I grew up on Grosse Ile, Michigan, a small island about 10 miles south of Detroit. The island is a pretty much white middle-to-upper class haven. There are three things I regret about growing up there: number one no street light (I missed out on having to be home when the street lights came on); number two, no alleys (I never got to play in the alleys as a child); and number three I can honestly say growing up their I was not exposed to being cultured.

I mean, sure I had friends of other cultures but they were pretty much all middle- upper white class. Until I left Grosse Ile I had never met a person who was just getting by, just making enough to pay the bills and just enough to put food on the table. I see people like this today and I realize how much more gratifying their lives have to be. It also makes me realize that my parents spoiled me in my upbringing. I don’t blame them; they were trying to do what every parent does. They were trying to give me things they never had. Whether it was the new video game system or a pair of expensive athletic sneakers, my parents never made it seem like a big deal. Pardon the cliché, but it was like money grew on trees. Whatever it was that I wanted, my parents found a way to pay for it, I was never forced to find a job to pay for it or to raise money.

Which made me realize that I’ve never faced a struggle in my life, I’ve never had to work to pay a bill, I’ve never had to starve just so my parents could pay the electric bill. I don’t write this to sound snobbish or too gloat but I feel like I’ve missed out on an important part of life. I feel I’ve missed out because I’ve never faced adversity. I see people that I know who have faced a divorce of their parents or who have been abused. I realize those people had it so much harder than I did and I believe are so much more intriguing and much stronger for having triumphantly survived such an ordeal. In some ways I feel blessed that the big guy upstairs has blessed me like he has, but sometimes I wonder what would happen if I was challenged like so many other people have been challenged, with cancer or with another disease. I wonder if I would have the same determination or the same fortitude to push myself out of bed everyday for the hope that one day there will one day be a cure for my disease.

Some of you will read this and think that I’m lucky and should not complain about such a subject, but I will leave you with this. I lost my grandmother and grandfather and finally realized how interesting they were after they passed away. They were interesting to me because they faced a struggle and they conquered it convincingly. I sit here and wonder if in 60 my grandkids will look back and say the same thing about me. Honestly, it scares the hell out of me to think that I will face adversity, whether it be me or someone close to me. The only advice I can think of is one of the last things I remember my grandfather saying," Be a good person, do good deeds and good things will happen for you." Amen to that.