Skip to main content

Sundays With Glenn | Prt. 4

In this episode – Sundays with Glenn | Ep. 4 . . .


Have you ever had a friend that you wish you could spend more time with? But life's daily responsibilities just seem to get in the way.


You may know such a person, a kind, gentle soul that you could just sit relaxed on your porch on a crisp autumn afternoon, passing the time engaged in conversation? We all have. Or should I say we all wish we had? With years of experience, Glenn has that uncanny ability to synthesize life lessons into rare practical ideas that strengthen individuals, families, and communities.

Welcome to our final episode of Sundays with Glenn. Sadly, Major Glenn Ferguson passed away in Escondido, CA., on Saturday, December 18, 2021. He reached his goal of 100. A life well-lived. He will be deeply missed.


Such a kindhearted, generous man and a lover of life. Glenn always toyed with and shared ideas that made the world better. But they were much more than ideas. He was a no-nonsense person that made things happen.


His Military service, though indispensable, was a small part of his life's legacy and contributions. He was a teacher and mentor to young people. Always up to attend special events and, as your adopted grandfather, take you into his home, feed you, and help clothe the poor people who could not afford to dress their children.


For example, an essay contest winner from a tough San Diego County neighborhood school wrote about her mother and how she had put her own life on the line to protect her children. When Glenn met the young girl at the school, he slipped her a little extra cash. She immediately burst into tears. The teacher later confided that gift and the essay contest winnings had made Christmas possible for that family. And had also allowed her to put money aside for books and uniforms to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.


Glenn always had a story to share, not just to hear himself talk but a life lesson that if you genuinely listened, you too felt you could change the world. He always encouraged young people. And to this centenarian, you were always younger. Age didn't matter. During those last weeks of his incredible life, he would always begin our conversations with, "I don't know why I'm still here; how do you prepare to die?”


Glenn celebrated life. A devoted father, husband, Grandfather, neighbor, and friend to so many. He would slip one-hundred-dollar bills to poor students that rose to the occasion and challenged his essay contest. He took young people under his "wing" bought them the latest computer for college, work, or volunteer efforts.


"What do you need," he would ask? It didn't matter what it was. He always seemed to know. Glenn was a philanthropist that knew no boundaries.


While still able, he attended the ceremonies recognizing the extraordinary women chosen to receive the Irene Ferguson Marine Wife Recognition Award. This award (which he funded) changed recipients' lives. And raising community awareness of how much military wives sacrifice for their active-duty spouses. He provided extra cash to these Marine Wives to buy a new formal dress (above the $1,000 award they would receive) to attend the ceremony hosted by The Foundation held in their honor.


My favorite adage was this, "Surprisingly, what you do today will make a difference in years to come." - Glenn Ferguson


We close with this tribute to his beloved wife Irene written in book two of his memoirs - Military 1939-1963.


"I have procrastinated too much too often and will probably not be granted the additional time needed to complete the other three books about my life, for I feel that the grim Reaper is once again hot on my heels, and this time will not be denied. To my heirs, I offer this advice, march to the beat of your own drummer and let not those about you deter you from that which you know to be right. Each step you take is the foundation for the next, and when you are young, there are so many steps ahead that a single step seems of little consequence. Yet a single step can change your destiny, so build a solid footing. Reach for the horizon, and if you acquire it too easily and too soon, it was too close. I expect that I will soon rejoin my lovely wife, Irene.”


Glenn, you will be deeply missed.


If you enjoy our weekly visits, please share them with a friend.


I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

Beyond Facts-The Deep Dive

✨ In this episode, Beyond Facts: Reimagining School–in the Age of AI . . .   This week's podcast is a bit different; it's another example of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can offer tools to creatively enhance your analytical presentation of information. We took this week's blog and copied it into Gemini with the question, “If a story is to work, it must, on some level, create an illusion of escape and also achieve a goal simultaneously. Does this apply to my blog post that follows?” What's created is not just an analysis of the writing, but an AI-generated discussion produced “On the Fly” - Enjoy! Did you know that the word "school" comes from the ancient Greek word scholÄ“ , which originally meant "leisure"? Not a rigid schedule or droning lectures filled with "facts," but free time for thinking and conversation. To the Greeks, learning happened best when life slowed down—when you had room to reflect, to ask questions, and to wrestle ...

A Heart Full of Thanks

Oh, the thanks I could think, and the thanks I could say! For the wonderful people who brightened my day. The first one is Lori, my wife, sweet and true, Who knows just the thing and knows just what to do. She whipped up a feast with a smile and a sigh, With corn on the cob and a steak cooked “On the Fly!” My neighbor, Steve, with a mischievous gleam, Said, “No fence work today! No work, it would seem! You’ll paint with some water, some colors so bright, And sign your new painting with all of your might!" I laughed and I said, “But I don’t know that skill! I’ll slap on some paint and see what sticks still!” Then there’s my friends on the Facebook machine, The best group of readers that ever was seen! They read all my blogs and they hear my podcasts, They send all their cheer that's built to last! And Billy and Linda. A Snoopy card in the mail. A wonderful surprise that was sure to prevail! From very good friends, a delightful new tale ! But the thanks didn't stop, no, not...

The Summer Surprise

In this special episode, The Summer Surprise . . .   Well, howdy there! It's me, Huck Finn, and lemme tell ya, somethin' special happened just the other day. We called it "The Summer Surprise.” Phew-wee! That ol' post box, it coughed up somethin' good! Wasn't no bills, nor them pesky ads, and thankfully, no regular ol' rocks neither. Nope, this here was a letter, folded up neat as a pin, looked a bit like one o' them school lockers, just sittin' there waitin' to be opened. It was from young Sierra, a mighty fine friend, and she'd gone and made some pure, honest-to-goodness artwork with her own two hands. My fingers they was all thumbs, just itching to see what kind of wild wonder she'd whipped up this time. I unfolded that paper, careful-like, you know, and bless my bare feet, there it was! A picture of a whole gymnasium and a mini-soccer field, all done up in colors that just popped. She'd used crayons and pencils, and you could tel...

A Pirate's Ponderings

In this episode, A Pirate's Ponderings: Turning 69 with a Classic . . . When was the last time you were so compelled by a quest that you had your bags packed and your boots on before the first rooster crowed? For me, this summer has been exactly that, a journey where the world outside faded away and the one inside my head roared to life. I felt like that young cabin boy in training, with the vast ocean of a great story stretching out before me. My hand was on the wheel, navigating every swell, riding the waves, and eager to see what lay just beyond the horizon. This wasn't a journey across lands, but a flight of imagination that has been an exciting ride. My adventure took off on the deck of the Hispaniola as I became lost on Treasure Island . My imagination soared, and I could almost taste the salt spray and feel the ship's timbers groan as we sailed toward our destiny. Below deck, in the narrow, shadowy depths, I could smell the hearty meals Long John Silver and Jim Haw...