After putting up with years of knee pain I've decided it's time to do something. I've had Arthroscopic surgery, jell injections and cortisone injections none of which worked more than about three days. So it finally took affecting my motorcycle riding to take drastic measure. I’ve ridden from Indianapolis to Massachusetts (960 miles) in one day, two times in the last 8 years and now I ride for a couple of hours and I hurt and can barely walk. On June the 17th I'm having a "partial knee replacement" on my ever painful left knee. I couldn't be happier about this. I’m actually looking forward to the rehab pain, heck I’m in pain now plus I have already envisioned what’s on the other side for me. I AM Focused mentally and have been working hard to prepare physically for several months knowing this was coming. I AM READY! (P.S. Please no stories of other people’s knee surgery to break my focus on this entire process). ...

What a great morning... I just finished reading 24 hand written letters from one of Custer Baker Intermediate School's 5th grade class. That just rocked my world this morning. THANK YOU!...

Thanks to the two ladies from Froito-Lays that came to my program at the school on Friday. And a special thanks for the case of STILL WARM LAYS POTATO CHIPS...... Now I'm truly fat and happy....

I left Ohio at 2:30am drove over 700 miles, got home took the motorcycle to the Mexican restaurant in Connecticut and then rode my John Deere around the yard HAhahahah I just can't get enough driving.... My trip = 1 1/2 weeks, 38 hours drive time, 2,231 miles, 17 schools and over 7,000 students (-: LUVIN' IT!...

"I've been riding these blue highways. Another night has made me stop. My weary bones can go no farther so here's wher they'll drop. I've got many miles to go and promises to keep." Alan Jackson ............ I made it into Ohio but still have about 750 miles to go to get home. I feel tired but I feel great. What an incredible last day on this trip. ROSSVILLE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL WHAT CAN I SAY... that standing ovation you gave today was so heartfelt it really made me feel emotional and pretty much blew me away. My heart has been touched by your kindness and the compassion you showed to me and my family and I will never forget you for that. I also want to thank all the students and faculity at Clinton Prairie High school for a great last program on this trip. In the last week and half I've spoken to over 7,000 students...WOW!!!!! Loving life right now....

WOW! I just finished up my third day in Johnson County Indiana and it was awesome just like the other two days. Franklin Community Middle School and Custer Baker Intermediate School. The kids in this county were just great and I loved my time here. Thanks to all the people that worked so hard to set this up and help make it all possible. I can't wait to come back again ...

A special note.... Today I spoke at Custer Baker Intermediate School which is 5th and 6th grade. I'm always concerned about the maturity level of students this young but this group of students numbering 500 were possibly the most well behaved group of students I have ever stood in front of. The level of respect and maturity of this group of students floored me. I've had schools where I felt like nobody cared and I've been in high schools that didn't even come close to the level of these students. I consider this a direct reflection on their parents and the people who teach them. GREAT JOB CUSTER BAKER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL!!!! THANK YOU ALL SO VERY VERY MUCH!!...

I talked to over 1,000 students today at Indiana Creek Middle School and Custer Baker Intermediate School. On a day like this I could not feel better about what I do day to day. One of the things that really moved me today were two teachers that shared with me their personal struggle with nicotine addiction. One was a woman teacher that told me should would not smoke when she got in her car this afternoon and a student teacher that said he was going to quit dipping for him, his future bride and his nephew. I always hope that I will have to the power to change one life each day and I am thrilled that today I changed two. I am so thankful that I have been given a gift that allows me to move people to change.... Thankful indeed. ...

Day 6... Great day talking to over 900 students at Clark Plesant Middle school and 9 students in the alternative class at Franklin Community High school. Clark Plesant you guys rocked my morning. What a nice school with REALLY nice students, teachers and administrators. Just can't think of a better way to start my week in Indiana....

Day 5... Oh, that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil. 1 Chronicles 4:10...

Day 4... I made the 650 mile, 9 hour drive from Syracuse, New York to just outside Indianapolis, Indiana today. I have all day tomorrow to gear up and get ready for a busy school schedule next week. It sure feels good to be back in Indiana!...

I finished my last school in NY today and now I'm headed to Indiana for schools all next week. I've stopped in Syracuse for the night and will head out again in the morning sometime. I spoke at Owen D. Young Central School today and what an amazing little school they are. Thanks for a great end to a great week....

Day 2. In the 9 years I've been traveling the country speaking in schools I've had some amazing days but today felt extra special for some reason. I spoke at Stamford Central and Charlotte Valley Central schools in Eastern New York and the students were simply amazing. I'm so blessed that the schools trust me enough to... spend an hour with their kids and I think I'm as moved by them as they are by me. I'm a Lucky Man....

Got up at 4:30am and drove to New York. Nice short ride of 160 miles. Spoke in two small schools today and pretty much had a perfect day. (-: What a great way to start this trip....

I had a really GREAT trip to Florida. Thanks to all the schools and the people that worked SO hard to make this possible. I hope this is the start of some long lasting friendships in Florida........ I'm all packed up and heading for Central New York today. POURING DOWN RAIN!!! RECORD SETTING RAIN!!! Gotta go no time to wait. I'll take me a nice, slow, safe ride over....

GREAT day back on the road. Thanks so much to the students at Hudson Falls, Argle and Greenwich. What an awesome bunch of young people living in Eastern NY. I've read all the letters coming in this afternoon and I really appreciate you taking the time to write to me....

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the following letter posted on my website last night, but I was. I haven't received any letters about the Super Bowl in a long time so I wonder if the play offs yesterday sparked this letter from Kentucky. The Super Bowl run of the Public Service Announcement "23 as middle aged" that featured Marie and I seems, in my mind, like it was a hundred years ago. It will be 9 years this Super Bowl and there has been a lot water under the bridge since that day. So many miles, schools and lives changed that it almost seems like a foggy dream. I'll admit that at the time the thought of that ad running on the Super Bowl scared me and now I am so thankful that it gave me the opportunity to bring the true life story of one family to so many people ............................... Alai :) <3 My uncle smoked, one day when he was watching the SuperBowl he saw your commercial and he called it LIFECHANGING, he had tried to quit for 10 years....NOTHING helped him quit, EXEPT your story! He called himself LUCKY to be ALIVE after 10 years of smoking! He DOESNT smoke anymore, I find it AMAZING that Nicotene patches couldnt help and ALL of the other thing out there COULDNT help, but your heartfelt story could....and I want YOU to know how THANKFUL I am of you, you saved my uncles life and MANY other peoples LIVES! THANK YOU :) P.S. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE visit School in KY! THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH ...

