By Melissa Carter on July 30, 2012
Kenny Felder
Augie,
I’m really sorry I can’t make it to your 60th birthday; if I were in town I wouldn’t miss it.
It was almost exactly eight years ago that the last weekly SKS meeting was held at your house. Since that time, I have seen very little of you—once every year or two, I guess—by any meaningful measurement, you and I are not part of each other’s lives. But I spend my life telling people what I think Augie would tell them if he were here. I measure everyone I meet against Augie and Augie’s standards, most especially myself. I feel best when I feel like I’m doing what Augie would do.
My students know I always insist that nothing is more important than finding a life worth living, and that truth is always more important than immediate gratification. The ones who know me well also know that I give a guy named Augie Turak the credit for bringing those insights into my life. You are responsible for many of the parts of me that I value the most.
So happy birthday!
-Kenny
Posted in Featured, Personal Transformation
