com 

Veterans Day 2013

November 11, 2013, Dallas, Texas - Today is Veterans Day and in their honor, I am pleased to write a note to appreciate their services. I participated in the parade last year and I might not be able to do that this year due to my health. However, I thank them for the putting their lives on line to protect our God given freedom.

I will be participating in the Annual Veterans Homeless dinner on Thursday, November 21 and will be speaking at the Veterans Resource Center on Lancaster Road in Dallas, and share pluralism prayers and our commitment to the safety, unity and security of America.


Will be honoring my friend Everett A. Blauvelt, a WWII Veteran.

God bless America

Mike Ghouse
________________________

"Mike, The Homeless Annual Dinner is on Thursday, November 21^st. The opening remarks will start at 11:30, so hope to see you there at about 11:15. The dinner will be at the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) on Lancaster Rd. down the block from the VA hospital; I think that is where was last year when you participated as well.  There will be a color guard ceremony, the Pledge of Allegiance, the Nat’l Anthem, Welcome by Peter Dancey (our Associate Director at VA North Texas) and others. Dr. Cunningham, our Homeless Domiciliary director, will then give instructions for how the veterans will proceed through the serving line and, before they begin to line up, pause for the Blessings.  You, I and a Rabbi from the Jewish War Veterans (sorry I don’t have his name yet) will work out the order of Blessings and how we want to proceed, so if you can be there a little early that will help us coordinate.

Thanks,

Lannie R. Lake 

___________________________

I am thankful to our veterans, and the men and women in uniform, who risk their lives in defending our freedom and guarding our safety. I have always made a point to salute them, and certainly appreciate the Memorial Day.  I have made trips to the DFW Airport to welcome the returning soldiers as well.  

I am honored to be related to General Robert E Lee through my Son and Daughter, he is their great, great, great uncle through their mother and I have stopped at his statute in DC to pay my tribute to his heroic role in the civil war.  

• URL: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/11/veterans-day-parade-in-dallas.html
• PICS:http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157631993360112/show/

It was a joy to see this young man Syed Ghalib with his wife Ashreen Ghalib in the parade (top picture). Ghalib has served in the US Airforce in the mid to late nineties, indeed, he was one of the first Desi Kids (People from south Asia comprising India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka) in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex to have served, I was proud of him then, and am proud of him now watching him march in the parade. At that time, I was a publisher of Asian News, a weekly magazine in Dallas and wrote about Ghalib on the front page. He is here again on my facebook and my blog, he is the headline picture in the parade for me, and the Immigrants from South Asia.  I dedicate this note to all the veterans and Ghalib.

MikeGhouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace making, foreign policy, Islam, interfaith, and cohesion at work place or social settings. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. Mike has a strong presence on national local TV, Radio and Print Media, and is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News, fortnightly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes everything you want to know about him.

Happy Fathers Day

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
URL - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-fathers-day.html

One of my most affectionate moments with my Dad occurred, when I left home to work in Saudi Arabia in 1977, he hugged me and kissed on my forehead, that meant so much to me. I continue to dwell in that moment.  In the Indian society in the 50’s and 60’s affection was not expressed verbally, but the affection was part of every moment of the life.  

Once I refused to go to Ramadan Eid prayers as I was loosing interest in religion and becoming an Atheist, I was about 15 years old then. My father did not get angry or threw a fit over that, instead, he sat down and had a conversation with me – and offered me choices – that I lived in the society and to survive and live a fuller life, I have to get along with them and have a working relationship. I was expecting a boring lecture or anger – I got neither instead I was moved by his wisdom.   

M. Abdul Rahman

Everett A. Blauvelt

 
He never hit me except once – I was sitting at the porch of my house relaxing, and watched a man fell off from his bicycle with a big bag of rice. He was struggling to get back on it, and I was laughing… at a distance I saw my father coming… and then he sped, that sent a chill in my bones, had never seen him in that mode… I ran inside the home, he helped that guy and followed me. I hid on the heap of Paddy bags in the corner of my house. He went out and pulled the branch of a mulberry tree and bam – he got me and said something to this effect, “my son will not sit and do nothing when someone needs help. He got me brainwashed pretty well to stop and lend a hand to anyone in need.”

My father is my hero. He opened the windows of wisdom to me and led his life as an example. He was one of the most open minded persons I have known; he had prejudice towards none, indeed, if I pass that test and I am getting closer, I would like to have my head stone read "zero prejudice".  Thank you Dad!

Then I owe my gratitude to Dadski Everett Blauvelt. Since my father passed away in 1977, Dadski has been a great father figure to me, he always inquired about my family all his life and was very caring and helped me through the death of my father. He was instrumental in getting me here in the United States and he passed away on April 21, of this year.