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The trip to New York kicked my butt this week. I’m not sure if it was because it was SO cold or just simply the stress of doing two programs per day plus I’m not getting any younger… I’ve been on the road full time for just about nine years and I can feel it deep in my bones. There’s also the possibility I’m being affected more this year because of a lot of “anniversaries… The year of 10’s….Ten years ago today….. …… ….. We did eight great schools this week all across central New York. On Friday we finished up with Waterville High and Otto Shortell Middle school which was my last school program of 2009. Reality Check sponsored a dance party on Friday night that went really well. I’m inspired to see so many youth from so many different schools getting along and having a good time. I left the party around 10:00pm and headed back to the hotel, took a shower, checked out at 11:00pm and headed home. I made it just over the Massachusetts border before exhaustion took over and I had to pull in the service plaza and take an hour nap. With the temperature at 4 degrees outside I couldn’t even shut the truck off. FREEZING!! I got home about 3:00am and it felt so good to climb into my own bed. Shane came in the bedroom and woke me up early because he was so excited I was home. He crawled in the bed, snuggled up to me and sang Christmas songs to me for about ten minutes before he demanded “GET UP NOW GRAMPY!” So from the total exhaustion of a stress filled year and only about 3 hours sleep I spent all day Saturday trying to just simply function. It’s hard to believe that another year has gone by and over 50,000 students heard my family story, face to face, this year. This is less than half the number of students in all the years past that would hear my message in a year but I still feel really good and think I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to do this. Sometimes I think people get tired of hearing me say over and over how Blessed I feel to have the opportunity to talk to so many youth but I truly feel BLESSED!! So many people trust me to have a one hour conversation with their kids and I think that’s pretty amazing. How many people get an opportunity like that? I’ve spoken in Middle Schools, High Schools, Alternative Schools, Detention Centers, Colleges, Award Dinners and a few places I can’t even remember this year. I am truly grateful to ALL the people that work SO hard to make these trips successful and make it possible for me to do this. I am grateful to all the students, staff and coalition workers that make me feel so welcome and comfortable in their towns. I can hardly wait to get started in 2010 and I look forward to getting back on the road to see where it leads. Where ever that roads leads I’m sure it will be right where I belong and right where I need to be. Peace. ...

I just want to clarify that I didn't say NY Mills was the "worst school" or a "bad" school. I said NY Mills was a "loud and rowdy" school. There's a BIG difference. I don't think NY Mills is or was a "bad" school and I enjoyed my time there. Sorry if anyone took that comment the wrong way. Rick...

I spoke in two schools today and just pretty much had another great day. First one was Lincoln Academy which is an alternative school and I just flat out loved my time there. Nice kids in a tough enviroment. Second school was New York Mills where the crowd was loud and rowdy. Out of the 2,500 school programs I've done 99% have been quite and respectful. I guess I was surprised that the alternative school was in the 99% bracket and NY Mills was in the 1% bracket. A principal should never need to intervene during a program. I'm a little tired tonight but feeling ready for tomorrows challanges....

I'm having a great start to a week touring Central New York. Thank you Oriskany Jr/Sr High for a great first day back on the road!...

I LOVE WHAT I DO! Let me repeat that...... I LOVE WHAT I DO! I spent the week in Western New York and shared inspiration with over 3,500 youth and adults. Thanks to everyone that worked so hard to make this a sucessfull trip. I am a Blessed man..... Peace in your lives.........

Thank you Mexico Middle School. What an awesome audience and a special thanks to my young friend Jake for a great introduction. WoooooHooooo Mexico, NY...

I had a GREAT day at Clarence Middle School in Clarence, NY. What a truly nice group of teachers and students. I can't think of a better way to have spent my day. Special thanks to Mr. Gallagher for your hard work setting up this day....

I'm in Western New York this morning and I'm just thrilled to be here. My bookings for schools has slowed down so much that I've been very worried that life as a speaker was over. I'm headed to Albion Middle School this morning and then an adult evening program in Batavia. I feel so blessed to be here and to share Marie's story....

I drove to Maine yesterday and spoke at Mt. Blue Middle School today. Just want to say thanks to the 8th grade for the standing ovation. You are a great school and I sure enjoyed my time there. On another note …. As many of my friends on Facebook know I’ve been struggling emotionally for a few months. I’m not sure if it’s the 10 year anniversary of Marie’s illness and death, the lack of school bookings because of funding cuts or all the stress associated with the abuse of my Grandson Shane. When I got to Mt Blue today I programmed in the road for the cemetery where Marie is buried. Turns out it was 20.2 miles from the school parking lot. I knew I was close but wasn’t sure how close. I don’t make it to the cemetery very often. I’ve always REALLY struggled emotionally with being there. After the school programs today I drove over and visited Marie’s grave. It brought me sorrow and joy all in one breath to be there and I also think that it really brought me the peace I’ve been longing for…. I’m mentally tired this afternoon but also feel blessed that I had the opportunity to be in Maine the last two days. ...

16,000. That’s what I’ll think about….. 16,000 is the number of people that will prematurely die today. These 16,000 people will not die from auto accidents, fires, murder, drugs, war or alcohol. It has been estimated that in the year 2010 6,000,000 people will die on our planet, prematurely, from diseases caused by tobacco and tobacco smoke. Of the 16,000 that will die today the majority were manipulated and addicted to tobacco at a very young age. The cost to lives and families can never be measured, but there has never been a problem putting a dollar value in place. As our government debates Health Care Reform they fail to discuss the “measurable” monetary and emotional toll that tobacco leaves in its wake. Our Federal, State and Local elected officials never put a human life on the scale they use to measure what is important. Funding cuts for tobacco control in virtually every state will surly lead to an increase in tobacco use that the new FDA Regulation will not deter. Educating children in schools across the country is the number one line of defense against the tobacco industry. I’m sad today because I know that so many of you that read my blogs have also felt the ever enduring pain that is caused by this one, not so simple, product. If you are a tobacco control advocate I ask you to remember those 16,000 lives as you go about your daily grind. I urge you to remember that every task, no matter how small or simple, is important for tobacco control. I know I will……. ….. Rick’s diary: 9/10/99 … Depakote seems okay. Marie out walking. Sleeps hours closer to normal. Rash is going away slowly. I think the vitamins and minerals are helping to keep her energy up. Marie still smokes. What a tough habit. ...

The last 5 months having Shane live here has been a real growing experience for Grampy...LOL! Today is Shane's last day in kindergarten and I'm so proud of him for doing so well in such a tough transition for a child. He excels in school and karate and loves going to both. He seems to have really become comfortable living here and I noticed the other day he seems to be laughing a lot more. I take that as a great sign that he feels safe and loved. We've laughed together, we've cried together and we have grown together. Taking on the parent role at 55 seems very different for me than when I became a parent at age 20. I guess maybe all those years of "living" and the experience of life do make you better if you just allow it to happen. I'm thankful that God has put challenges before me throughout my life to better prepare me for what I do now, both at home and on the road. I'm Blessed and I Know I am....

