Regents' Distinguished Alumnus Award Steve Gleason

WSU, we have arrived.  We fought some traffic but we made it in time to Steve receive the most prestigious award WSU gives out.  Another unique experience for Mike and I.   The stadium was decked out for the day.  

I pretty much had to force Mike to stand and take this picture.  He will thank me someday!  

 Kim, Tim and their kids joined us.  Tim is not very cooperative when it comes to picture taking.

There was a big crowd.  Mike met Scott.  Scott lives in New Jersey.  He was in Seattle for work and heard about Steve's award.  He decided to get in his car and drive to Pullman for the chance to meet Steve.  He talked to Mike for awhile about how much Steve meant to him.  Yes, he did get to meet Steve!

 Two goof balls for sure!

Here we go.  If I remember correctly this man was one of the WSU regents.  He was so nervous.  He talked about how often he did public speaking with no problem.  This time not so much.  He really was nervous.  You could tell.  He wanted all to be perfect.

 He did a nice job honoring Steve!

 Steve's buddy Grady was next.  Also, a great tribute to Steve.

One thing that Grady said that struck me was that even if Steve hadn't been diagnosed with ALS he still would have been up there getting this award.  He said as we all talk about doing things Steve goes out and does them.  If it wouldn't have been his work with ALS it would have been something else.

Grady was talking about Steve's character.  He quoted Coach Price referencing Steve.  I won't get it exactly right but here goes...You can judge a person's character buy the way he treats someone who can do nothing for him.

 Now the president of WSU who listed many of Steve's accomplishments

Steve's turn.  I wish I would have taken video of Steve's speech.  It was beautiful and of course humorous.

 Of course Steve prepares the speech ahead of time and then plays it.  He seemed pretty emotional during the speech.

And not the standing O!  I don't know who started the WSU fight song but the crowd was singing it loud and proud.  I had tears in my eyes and so did a lot of others.  It was so moving!  Wish you could have been there!!!

 Yes, again I had to persuade Mike to climb up on the stage for this picture.  Once in a lifetime!

 Michel is not cooperating!

 Much better!

There were snacks and drinks after the ceremony.  I thought the ceremony was great, wonderful and nicely done!

 One last photo session!

 GO COUGS! NO WHITE FLAGS!

Gleason Movie Premier in Seattle July 2016

Here I am, the person who was not going to watch this movie because it would be too hard to watch, watching it a second time. The first time was before it came out.  A lot of it was the same as the first time we watched it.  There were some changes too.  Things added and subtracted.  My whole thought process had changed.  I really wanted to go see this premiere in Seattle.  I looked forward to it and for good reason.  Yes, it was hard to watch but it was put together beautifully!  It is everything that you have heard.  You have to go see it.  You will cry and laugh and your heart will ache a lot.  You will walk away with a new view on your life and you will understand the struggles Michel and Steve go through every day.  I think we all know we should value every minute we have but we don't always do it.  You never know what tomorrow will bring so don't live there.  Live in today.  In the moment you have at the very minute you have it and go see the Gleason Movie.  Open your heart and let it change you!

I was so very proud of Mike in this movie.  He was real, honest, funny and his love for Steve shined so brightly.  There was one scene in the movie with Steve and Mike that I just sobbed through even though I knew it was coming.  

 Showtime, almost.  First dinner with Katie and Mike.

 Michel has arrived!

 The crowd is gathering!  It was open to the public too.  One theatre was for those invited and the other was for the public.

 I just happened to run into Seahawk Jimmy Graham.  Actually a few of us were invited to a small room before the movie.  He was there and it isn't hard to run into him.  He is very, very tall.

 Katie and Mike McCreedy (from Pearl Jam) not paying any attention to me or each other.

 Stone, Me and Eddie from Pearl Jam!

 Great picture of Katie and Eddie!

 Family!

 Here we go!  This was a new experience.  We went into the movie theatre first with Steve and stopped for the reporters and photographers for pictures!  It was actually a new and fun experience. Lots of people shared that they saw us on the news in this area.  Well, saw Steve and Michel and we were with them.

 I gave my camera to someone so I could have a couple of these pictures.

 Oh, yeah! Marcus Trufant!  Seattle Seahawks!

 And here we go up on the big screen.

 Steve was introduced and he got a standing ovation.  Unreal but yet so real!  We watched the movie and it was amazing.  So emotional!  I wish it wasn't so and Steve didn't have ALS but what he and Michel are doing in the midst of the hardships is truly amazing and inspirational.

After the movie there was a party to celebrate down the street from the theatre.

As we were walking out of the theatre Tom Skeritt from Top Gun came up to Mike and he told him that he wished he had Mike's courage.  So many people came up to Mike and talked with him about the movie and his role in it.  They were all complimenting Mike on his courage and how he did in the movie!  He doesn't want me to put anything else!  

 Mike under the marquee!  This was the party location.

 Tons of people celebrating the Gleason movie.

 Steve had body guards!  Really he did!  This is one of them.  I wouldn't mess with him.

 Mike had a nice conversation with John Schneider, the GM of the Seattle Seahawks.  He was such a nice man!  He asked Mike to pray for a couple of things.  It was pretty obvious why John and Pete mesh so well.  They have the same values and beliefs.   Two cute smiles!

I really don't know how to express how seeing my family in a movie like this feels.  Proud of all of them.  Their courage and perseverance is beyond imagination.  I will just say this.  Go see this movie and you won't be the same when you walk out of the theatre!