The way I have learned to appreciate these men is by taking time. I will do my early morning prayers of gratitude for these two men.

I am blessed to have so many great friends who are fatherly figures to me;  Sri. D D Maini; Rev. Bill Mathews; Dr. Harbans Lal; and Dr. Qureshi. Happy father’s day to ya’ll.

I feel the pain of those who did not have a good father, or had an abusive father or did not even know a thing about him. I am proud of you for making it in life despite not having a father, and respect and understand your pain and struggles. I pray for the well being of all those how feel sad today,  that is the least we can do in a cohesive society. If any one of you considers me a fatherly figure, please feel free to call and talk to me for a few minutes.

Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net
(214) 325-1916

Texas Faith: What does it mean to be an American?

Dallas Morning News - What does it mean to be an American.

To this immigrant American, the word American has always conjured up the image of my dear friend and father figure for over 36 years; Dadski Lt. Everett A. Blauvelt, USNR and a WW II Veteran (1916-2013) buried at the US National Cemetery in Grand Prairie. On his 97th birthday this January, we asked him to share the biggest lesson of his life – and his instant response was, “to mind my own business” shaking his head on every word.  Indeed, to be American is to mind our own business, and yet be compassionate and caring for fellow beings like Dadski.

Continued: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/06/texas-faith-what-does-it-mean-to-be.html

Texas Faith : What does it mean to be an American today? 
Dallas Morning News | Published on June 11, 2013
By Bill McKenzie  
 
 
This question is more than an academic one. It goes to the heart of the immigration debate that is growing hot in the Senate this month. 

The Senate is debating a reform bill that could come up for a vote by July 1. A part of that legislation focuses on institutions that help immigrants become part of American society. I recently wrote a column about this aspect of the bill, which you can read at this link.

http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/columnists/william-mckenzie/20130513-william-mckenzie-senate-bill-would-help-immigrants-join-the-mainstream.ece

Tamar Jacoby of Immigration Works USA has written extensively about the concept of assimilation. As she has pointed out, what it means to be an American today is vastly different from what it meant in, say, the 1950s. 

Almost a decade ago, Jacoby wrote this:

We may need a new definition, or new understanding of assimilation — a definition that makes sense today, in an era of globalization, the Internet, identity politics, niche advertising and a TV dial that offers a choice among a hundred or more different channels.

“Even as they live out the melting pot myth, today’s immigrants and their children are searching for new ways to think and talk about it, and together, they and the rest of the nation face the challenge of updating the traditional ideal.”

For more of her essay, see this link: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/meltingpot/html/part_1.pdf

I would say we still are searching for an update for that ideal, including how immigrants become part of the mainstream without losing their ethnic identity.

This is obviously hard work. As our society becomes more diverse, America develops a broader and richer culture. At the same time, nations depend upon some common core of values, beliefs and identity to hang together. And that requires some kind of definition of what it means to be an American. 

So, how would you define being an American today?

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas, and Speaker on interfaith matters, diversity and pluralism

 To be an American means to be free to live my life as I choose but with a responsibility to the common core values that enhance the safety of my fellow Americans. All it takes is to follow the rule of law to contribute towards a cohesive environment for everyone, one in which we function effectively when we understand that my freedom hinges on the freedom of people around me.

To this immigrant American, the word American has always conjured up the image of my dear friend and father figure for over 36 years; Dadski Lt. Everett A. Blauvelt, USNR and a WW II Veteran (1916-2013) buried at the US National Cemetery in Grand Prairie. On his 97th birthday this January, we asked him to share the biggest lesson of his life – and his instant response was, “to mind my own business” shaking his head on every word.  Indeed, to be American is to mind our own business, and yet be compassionate and caring for fellow beings like Dadski.

America is God’s own country and a microcosm of everything God has created in the universe from her geography, seasons, resources, people and diversity from sea to the shining sea. To be an American is to be in tune with our land.  

Our land is represented by native as well as immigrant Americans of every race, nationality, ethnicity, language, culture and religion. We see God as one, none and many, and in every form, male, female, genderless, existent and non-existent, being and a non-being, nameless and with innumerable names, yet what unites us is the idea of all men are created equal and every man has the right to his life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. 

Assimilation means being a part of the whole with our own unique identity. It does not mean we have to give up anything, or be not who we are not. Yet, it means we can choose to enjoy and celebrate the civic holidays together, respect each other, work together, drive on the same roads, uphold our constitution, defend and serve the nation together and mind our own food, drink, clothing, housing, beliefs and life style.  