4/17/09... What a year so far….. This has been one of the most trying, stressful years of my life. I started out in January thinking that my program was ending. On January 10th I took custody of my five year old Grandson, Shane, after he was severely beaten by his mothers, boyfriend. I’m really glad to say that the bookings for my program really took off again and I feel so thankful for that. I can’t begin to describe how heartbroken I was that I thought sharing Marie’s story was all but over, but once again the people that have promoted and backed my program from the beginning stepped forward and filled my calendar. How can I ever thank them enough? Shane is doing well though I do believe that there are some very stressful times yet to come. The way it looks right now Shane will probably be living with me until he is eighteen years old. His mother has refused to cooperate with authorities and continues to make bad choices. We have tried so hard to help her but it is impossible to help someone that doesn’t want to be helped. The number one goal from this point forward is to protect Shane from ever being hurt again.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4/24/09.…Homeward bound….. It’s 3:00am and I’m wide awake in my hotel room. I can’t sleep, itchy throat, ready to go home. South Dakota has been a good trip. Marie’s story has had the typical impact of touching the hearts of the people that listen. Several students say they are going to quit smoking and that’s what I always hope for. I’ve always known that I can’t get to everyone so I reach the ones I can and then move on. Life on the road can be difficult mentally and physically but I feel so blessed to have this opportunity. How many people get the chance to touch the hearts of so many? There are a lot of folks out there that would love to have the opportunity to impact the lives of others. I never forget that and I never take that for granted. ...

Thanks to all the students at Mt. Vernon middle school and Cascade middle school for the standing ovations. Your respect for Marie was amazing and heart felt... ...

My journal entry for January 8, 2000: 1/8/00 4:30am Marie slips somewhat comfortably away. I have never felt such pain. The loss of my best friend, lover and wife will be a very difficult thing to live with. I love you Marie…………… ...

1/7/09..Cycle World Magazine & Big Tobacco Targeting Kids.. I subscribe to several magazines two of which are about motorcycles and motorcycle riding. One magazine is Rider which is geared towards middle aged cruisers and long distance travel. This magazine in the 10 years of my subscription has never run any tobacco ads ..0 ads for tobacco. Cycle World on the other hand is geared towards a much younger generation with the sport or crotch rocket type of motorcycle and motorcycle racing. In the last 6 months, starting with September 2008 there has only been one issue that had a hard paper tobacco ad. The hard paper ads are intended to flip the book open to that page ant time the magazine is handled..you know the kind. In November 2008 American Spirit ran a hard ad.funny thing is this is the ONLY ISSUE, out of the 6 months that had a 16 page section about youth racing. All of the kids featured in the section were under 18 years old and some look as young as 5-6 years old. This is just the same old crap with the tobacco industry blatantly targeting youth with their deadly products. I will never believe that the placement of that ad in the November issue of Cycle World is just a coincidence and that the magazines before and after this issue had NO tobacco ads. IF YOURE NOT OUTRAGED, YOURE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!!! ...

We ALL have it within ourselves to rise from feelings of complete hoplessness to a state of renewed strength, clarity, understanding, and peace. ...

12/16/08.…. Tick-tock…. Boy do I feel the clock this time of year. Time just keeps on clicking by. It is so hard to sit down and just pour your heart out for everyone to read. At this point I’m pretty sick of writing. Can’t do it on demand and can’t express what my heart feels. I have spent the last nine years totally wrapped up in trying to get people to quit…ANYBODY!! Truck drivers on a CB radio, teachers, students, media folks, friends, waitresses, anybody and everybody and the thing is I don’t “really” know why I do it. It just seemed to happen. One day a carpenter next day anti-tobacco activist. So, I really don’t know why or how this happened but I do know that I care. I care about Brenda, Kim, Eileen, Ckoalaco, Sandee, Cheryl, Chuck, Tasha, Julie and all the folks that struggle here on this website and across the country and around the world. I don’t know any of you and will probably never get the opportunity to go fishing with ya! ..LOL!!! But I care what happens to you and I care if you able quit or not quit. Please don’t allow this addiction to override everything in your life that matters. Addiction IS hard but I can promise you it is not as hard as the feeling of memories that fade with time……………...

12/12/08.…. The way I see it….. Since Marie’s death from lung cancer I have spent the very large majority of my time talking to people about tobacco and specifically the addiction caused by it. I’ve talked face to face with over a million people and countless more on the internet, radio and television. I’ve had the opportunity to listen and read personal stories about lives that are turned upside down by the tobacco industry. I’ve talked to people and I’ve read on www.becomeanex.com of people that are “scared” or “afraid” to quit. What you better be “afraid” of is being, one in every three, smokers or chewers that die from tobacco related illness‘s. The way I see it, there’s NO good way to die from cancer. You suffer. Your family suffers. End of story. You have been manipulated by an industry that provides you with a nicotine delivery device. Bottom line. Got nothing to do with smoke only with the delivery of the nicotine you crave. You should not be angry at yourself for not quitting you should be outraged that this is allowed to happen to you with no intervention. Generation after generation has been subjected to the same manipulation of common sense. When and where will you make your final stand and say enough is enough I am NOT “afraid“ and I AM stronger than this addiction. Don’t EVER believe that it can’t or won’t happen to you. ...

12/9/08.….and life moves on…..I've learned that no matter what happens or how bad it seems today, life goes on and it will be better tomorrow.... I find it hard to think that nine years ago Marie was in the last days of her life. I didn’t do much writing in my journal during this time but I did look back this morning through my book (The Burning Truth) to see where we were on this day. I was lost and felt so hopeless at this point. Marie slept all but about 4-5 hours per day and seemed to be making a transition between this life and the after life. Death can be such an amazing and heartbreaking thing to watch………………………………..... I want to share a poem that Marie wrote to me that I didn’t find until several weeks after her death. I Think she just wanted me to find this when I needed it the most……….. “and if I go, while you’re still here… Know that I live on, Vibrating to a different measure- behind a veil that you can not see through. You will not see me, so you must have faith. I wait for the time when we can soar together again- both aware of each. Until then live your life to it’s fullest and when you need me, just whisper my name in your heart…I will be there…….....

11/27/08.….I am Thankful….. Happy Thanksgiving. Anyone who knows me knows I love Thanksgiving. I make a conscious effort every day to be thankful for everything in my life. I am thankful for a lot of little things and in no particular order… I am thankful for a family that loves me, two amazing Grandsons that fill my life with joy. I am thankful for the water that no creature can live without. I am thankful for the ability to learn from my mistakes (you’d think I’d be smarter by now LOL!) and the will to pass along the things I have learned to others. I am thankful for the pain and difficult times in my life that allow me to understand true joy. I’m amazed and thankful for the many directions God has guided me and to allow me to understand how important each life journey is. I am thankful to have cause and purpose in my life and the passion that brings. Peace in your life…..Rick ...

11/25/08.….www.becomeanex.com….. I spent a lot of time yesterday and really watched the website www.becomeanex.com closely. I signed up to hopefully add anything I can to help people stay strong. I believe “We are our brothers keeper”. It is just heartbreaking that there are SO MANY PEOPLE trying to quit and they struggle. If anyone thinks that nicotine is not addictive I suggest you go to the website and see for yourself. How can we have a product that causes this much heartache be so readily available and then once you are addicted there is very little help to quit. If you do have a “quit line” I your area CALL IT. Every quit line I know of is totally free. A number of states have FREE nicotine replacement and it is completely confidential. These quit lines could be a great addition to the plan you already have in place. Maybe that call could be at those times when you just feel like you can’t go another minute. Call them! Peace in your life, Rick Stoddard...

