40/40, Brian, and the Imperial March

I received a “40 under 40” award today from the Cincinnati Business Courier. It was a great event and I was honored to be included with many impressive people.

The organizers asked each honoree “what song inspires you?” They told us the song would play in the background as you walked up to receive your award. I immediately knew the song I wanted, but thought the audience might not respond to my unique tastes. I asked Susan, my Dad, and my Mom separately “which song should I use?” ALL of them said “Darth Vader’s theme" without any prompting. Susan clinched it and said; “what would Brian do? You know Brian would totally tell you to do it!”

“The Imperial March” by John Williams played when I walked up to the podium to get my award.

It killed.

The audience of about 400 people loved it. I had a smile on my face and thought of Brian sitting next to my parents and Susan around the table. He was smiling at me and doing the patented “McCormick head nod.”

Click the link below and feel how Brian was with us today in spirit (force?) through Darth Vader:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8

Love you and miss you Brian.

St. Patty's Day in Chicago

Obviously, one of Brian's favorite holidays is St. Patty's Day and we never missed the opportunity to get out of town and take our show on the road. This particular year (I think it's '99 0r '00) Brian and I drove to Chicago to stay the holiday weekend with Johnny Personette and his family in Barrington, IL. I'll spare you the gross details of the weekend, but share with you this terrific picture of the three friends with the Chicago skyline and green river.

Brian helps a future "Teacher of the Year"

Dear Mr. McCormick and family:

I am writing to you because I am the beneficiary of some of the money from the scholarship fund that you have set up at Xavier University. I am writing to thank you for your incredible generosity, and to tell you a little bit about myself.

I am currently a senior at Xavier, double majoring in Early Childhood Education and Spanish. I am working to pay my way through school and supplemented my tuition with loans and grants. This semester, I am a student teaching full time, so I have been unable to work as much as in semesters past. This leaves me short when it comes to paying my tuition.

Through the help of Mr. Schiess in the Office of Student Success, I was granted funds from your memorial scholarship fund and the money was matched by the University.

I want you to know what a tremendous help this money is to me. Thank you, again, for your generosity in memory of you son. With your help, I am able to successfully complete my last year at Xavier. I promise you that I will work diligently for these last two semesters.

My Xavier education is a gift that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Thank you for being a part of my experience.

Very truly yours,

Name Withheld

Class of 2010
Xavier University

You are welcome and we know you will be a great teacher! MM