I love to read. In fact, give me a good book over a movie pretty much any time these days. I wouldn’t have always thought or felt that way, because I really do enjoy movies. But a good author, who uses words in clever ways, to describe worlds and situations you truly can imagine as you read, is something special.
Growing up, I devoured western novels. Louis L’Amour was by far my favorite author. I’m pretty sure I’ve read every book the man ever wrote. Zane Grey is another big influence. And there were others of course. For a while, I actually owned all the Louis L’Amour books in paperback. After moving them to four different states, and roughly a dozen new homes, I learned I didn’t need to keep carting them around. So most were finally let go. It made the moves a lot less “weighty.”
In those books, the main characters would often find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, and inevitably something bad would happen. But as heroes tend to do, they eventually would find themselves in the right place at the right time and all would end well. By and large, L’Amour’s books left me inspired, energized and ready to take on the world. The adventure and detail he’d give to his characters really hit home for me. In fact, those books became my home, in as much as you can fall into that type of place.
I just finished a fantasy/sci-fi trilogy based in the future, in space. It’s called the Red Rising trilogy by Pierce Brown, in case any of you are interested in a very lengthy, but interesting escape. One of the most poignant lines from the novels is, “Home isn’t where you are from. It’s where you find light when all grows dark. Find your home. It may not be in the past, but find it and you’ll never be lost again.” A lot to think about there. And a lot of truth.
Today, I’d say my first home is wherever my wife is. She will always be my center. Outside of her, home is wherever my family and friends are. It’s in an airplane, the outdoors of South Dakota and Kansas, and particularly where I grew up in North Dakota, along the banks of the river and hills of the Sheyenne River Valley in the northeastern part of the state. As I write this, I’m sitting in my parent’s home after a successful whitetail deer hunt with my oldest son Jackson. So yes, this is definitely home. Home is also found in the work I do, because I get to do it with all of you. And you, the members and supporters of NASGW help to make it that way.
I’m fortunate enough to be wrapping up my 10th year at NASGW. My partner in crime, Meg Pawelski, shared from the stage at our recent Expo some pretty amazing memories and very meaningful reflections on our time leading NASGW to the future. We’ve been so blessed that the board of directors has trusted us with the development of an organization that not long ago, was run from a kitchen table. We’ve come a long way. And none of it would have been possible without a lot of great supporters and great people to work with in making it all happen.
Ten years ago, much like the characters in a great novel, I was in the right place at the right time and was blessed to be hired to run this fantastic and growing organization.
Thank you all for what you do to make work my home. Thank you all for the tremendous support and encouragement. To name you all personally would take a lot of space, but for those who’ve been there with me along the way, you know who you are, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
You are my home.
To all the Veterans, thank you for what you gave and thanks for what you continue to give. To everyone reading this, Happy Thanksgiving! I wish you a wonderful and blessed holiday with your family and friends. I hope you find home in them and that every day with them is the right time, right place.
Until next time,
Kenyon Gleason
NASGW President