11/24/08.….P.S….. To those of you trying to quit smoking or chewing (and I’ve been there) try out the web site WWW.BECOMEANEX.ORG Looks to me like a pretty good way to give it a shot. I know the holidays make it harder but just think, if you can make it through the holidays you can make it through every day….test yourself…..be strong…...

11/24/08.….Thanksgiving….. I love the Thanksgiving holiday. It is surely my favorite of the year. I like all the family getting together. As our country falls on hard times and so many people have lost their jobs and their homes I pray that they will have the opportunity to enjoy the holiday and let go of the stress of life for just this one day……………...................I’ve been reading a lot lately about how the “Master Settlement Agreement” between different states and the tobacco industry has fallen far short of it’s intended goal. The goal to help those addicted to nicotine to stop smoking or chewing and the goal to educate our youth to never become addicted to such a deadly product has failed miserably. We now have elected officials that are addicted to the money from the tobacco industry and state taxes on tobacco products. What will they do when the money runs out and the $100 billion dollars spent annually to take care of sick and dying smokers begins to increase to the point that it breaks the bank for sure. The short sighted thinking of our political leaders will become financially devastating to state budgets and will for sure deal a tragic blow to the families that will bury loved ones to something that is totally preventable. We have the right to be protected from all other products that cause harm…. Spinach, dog food, tomatoes (but it was really jalapenos) any product but ONE!!! This is an outrage and if you are not outraged you are not paying attention!! It is time for everyone to write letters to your news papers, to blogs, to elected officials and demand that our government do something to protect our children from the burden this product will leave for generations to come. ...

11/21/08.…. Last trip….. It appears for now that this is my last trip of the year. I’ve been in New York for three days and as usual I have really enjoyed my time here. I’ll head home this afternoon and then I’m not sure what will happen from here. I’m afraid I wasn’t very successful in finding any kind of sponsorship or advice to keep my program going. This saddens me deeply. On a better note…..This has been an amazing year. I have spoken to tens of thousands of students this year and I reached my goal of speaking to 1,000,000 this year……how amazing is that? When I started doing this over eight years ago I had the dream of reaching a million students and adults but the time moved slowly and I felt like I would never make it. I guess this is a good example of never give up on your dreams. Work hard and really care about what you do and what your goals are and I believe that you can achieve your dreams…….. One last note….. I want you all to understand that “We are our brothers keeper”…… be kind to one another……. God bless…. ...

11/17/08.…. Safely home….. In the last month that I have been on the road I spent 120 hours in my truck, I drove over 6,600 miles and gave 50 speeches to almost 20,000 youth across Indiana and Louisiana. I arrived safely home Sunday morning around 9:00am. It was a really, really tough drive. I got caught in traffic and it took me an hour and forty-five minutes to get through Baton Rouge on Friday. I spent Friday night at my parents and left there at 3:30am Saturday, got caught in terrible traffic in Tennessee, drove to central Virginia, went to bed at 6:00pm, got up at 11:30pm and drove all night to get home. I feel good today but I’ll be leaving again tomorrow for three more days on the road. The past month really is just a blur in my mind. It can be hard to remember all the places and all the people but I do remember that all went well. No doubt that I’m a blessed man to be allowed to do this and even more blessed to survive it. Thanks to everyone that helped make this trip possible....

11/13/08.…. Feeling much better now….. I’m feeling much better now after the second round of antibiotics. I’m very tired after a month on the road but I’ll be headed home this weekend. My butt was dragging the ground today and at my second school I really felt out of sorts. Don’t know why but just felt totally out of my groove. The third school was awesome and I hope that my last day in Louisiana tomorrow will be a good one....

11/12/08.…. One hell of a ride….. It’s been over two weeks since I sent out almost forty letters to everyone from Oprah to Dr. Phil to Ellen. From the Campaign For Tobacco Free kids to every pharmaceutical company I could think of. Tobacco control programs and the list goes on. I never asked for money only advice for how I could take my program to the next level and reach another million youth across America. I guess I really wasn’t surprised that no one even responded. With out some kind of sponsorship this program will die and that has become obvious as states cut funding and bookings have dropped off to almost nothing. I have some bookings in March/April but certainly not enough to survive. For the first time since I started this program after Marie’s death I have no bookings for December, January or February. I guess if the program ends that is God’s will and I can accept that and if it does die all I can say is “it has been one hell of a ride” ...

11/11/08.…. Still not doing well….I finished the antibiotics and thought I was starting to feel better but woke up this morning still not feeling well. I’m getting pretty worried about my health. I just don’t feel “right” and the blood is back heavier than before. I have four more days in Louisiana. I can not/will not cancel these schools. I’ve waited to long to bring Marie’s story here and I will finish what I started. I’ll call the doctor this afternoon and see what advice he may have for me....

11/9/08.…. I‘m worried about me….. I’ve been in Louisiana for the last week and will return there this afternoon after a nice weekend with my parents. I’m having a tough time on the road right now. I got sick last week…. Not good!! I went to the doctor on Thursday after I began to suffer some pretty sever lower stomach pains and blood in my urine… not good!!! They think it may be a bladder infection but so far the antibiotics aren’t working. The blood has stopped but I’m pretty concerned about my health. I think most people just don’t understand the toll this kind of program and travel take on me physically and mentally. Along with the stomach/bladder problem my blood pressure is high….where did that come from? They say the urine test also showed signs of a poor diet which is really no surprise with trying to eat healthy while on the road. I have a week left in Louisiana and then a 1,600 mile drive to my next area. I need to stay strong. I will deal with all these health issues that have cropped up when I get home...

11/3/08.…. It’s early morning and I’m in my hotel room waiting to head off to schools in a brand new state for me. I’m nervous but excited. I’ve driven over 3,000 miles since I left home two weeks ago and have spent over 50 hours driving in my truck going place to place. I have shared Marie’s story 27 times in the last two weeks. I’ve spent almost eight years in Indiana telling our story from one end of the state to the other and I LOVE going to Indiana….it feels like home…. I want to thank all of you for your letters. These long trips are really hard on me and all of those letters drive me to continue……………….. One special note to Michigan City High School…. You guys were awesome and all the “rumors” that you were a bad school were WRONG!!!!! I would love to come back to your school anytime....

What would our world be without kindness and compassion? Please just for today give a little extra kindness to someone you know or even a stranger that you don't know........ Hold a door..... I simple hello..... A simple smile...... A simple act of random kindness.........

