From left to right: Cathy, Tom, Carol, Eileen, Mom, John, Dorothy, Jim

So many people recollect John for his amazing insights, his intellect, his teachings and such.  I will always remember him for his salad dressing.

Let me explain. I am Lyn's sister Kathy. For the past 25 years I have had the greatest of privileges to call John not only a friend, but family. 

As with so many families, bonding begins in the kitchen.  It was the place where, with John, you learned so many things about his life, his beliefs, and his wonderful way of making you see the world a little different than before.  You also learned, very quickly, what a fantastic cook he was and how he loved to be in the kitchen preening over the stove.  There are so many funny and wonderful stories my family and I share of moments in the kitchen with John.

I don't recall the exact first time that I tasted "THE salad dressing" but I do know that once we experienced it, he was tasked with always making sure to make it when we were together.

Always the teacher, he was kind enough to show me how to make it but somehow, even though I always followed the directions, it never tasted quite as good. Maybe a secret ingredient was left out of what I was given or perhaps part of the flavor was imparted from the chef himself and the care in which he prepared it. I believe the later to be the truth. 

John lived life on his own terms and in doing so, held a mirror up to all who knew him that we have the power to choose any path that we want or can imagine for ourselves.  It doesn't matter how much money you have or how old you are, there is always another door to open and another path that you can go down and find new challenges and new passions waiting for you.

He has now simply opened a new door and taken a new path somewhere that we can't follow just yet but I have no doubt that our paths will cross again.

So till then John, I will continue my quest for the perfect salad dressing.

Almost 2 years ago I had a nearly fatal bout of bacterial meningitis and since then John would occassionally email to ask how "Paul 2.0 was recovering".  He was more than interested - he was intrigued.  He wanted details.....  :)  I haven't been a client for about 5 or 6 years but he still cared. A kind voice. 

I have several good memories of John but his recent interest is how I will remember him.  So kind.   

As a friend of Lyn's I was introduced to John over 25 years ago.  Hard to believe it has been that long....

I was a young woman with BIG business dreams and what seemed nearly impossible goals and objectives.

There are so many wonderful qualities about John to remember, but  what I was so grateful for then, was that this man who had accomplished so much, took the time to listen to my ideas, (and likely my ramblings), and gave them wings and such "possibility".

He listened and questioned and shared his interest so fully, that I really did believe I could accomplish all of what I set out to do.  To have his attention and for him to carefully share his wisdom made me reach for solutions and ideas that I had not considered earlier.   

For me, having the gift of John's focus in discussions and exciting exchange, is something I will always treasure.     

All these twenty some years later, even up to only months before his death-- if he saw an article or idea that spoke to my work or saw something he thought I should know, I would see an email with his thoughtful commentary in my email box.    

I shared a meal in Atlanta with him when I visited a few months back, and did not  know that would be the last time I would ever see him.  I'm glad we had the time to laugh and talk and raise a glass to all the years past and to what was to come.      

Knowing John's interest in the "great beyond", we talked a bit about my work in the hospice and end-of-life industry, and my new emerging online training business in that field.  Once again, how lucky did I get to have been twice in my business career sent off with John's blessings and wisdom for my grand ideas.  

It is true--his message was always "life-affirming", and he was so open to the possibilities--he saw them right along side of you.  In my line of work, I am open to the idea of messages from the other side.  I hope John sees fit to send some through to me--otherwise, I'll miss him--but I'd rather keep talking!

Till next time, John....

Patty!
      

I was so wowed when I was building out my clinic when John showed up to "scope out " the place.   I got the seal of approval from the one person it really counted from.

Traveling from the US to Petite St. Vincent, is a long day.... it requires commercial airline flights, puddle jumpers, ferries and small boats. 

This is the story of one of the 2 puddle jumpers and the goats.  The "customs and immigration" stop was in an open air shack.  We were the only two people who landed at  the grass strip known locally as the "airport".  We were escorted to the customs table and handed paperwork to fill out. 

One of the questions, clearly taken seriously by the official wearing the military garb complete with weaponry, was occupation.

Me? Chiropractor

John? Shepherd

Many many questions ensued. John, having the farm in Guelph felt it was indeed one of many occupations he had.  But how to prove it in that moment.

The official asked John to go and herd the goats on the side of the runway. 

The only picture I have to post currently is one of the goat.  When I find John the Shepherd, I will update.

John really liked these dapper press photos.... this one happened to be a stance that I am sure many of his students will recognize. It is one I will always remember.

We traveled to California to do a tirekicker seminar.  I was up and talking first. I introduced John and then sat down.

As I sat down, I realized I was shaking.  I thought... jeez I am not nervous, I wonder what this is all about.  John was up at the front of the room talking.... and actually had just moved into this pose.  A man bursts into the room from the back door and yells, " stay calm and dont leave the room".  As I look back to the man, I see that the buffet servers with the flames under them on the back table... are SWINGING!  Like we are right on a fault line and we are experiencing an earthquake!

The 30 to 40 folks in the room start to look around and a little panicky buzz is starting.  John on the other hand is still in this pose and hasnt missed a beat at the front.

He concludes his talk and when I walked up to the front, still shaken from the event.... I said " I cant believe you talked through that!"  He had no idea there had been an earthquake. When I asked him why he thought all the people were at the edge of their seats, his response was " I thought they were really getting into my talk!"

It turned out we had many clients sign on with us that evening, stating that if he could talk them through an earthquake, he could get them into practice!