Indeed, the phrase conservative American will take on a new avatar, it would mean minding our own business without messing with anyone else’s life-style. It amounts to learning to respect the otherness of others and accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of the 318 million Americans for the common core values of safety and well being of all.

.....

To see all the other responses, at Dallas Morning News at:http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/06/texas-faith-what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-american-today.html/
 

.......
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes his work through many links.
 

My Memorial Day

It was good visiting Dadski Everett Blauvelt’s spot at the Dallas Forth Worth National cemetery in Grand Prairie located at Barium D71.  This morning widow Lili Blauvelt, daughter and son in law Mary and Mike Keifer and I made the trip to the National Cemetery at Grand Prairie.

It was a peaceful place! I needed to visit him, he was the one who got me here in the United States and I owe him gratitude and I wanted to say thank you to him every time. The Mike part of my name was his choice. He was a great fatherly figure to me for 35 years, i.e., more than half of my life.  He is no more but I hear his voice and his smile.  

Indeed, one of the greatest things about American Culture is the amount of reverence given to the final resting place, particularly the veterans. The Veterans cemeteries I have been to are in hills and valleys – it’s a place of serenity, heaven on the earth for our veterans.


We shared a short prayer together, and I felt a sense completing the life transaction,  and it was a closure for Mary and Lili, I am glad we went, and it was the same with me. Michael (Mary’s husband, he is also Mike, but to differentiate I will refer to him as Michael, that’s how Sean Hannity does to me to differentiate from his son) is a good support to Mary, and a good husband through the period Dadski was in Nursing home and finally through the hospice care.

I believe I am blessed with similar sensitivity as Michael. We both are quite and sensitive to the needs of the loved ones, today he was quite and supportive of Mary, he let Mary be Mary and attended to her when needed. I admire that quality in a man.

 I had my own quite Muslim prayers for Dadski ( Link). After the visit, we went to witness the commemoration for the next two and half hours. It was a good relief after the prayers at Dadski’s spot. I guess the Veterans have a way to make life easy for the loved ones.

I ran into Larry Duncan, President of the Dallas County. He and I have been together in many places, he has attended several of the events I organize.  It was a joy to see the dedication of the Boy Scouts – they were everywhere on the grounds passing water bottles. It was really a good thing to see those kids. I know it when my kids were in boy and girl scouts. It was good to see a Sikh child as a part of the boy scouts as well.

My next stop was the Muslim Cemetery in Denton to pray for my late wife Najma and her father. Most Muslims visit cemeteries at least twice a year on two festivals, and pray for every one, the living and the dead. There is nothing special about the cemetery, but just a peaceful thoughtful place I choose to visit, it could be any place and from anywhere.

I prayed for my father and mother, my grandparents, uncles and aunts, my sister in law Tahseen, my nephew Ahmed and my friend Sharif's parents and Bhabi Sudesh Sharma, (wife of my brotherly friend - Kundan Sharma), DJ Sharma, Siraj Ahmed, and my first real friend Jameel Ahmed. Prayer is indeed good for the soul, and good way to connect with yourselves through your loved ones.

It is an all inclusive universal Muslim prayer that runs something like this, “Dear God, forgive me and my parents and my teachers and all the believing men and women, the living and the dead with your mercy. Amen."

 Dear God, I thank you for the life and the freedom you have given me and my fellow humans and I thank for all those who have sacrificed their lives for me to have this freedom to stand freely and pray here today, I salute our men and women in the uniforms for protecting and defending our freedom. Amen.

More Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157633743868273/Show

Memorial Day - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/05/memorial-day-reflections-by-pluralist.html

This URL - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-memorial-day.html

Mike Ghouse

In Memory of Dadski Everett Blauvelt 1916-2013

IN MEMORY OF EVERETT A. BLAUVELT

JANUARY 14, 1916 – APRRIL 21, 2013

On his 97th birtday with Lili Blauvelt - Jan 14, 2013

This morning Dadski Everett Blauvelt gracefully took his last breath, and departed on his eternal journey to be with God. He lived his life to the fullest, and I have come to admire this man for the last 36 years!

It’s a great personal loss to me. He has been a great father figure to me since 1977, and the Mike part of my name was his calling and I am here in the United States because of him. I have affectionately called him Dadski along with his daughters and son.

My family and I mourn his loss along with his wife Lily, daughter Mary and her husband Mike, son Ashley and his wife Shirley and their family, daughter Becky, her husband Paul and their family – and the extended family and close friends.

The funeral will be arranged next week. He was a devout Mormon.

God willing, I will be writing a full tribute on him, to express my gratitude and respect for this great man – Everett Blauvelt.