10/24/08.…. Early morning….. It’s early Friday morning and I’m just hanging out in my hotel room getting ready to go to the schools for the day. I’ve had a great week here in Indiana but I’m looking forward to the weekend for some rest. I’m tired but I feel strong on this trip. That’s probably a good thing because I still have over three weeks left to go before I return home. Thanks to everyone that helped me get in the schools this week and especially thanks to the schools for allowing me to spend an hour with your youth. I’m truly a blessed man. ...

10/22/08.....One last note about yesterdays school........ I KNOW that it was not everyone in the room showing disrespect. I would NEVER hold the actions of a few against an entire school. All is forgiven and all is forgotten and to those who have written letters to me thank you so much....

10/21/08.…. Life on the road….I want to send a huge thank you to the students at Northwestern High school. I had a very tough and disappointing day at another school that I had waited 8 years to get the chance to speak in. In over 2,000 schools I have never had to ask so many times for the students to please stop talking and laughing so I could finish my program. It is very difficult to open my heart and share the story and death of my wife and then to deal with this type of disrespect was really disappointing. Northwestern you MORE than made up for the bad attitude at the other school and I just wanted to personally thank you for your kindness and compassion…..you made my day….Thank You Northwestern High School…....

10/21/08.….. On the road again…. I left home around 2:30am Sunday and made a 12 hour drive to get to Indiana for a two week stretch here and then off to my next state. I’ll be gone for 4 weeks on this trip. It’s strange that I really look forward to a trip like this but at the same time I dread being gone for so long. I’ve learned that not all hotels, restaurants or schools are the same. The first nights hotel was nice but this is not so good. I got very little sleep last night. My first day went really good except for one school deciding that I only needed 40 minutes to do a 60 minute program. It is frustrating to find out at the last second that I need to cut out a third of my program/story. When I left the school I felt like I had made an impact on the students but I also felt like I totally butchered my program by leaving out SO much information……frustrating….. I spent last night in my hotel looking online at different job careers that I may need to turn to if bookings don’t turn positive soon. I looked at truck driving, I looked at the medical field and I looked at the possibility of opening a small automotive repair shop or possibly returning to carpentry. One thing for sure is that for every door that closes another opens with new opportunities. I totally plan on hanging on to speaking in schools as long as I can possibly hold out but at this point I just don’t know what the future brings and I wonder….. will the tobacco industry win again? ...

10/7/08.…. OK here goes. I’ve had enough. I’m tired of the battle. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love sharing Marie’s story in schools across the country. I feel like I have found my true calling and I have never done anything that makes me feel so complete….. But the strain of trying to make it financially is overwhelming. People canceling programs at the last minute puts a huge financial burden on me. Just in the last month I’ve had one area that had been holding four days and they cancelled at the last minute and another area that had me hold three days for months also cancelled at the last minute. I have asked for help and I have asked for advice and can’t get either. I’m pretty tired of people that have approached me and say they want to help and then don’t return calls or emails as promised. It sucks when I can’t even get advice!!! I just don’t know where to turn anymore. I’m booked for some of October and half of November but that is not enough for me to survive doing this. I have no bookings for December, January or February and only a few days in March. I’m heart broken that I feel my journey is coming to an end. What a shame. I’m good at what I do but without some kind of help I’m done….. I’ve been giving serious consideration to opening a small auto repair shop or returning to carpentry. For now I will hold out and pray that something changes but if it doesn’t ……….....

9/21/08.…. This is my first day back on the road for a new season. I left home at noon time and drove north through New York for almost six hours. Leaving home today was so hard. The anxiety of leaving home and being on the road for these long trips can be overwhelming. I think the thing I dislike the most is the loneliness of these days and nights. It can get really old. I am looking forward to being in the schools again and that is what I try to focus on. I hope that after three months of not speaking I do a good job and can remember everything. I want to make new changes to my program but that’s not coming along as I had hoped. I’ll keep working on that and should have all my changes in place in just a couple of weeks. ...

8/4/08... I can feel the urge to go back on the road building. I was feeling totally burnt out towards the end of the year but now I feel ready again. I needed the extra rest this summer. I guess the knee surgery was a good thing because it made me slow down and take it easy…….. The House of Representatives has passed a bill for the FDA to regulate tobacco products. I must say I am disappointed. The bill will not help lower the number of people addicted to nicotine and in my opinion I don’t think it is strong enough to truly protect the public from harm, especially children. Any bill that does not stop people from being addicted and helps to “regulate” (or protect) an industry that’s products are responsible for the deaths of over 440,000 Americans per year is not strong enough and should never be passed. The bill, HR1108, will now move to the Senate where I urge you, young and old, to contact your Senators and ask them to not pass this bill. Be sure to look at my "In The News" page for more information....

7/24/08...I’m sitting in the parking lot of the American Cancer Society in Framingham, Ma. It is POURING down rain….again!! I dropped my Mom and Dad off at the airport in Providence, RI at 4:30am this morning after a wonderful nine day visit. It’s very hard living 1,400 miles away from them and it’s even harder saying goodbye…. This summer has been a very trying time for me. I feel almost depressed over all my knee problems. I had surgery about two months ago but I think my knee is actually worse now than before the surgery. I had to go back on my crutches this week trying to get things to heal a little better and hopefully reduce some of the pain. My biggest concern is when I go back on the road in September I need to be able to move from school to school and town to town. I’ve always said “I’m old but tough” but sometimes that’s just not enough…but…I’ll get through this school year….I always do…… I’m really looking forward to getting back out on the road this year and continuing to share Marie’s story across the country. I would have never guessed that tobacco control could ever mean so much to me. This morning I saw on the news that Bill Gates and ex-mayor Bloomberg are going to invest over three hundred million dollars for tobacco control in a number of third world countries. It’s cool to see philanthropist looking at the global issue of tobacco and the toll it takes on families and the world economy. I truly believe that if we ALL band together this epidemic can be wiped out and the world can be changed forever. ...

The Associated Press Tuesday, July 8, 2008; 8:29 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/08/AR200807080 2567.html PITTSBURGH -- Cindy McCain's jab to her husband's back came a second too late Tuesday to keep him from making a wisecrack about the health impact of Iran's main import from the United States: cigarettes. Republican presidential candidate John McCain was asked about an Associated Press report that $158 million in cigarettes have been shipped to Iran during George W. Bush's presidency despite restrictions on U.S. exports to that country. "Maybe that's a way of killing them," McCain told reporters, smiling as he waited for a cheesesteak sandwich at the Primanti Brothers restaurant. His wife, sitting next to him at the counter, poked his back without looking up. "I meant that as a joke," McCain quickly explained. "As a person who hasn't had a cigarette in 28 years," he began to say, when his wife corrected him: 29 years. Taking a more serious tone, McCain said, "I'd like to look into" details of exports to Iran. "This is the first that I've heard about it," he said. ...

I want to send a big THANKS Emmet Belknap Middle Scool for the package of letters that came in the mail. I finished reading them this morning. Remember to not give up hope trying to get your famalies to quit.....Keep trying.......

Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed. - Abraham Lincoln...

