I have spent my personal and professional life trying to continuously transform myself to be the best that I can with the many unique circumstances. At times it has been exhilarating, great, good, fair, and sometimes downright ugly! You may have experienced similar feelings in the story I am about to tell. Some of you will even be able to connect with my personal story!

The 9/11 Connections

1. Twin Towers, New York City, September 11, 2001
   
   We were all overcome with fear, frustration, and great sadness on September 11, 2001 when the twin towers were destroyed in New York City by an unknown enemy amongst us. Similar feelings of fear and great sadness were experienced by me earlier in my life, on another September 11th.

2. Twin Brothers
   
   I was born unexpectedly to loving parents. My arrival as the second of twin boys was a surprise to my mother and father. My brother and I were born Lonny and Larry Willis. We thought the same; had similar expectations in life, dressed the same. By all definitions of the word, we were “connected.”
   
   It was the summer of the beginning of our lives! We had just graduated from high school and looked forward to working during the summer to attend college here in Nebraska. We worked many jobs, but the one I will always remember is our experience of working on a turkey farm. Have you been in the center of 10,000 turkeys when each of them wanted your attention?
   
   On Sunday, September 11, about a week before we were to begin college, we were sitting on the street curb waiting for our employer to pick us up. During that short period of time waiting, a friend came by and ask me if I was interested in “cruising” the city rather than going to the turkey farm? (To this day, I cannot tell you who stopped by and gave me the offer of my life!)
   
   Lonny went to the farm without me. He never returned. He and another man were moving irrigation pipe into storage for the coming winter season. They placed an irrigation pipe between two power lines and were electrocuted instantly.
   
   If I had gone to the farm, I would have met the same fate as my twin brother.

3. Summer Fireman
   
   About four years later, I was working as a summer fireman for the city fire department in Grand Island, Nebraska. (We still slid down poles.) It was the third summer of that job for me, so when the fire chief asked me if I would like to drive the city ambulance for the summer, how could I not welcome such a thrilling opportunity? I accepted.
   
   My first call came in on a hot day in early June. The lead technician and I were dispatched to an alley location in the northern part of the city. The lead person did not tell me the nature of the call. When we arrived, there was a small crowd of people gathered. Two lineman had been electrocuted. From that day forward, I knew that my life was going to be okay.

What’s the Connection?

It was September 11th also when I had to begin “transforming” my life alone, without a twin tower at my side. It has been an “amazing” trip to say the least!

As you view my website, you will find that I have transformed myself many times in my personal and professional lives. Is my life an act of a random accident or has it been a special journey? My life has always been a “very special gift” to me.

I look forward to connecting with you soon in your pursuit of your personal and career goals!