A few days ago, I wrote a note about him, which I have reposted, following a profile composed by Mary Blauvelt;

Beloved “Dadski” - Lieutenant Everett Ashley Blauvelt, U.S.N.R

Everett Ashley Blauvelt, Lieutenant, U.S.N.R.  Born January 14, 1916 on the kitchen table at home in Vallejo, California to Lt. Commander George Russell Blauvelt and Effie Mary Ryan Blauvelt.  He had two brothers and two sisters:  George Russell, Jr. (who died at 3 months of age), Helen, Lloyd and Edith. 

Because his father was in the Navy, the family moved around in California and Washington.  Dad worked at various jobs at a young age to help support the family during the depression.  He graduated from Bremerton (WA) High School in 1934, went to work as a general helper in the Navy yard for a few months, then signed up for Forestry at the University of Washington for two years.  Then went to Metropolitan Business College in Seattle where he took courses in accounting. 

He worked at various jobs, and then in 1940 got a job working on a Navy supply ship that hauled materials to build an air base in Sitka, Alaska.  In January, 1942, he left that job, went back to Seattle and applied for the Navy, completed preflight training and went to navigation school.  He was then given his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve and obtained his navigator wings.  He was assigned to V Bomber 107 Squadron (he was an aerial navigator in a B24 Liberator), South Atlantic Fleet and stationed in Natal, Brazil where his job was convoy and anti submarine work between Natal and Ascension Island. 

In 1943 Everett was transferred to Dallas (where he met and married Norma LaVerne Blauvelt) and then was transferred to navigation school in Shawnee, Oklahoma. 

In June, 1946 he retired from the Naval Reserves and went to work for Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia as an accountant.  During the 12 years he worked for Aramco, he and his family (LaVerne, Ashley and Mary) vacationed extensively in Europe, the Middle East and the Orient. 

 In 1958 he purchased a sporting goods store in Lake Tahoe, California and the family settled there for 10 years.  In 1968, the store failed and he obtained a job in Vietnam working for Pacific Architects and Engineers.  He later divorced and met and married, Hue Thi Blauvelt (“Lili”) and they had a daughter, Rebecca.  He moved the family to California, where he worked for a few years at Philco Ford, then moved the family to Dallas and he went back to work in Saudi Arabia and worked for Fluor corporation, dba as Fluor Arabia in Uthmaniyah, Saudi Arabia until he retired in 1981.  He joined the Mormon church and is a devout Mormon.  He is a man of wit, charm and principle.  He is our Beloved Dadski.

Praying for Dadski
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/04/praying-for-dadski-everett-blauvelt.html

PRAYING FOR DADSKY EVERETT BLAUVELT

These pictures were taken on January 14, 2013 – on the 97th birthday of my friend. I have been visiting him at the Nursing home for the last three days, this morning I went with my son and daughter to see him. He was sleeping… and I quietly whispered “Dadsky”, and he opened the eyes, stretched his hand and acknowledged, and also acknowledged Jeff and Mina. That was a blessing to me and I felt good that I was able to connect with him in his last few days. 

When I lost my father in 1977, Everett and I were working in Saudi Arabia, I was in Shedgum and he was in Uthmaniyah, both were managing the finance departments of Fluor Arabia in the Eastern Province, it was a gigantic $5.3 Billion Natural Gas Liquificiation facility, the largest of its kind in the world at that time.

Caring as he is, he would ask about my family and always was lending his ears to hear me out. He became a father figure to me and has been one for the last 35 years! Even now, when he was in fairly good health a year ago, he always asked about Yasmeen, Jeff, Fern and Mina, and at times he has asked about Ella, Jeff and Mina’s mother.

He has hung the small gift I brought for him from Australia and pointed it out to me; he looks up and thinks about me. What a great soul he is! This is a great lesson we all can learn – to care about others and listen to the ones we care. I have been doing that, but I need to do more of it.

The “Mike” part of my full name; Mike Mohamed Ghouse is his gift, he affectionately called me Mike, and when I came to the United States, I made that a legal part of my name. Indeed, I was wondering on Friday night, if I would have ever come to the United States, had he not encouraged me. One day, he actually told me to go the US Embassy in Dhahran, and I asked him why, he said go there now and I did, the US Embassy handed the passport to me with a visa stamped on it, he asked me to stay at his home in Richardson and I stayed with Lily, Becky and his family for about 4-5 months before I moved out on my own. I am grateful to Lily; she fixed food for me, as I had no idea of cooking at that time.

He is in his last few days at the hospice and I have been praying for him. He is happy and ready to be beamed up. He has lived his life well, a life of caring and positive energy. I love the peaceful smile of a winner on his face. He is the first Mormon I met in life and is a great example of being a good Mormon.

URL -http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/04/in-memory-of-dadski-everett-blauvelt.html