I Believe... That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other. I Believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I Believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I Believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I Believe... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't. I Believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I Believe... That either you control your attitude or it controls you. I Believe... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I Believe... That money is a lousy way of keeping score. I Believe... That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time. I Believe... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up. I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. I Believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. I Believe... That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.. I Believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. I Believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become. I Believe... That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever. I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.. I Believe... That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you. I Believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help. I Believe... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. I Believe... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. ...

5/22/08.…. My last day of the school year…. OK.. I’m absolutely mentally and physically exhausted. I love going to the different schools but I’m so glad this school year is over. It has been a wonderful year with so many mile stones for me. I reached my one millionth student and have now been in over two thousand schools. I have received so many great letters that have truly help me stay focused and motivated. I can see the change taking place in how society looks at the tobacco industry. The change has been slow coming but it is happening. One of the hard things for me is to see so many of the adults that I have worked with in tobacco control leaving and moving on to a new chapter in their lives. I hate to see them go but people must do what they need to do that betters their lives and the lives of their families. I wish them all the best. To all the students I have spoken to… Thank You!! Thank you for giving me a chance to share my story and showing respect and compassion for Marie. As you go into your summer please keep in mind that you only get one shot at this life and you need to make sure the decisions you make are safe and healthy. Have a great summer and I’ll see you in the schools next year. Peace in your life, Rick Stoddard...

5/4/08...Atlanta airport…. I left home at 2:30am to catch a flight to Louisiana. This is going to make for a long day. I’m really excited about going to Louisiana for the first time. Last week I spent three days in far upstate New York where I could actually see the Canadian border from my hotel room and the week before I spent a few days in South Dakota. WOW!!! I get to see so many places and meet so many people…pretty cool. My program just really seems to be getting more powerful by the day. The letters that are posted on the website really reflect that power. I am truly blessed to get to do what I do. The tobacco industry is still just relentless targeting kids and spewing their lies addicting our family members and taking the lives of far to many people. I’m glad to see so many young people that are not going to take it any more and are refusing to smoke that first cigarette or take that first mouthful of chew. Tobacco control without youth involved is hopeless so it is nice to see so many young people that are getting involved in their schools and communities. ...

4/10/08.…. 1,000,000 …..Marie's story has now reached 1,000,000 students. What a day!! Thank you to Cherry Valley Central School for such an awesome morning in your school!! Today has been like one of those days when your Mom cooks all day getting a really great smelling wonderful tasting meal ready….hours to cook and fifteen minutes to eat…LOL!! That’s sort of how today was… eight years and thousands of schools and in one hour it’s all behind you. I like the fact that there was no big media coverage. A few friends from across the state and the students and staff at the school. Very low key just like it has been for eight years and I like it that way!! ...

4/7/08.…. The schools have just been awesome lately. Thanks so much to Glens falls Middle school in New York last week for the amazing standing ovation. You guys blew me away!!! I’m in northern New Hampshire now looking out my hotel window at the snow covered mountains….beautiful!!! I’m trying not to think to much about Thursday and reaching the million mark but it is hard not to think about it. I really need to stay focused on my message and make sure I have the best impact I can in every school. ...

4/3/08.…. 6:00am…. The count down is on. One week to a goal that I was not sure I could meet. Next Thursday I will reach my one millionth person with Marie’s story. It has been a long seven plus years of traveling across the country. There have been times when I just wanted to stay home and just have a regular job but on most days I wouldn’t want to be or do anything else. I really do love sharing Marie’s story in schools. I’ve always known that I couldn’t impact everyone that heard the story but I do know that I have impacted a lot of people. One of the things that hurts me the most is to be away from my family SO much. There is no doubt that my entire family pays a price for what I do. I miss my grandson’s so much that it hurts………… I can not begin to thank the people who have helped me reach this goal. Without their hard work and commitment to reach the youth of America I would not be sitting here writing about reaching one million people. I am blessed and I am thankful.......................... A message to "we can stop this" .... The best thing youth can do to help is stand your ground and don't fall for the lies that the tobacco industry has been telling for generations. Tell your family and all your friends the things that you now know about tobacco and the tobacco industry. Spread the word. Be a part of a youth group that fights back... Reality Check, Voice, TRU, TATU, SADD.....join and fight the good fight.......

3/28/08.…. It sure feels good to be back out on the road again. I’m so thankful to get to do what I do. ...

3/13/08.…. Well the exhaustion turned out to be a warning sign. I got very sick out on the road. I went to a walk-in doctor’s clinic in Indiana and was tested positive for the flu. I went to the schools for three days but just couldn’t do it any more. I had to cancel my schools and go home. This is the first time in all these years that I had to cancel for being sick. It took me two days to get home and by the time I did the flu had turned into a wicked sinus infection. I just couldn’t shake it and had to cancel the schools for the following week in New York. I was crushed that I had to cancel. After ten days on a strong anti-biotic I’m glad to say I’m finally better and ready to go again. ...

It's a sad day indeed. For the first time in over seven years of speaking and thousands of schools I had to cancel this week. I have the flu and have been terribly sick. I went to the doctor last week and got some medication. The meds helped some but being in the schools was exhausting like I have never felt before. I tried the schools on Monday and realized that it was just not going to work out. I promise that I will make those days up this fall. I apologize to all the folks that work so hard to set up my schedule. I am heart broken that it came down to my health or schools and my health won out this time. Rick...

2/18/08.….The exhaustion is just absolutely overwhelming tonight. I just can’t remember the last time I felt this worn out. I took two days to drive to Indiana for this trip. In the past I made the drive in one day but I just can’t seem to do that anymore……getting old I guess…LOL!! Be assured that no matter how tired I get I will not give up on my mission to put the tobacco industry out of business. We NEED a generation of non-smokers and that can be accomplished with a relentless schedule of speaking engagements. I’ll rest early tonight and be ready to go again tomorrow. I want to give a big THANKS to the students from Clay County Indiana for your letters tonight……I really needed those letters to keep me motivated....

2/10/08... First time writing in quite some time….shame on me!!! LOL! I’ve been really busy lately and I’ve been saving up what I have to say…… I can’t begin to express how I’m feeling lately. I set a goal when I started speaking to reach 1,000,000 people with Marie’s story. 1,000,000! When I even think about the last eight years I get like this butterfly feeling in my stomach. To think back to all the people that have helped me reach this amazing number really touches my heart. There are a lot of people in our world who truly care and believe in one another. I’ve driven my truck(s) enough miles in the last eight years to go around the earth ten times. I’ve stayed in countless hotels and eaten in some pretty good restaurants (thank you NC). I’ve had the opportunity to get a unique look at so many American towns and schools and I like what I see. To be allowed to spend one hour talking to students in a school assembly is an honor and I am a blessed man to be given that opportunity. I know how important one hour is in a school and for me to be given that time and that trust is very cool. I’ve driven from the far reaches of Kansas to and Indiana. I’ve been in New York and North Carolina. From New Hampshire to Kentucky. I’ve flown to North Dakota and Washington, DC. The list goes on and grows constantly. I’ve slept in my truck in roadside parks and I’ve driven all night to get to the next place. There is not a single minute that I regret and if given the opportunity again I’d get right back in that truck and do it all over again . I’m not sure exactly which day I will reach the 1,000,000 mark and I’m not really even sure where I’ll be. I do know it’s coming very soon and when it does I’ll try to write here and express my emotions for that day. Until then, peace in your lives…..Rick ...

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.......

How many times in our lives do we have the opportunity to help change the life of another human being? How many of us have the opportunity to do this but let it silently slip by?...

12/12/07.…… I’m sitting in my home office listening to music and reading through several hundred letters that came through the mail over the last two weeks. I feel so humbled by these letters. They make me smile, they make me cry and they make me proud of what I do and to do more. I can’t believe that I go all across the country sharing my family’s story. Truly amazing the path my life has taken….truly amazing. In the year 2007 I have driven my pickup enough miles to go around the world more than one and a half times, given close to three hundred speeches, stayed in more hotels than I care to count. I’ve meet people that have become my friend for life and youth that have inspired me….. Just how lucky can one man be to live a life like that? I’m looking forward to 2008. I’ve got a new plan next year and I want to talk about some new and some old important issues that I think we need to take a stand against. The tobacco industry has stumbled and if we push really hard they will fall. They continue to target youth to be the replacement smokers for the ones who quit or the ones that die. WE ALL need to continue to expose their lies and deception. ……. I wish that I could sit and name all the people that have touched my life this year. You have really made me want to keep pushing hard against the tobacco industry and keep pushing for what is the right. ………………………………...................................................................................... Merry Christmas to all. Be kind and forgiving. Be loving in your thoughts and charitable in your life………….. Peace in your life, Rick...

Cigarette Additive List The following list is posted on the website for the "Indiana Prevention Resource Center" at "Indiana University"................ Additives Found in American Cigarettes ------------------------In addition to tobacco, which contains nicotine, the following 599 ingredients have been identified in tobacco industry documents as being added to tobacco in the manufacturing of cigarettes by the five major American cigarette manufacturing companies. While some of these chemicals, such as sugars, vanilla extract, prune juice, and vinegar, are generally recognized as safe when used in food products, all produce numerous additional chemical compounds when burned. None, probably, is more deadly than nicotine, however. Acetanisole, Acetic Acid, Acetoin, Acetophenone, 6-Acetoxydihydrotheaspirane, 2-Acetyl-3- Ethylpyrazine, 2-Acetyl-5-Methylfuran, Acetylpyrazine, 2-Acetylpyridine, 3-Acetylpyridine, 2-Acetylthiazole, Aconitic Acid, dl-Alanine, Alfalfa Extract, Allspice Extract, Oleoresin, And Oil, Allyl Hexanoate, Allyl Ionone, Almond Bitter Oil, Ambergris Tincture, Ammonia, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Hydroxide, Ammonium Phosphate Dibasic, Ammonium Sulfide, Amyl Alcohol, Amyl Butyrate, Amyl Formate, Amyl Octanoate, alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde, Amyris Oil, trans-Anethole, Angelica Root Extract, Oil and Seed Oil, Anise, Anise Star, Extract and Oils, Anisyl Acetate, Anisyl Alcohol, Anisyl Formate, Anisyl Phenylacetate, Apple Juice Concentrate, Extract, and Skins, Apricot Extract and Juice Concentrate, 1-Arginine, Asafetida Fluid Extract And Oil, Ascorbic Acid, 1-Asparagine Monohydrate, 1-Aspartic Acid, Balsam Peru and Oil, Basil Oil, Bay Leaf, Oil and Sweet Oil, Beeswax White, Beet Juice Concentrate, Benzaldehyde, Benzaldehyde Glyceryl Acetal, Benzoic Acid, Benzoin, Benzoin Resin, Benzophenone, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Butyrate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Benzyl Propionate, Benzyl Salicylate, Bergamot Oil, Bisabolene, Black Currant Buds Absolute, Borneol, Bornyl Acetate, Buchu Leaf Oil, 1,3-Butanediol, 2,3-Butanedione, 1-Butanol, 2-Butanone, 4(2-Butenylidene)-3,5,5-Trimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-One, Butter, Butter Esters, and Butter Oil, Butyl Acetate, Butyl Butyrate, Butyl Butyryl Lactate, Butyl Isovalerate, Butyl Phenylacetate, Butyl Undecylenate, 3-Butylidenephthalide, Butyric Acid, Cadinene, Caffeine, Calcium Carbonate, Camphene, Cananga Oil, Capsicum Oleoresin, Caramel Color, Caraway Oil, Carbon Dioxide, Cardamom Oleoresin, Extract, Seed Oil, and Powder, Carob Bean and Extract, beta-Carotene, Carrot Oil, Carvacrol, 4-Carvomenthenol, 1-Carvone, beta-Caryophyllene, beta-Caryophyllene Oxide, Cascarilla Oil and Bark Extract, Cassia Bark Oil, Cassie Absolute and Oil, Castoreum Extract, Tincture and Absolute, Cedar Leaf Oil, Cedarwood Oil Terpenes and Virginiana, Cedrol, Celery Seed Extract, Solid, Oil, And Oleoresin, Cellulose Fiber, Chamomile Flower Oil And Extract, Chicory Extract, Chocolate, Cinnamaldehyde, Cinnamic Acid, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Bark Oil, and Extract, Cinnamyl Acetate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Cinnamyl Cinnamate, Cinnamyl Isovalerate, Cinnamyl Propionate, Citral, Citric Acid, Citronella Oil, dl-Citronellol, Citronellyl Butyrate, Citronellyl Isobutyrate, Civet Absolute, Clary Oil, Clover Tops, Red Solid Extract, Cocoa, Cocoa Shells, Extract, Distillate And Powder, Coconut Oil, Coffee, Cognac White and Green Oil, Copaiba Oil, Coriander Extract and Oil, Corn Oil, Corn Silk, Costus Root Oil, Cubeb Oil, Cuminaldehyde, para-Cymene, 1-Cysteine, Dandelion Root Solid Extract, Davana Oil, 2-trans, 4-trans-Decadienal, delta-Decalactone, gamma-Decalactone, Decanal, Decanoic Acid, 1-Decanol, 2-Decenal, Dehydromenthofurolactone, Diethyl Malonate, Diethyl Sebacate, 2,3-Diethylpyrazine, Dihydro Anethole, 5,7-Dihydro-2-Methylthieno(3,4-D) Pyrimidine, Dill Seed Oil and Extract, meta-Dimethoxybenzene, para-Dimethoxybenzene, 2,6-Dimethoxyphenol, Dimethyl Succinate, 3,4-Dimethyl-1,2-Cyclopentanedione, 3,5- Dimethyl-1,2-Cyclopentanedione, 3,7-Dimethyl-1,3,6-Octatriene, 4,5-Dimethyl-3-Hydroxy-2,5-Dihydrofuran-2-One, 6,10-Dimethyl-5,9-Undecadien-2-One, 3,7-Dimethyl-6-Octenoic Acid, 2,4-Dimethylacetophenone, alpha,para-Dimethylbenzyl Alcohol, alpha,alpha-Dimethylphenethyl Acetate, alpha,alpha Dimethylphenethyl Butyrate, 2,3-Dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-Dimethylpyrazine, Dimethyltetrahydrobenzofuranone, delta-Dodecalactone, gamma-Dodecalactone, para-Ethoxybenzaldehyde, Ethyl 10-Undecenoate, Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate, Ethyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetoacetate, Ethyl Alcohol, Ethyl Benzoate, Ethyl Butyrate, Ethyl Cinnamate, Ethyl Decanoate, Ethyl Fenchol, Ethyl Furoate, Ethyl Heptanoate, Ethyl Hexanoate, Ethyl Isovalerate, Ethyl Lactate, Ethyl Laurate, Ethyl Levulinate, Ethyl Maltol, Ethyl Methyl Phenylglycidate, Ethyl Myristate, Ethyl Nonanoate, Ethyl Octadecanoate, Ethyl Octanoate, Ethyl Oleate, Ethyl Palmitate, Ethyl Phenylacetate, Ethyl Propionate, Ethyl Salicylate, Ethyl trans-2-Butenoate, Ethyl Valerate, Ethyl Vanillin, 2-Ethyl (or Methyl)-(3,5 and 6)-Methoxypyrazine, 2-Ethyl-1-Hexanol, 3-Ethyl -2 -Hydroxy-2-Cyclopenten-1-One, 2-Ethyl-3, (5 or 6)-Dimethylpyrazine, 5-Ethyl-3-Hydroxy-4-Methyl-2(5H)-Furanone, 2-Ethyl-3-Methylpyrazine, 4-Ethylbenzaldehyde, 4-Ethylguaiacol, para-Ethylphenol, 3-Ethylpyridine, Eucalyptol, Farnesol, D-Fenchone, Fennel Sweet Oil, Fenugreek, Extract, Resin, and Absolute, Fig Juice Concentrate, Food Starch Modified, Furfuryl Mercaptan, 4-(2-Furyl)-3-Buten-2-One, Galbanum Oil, Genet Absolute, Gentian Root Extract, Geraniol, Geranium Rose Oil, Geranyl Acetate, Geranyl Butyrate, Geranyl Formate, Geranyl Isovalerate, Geranyl Phenylacetate, Ginger Oil and Oleoresin, 1-Glutamic Acid, 1-Glutamine, Glycerol, Glycyrrhizin Ammoniated, Grape Juice Concentrate, Guaiac Wood Oil, Guaiacol, Guar Gum, 2,4-Heptadienal, gamma-Heptalactone, Heptanoic Acid, 2-Heptanone, 3-Hepten-2-One, 2-Hepten-4-One, 4-Heptenal, trans -2-Heptenal, Heptyl Acetate, omega-6-Hexadecenlactone, gamma-Hexalactone, Hexanal, Hexanoic Acid, 2-Hexen-1-Ol, 3-Hexen-1-Ol, cis-3-Hexen-1-Yl Acetate, 2-Hexenal, 3-Hexenoic Acid, trans-2-Hexenoic Acid, cis-3-Hexenyl Formate, Hexyl 2-Methylbutyrate, Hexyl Acetate, Hexyl Alcohol, Hexyl Phenylacetate, 1-Histidine, Honey, Hops Oil, Hydrolyzed Milk Solids, Hydrolyzed Plant Proteins, 5-Hydroxy-2,4-Decadienoic Acid delta- Lactone, 4-Hydroxy-2,5-Dimethyl-3(2H)-Furanone, 2-Hydroxy-3,5,5-Trimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-One, 4-Hydroxy -3-Pentenoic Acid Lactone, 2-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzaldehyde, 4-Hydroxybutanoic Acid Lactone, Hydroxycitronellal, 6-Hydroxydihydrotheaspirane, 4-(para-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-Butanone, Hyssop Oil, Immortelle Absolute and Extract, alpha-Ionone, beta-Ionone, alpha-Irone, Isoamyl Acetate, Isoamyl Benzoate, Isoamyl Butyrate, Isoamyl Cinnamate, Isoamyl Formate, Isoamyl Hexanoate, Isoamyl Isovalerate, Isoamyl Octanoate, Isoamyl Phenylacetate, Isobornyl Acetate, Isobutyl Acetate, Isobutyl Alcohol, Isobutyl Cinnamate, Isobutyl Phenylacetate, Isobutyl Salicylate, 2-Isobutyl-3-Methoxypyrazine, alpha-Isobutylphenethyl Alcohol, Isobutyraldehyde, Isobutyric Acid, d,l-Isoleucine, alpha-Isomethylionone, 2-Isopropylphenol, Isovaleric Acid, Jasmine Absolute, Concrete and Oil, Kola Nut Extract, Labdanum Absolute and Oleoresin, Lactic Acid, Lauric Acid, Lauric Aldehyde, Lavandin Oil, Lavender Oil, Lemon Oil and Extract, Lemongrass Oil, 1-Leucine, Levulinic Acid, Licorice Root, Fluid, Extract and Powder, Lime Oil , Linalool, Linalool Oxide, Linalyl Acetate, Linden Flowers, Lovage Oil And Extract, 1-Lysine, Mace Powder, Extract and Oil , Magnesium Carbonate, Malic Acid, Malt and Malt Extract, Maltodextrin, Maltol, Maltyl Isobutyrate, Mandarin Oil, Maple Syrup and Concentrate, Mate Leaf, Absolute and Oil, para-Mentha-8-Thiol-3-One, Menthol, Menthone, Menthyl Acetate, dl-Methionine, Methoprene, 2-Methoxy-4-Methylphenol, 2-Methoxy-4-Vinylphenol, para-Methoxybenzaldehyde, 1-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-Penten-3-One, 4-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-2-Butanone, 1-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-2-Propanone, Methoxypyrazine, Methyl 2-Furoate, Methyl 2-Octynoate, Methyl 2-Pyrrolyl Ketone, Methyl Anisate, Methyl Anthranilate, Methyl Benzoate, Methyl Cinnamate, Methyl Dihydrojasmonate, Methyl Ester of Rosin, Partially Hydrogenated, Methyl Isovalerate, Methyl Linoleate (48%), Methyl Linolenate (52%) Mixture, Methyl Naphthyl Ketone, Methyl Nicotinate, Methyl Phenylacetate, Methyl Salicylate, Methyl Sulfide, 3-Methyl-1-Cyclopentadecanone, 4-Methyl-1-Phenyl-2-Pentanone, 5-Methyl-2-Phenyl-2-Hexenal, 5-Methyl-2-Thiophenecarboxaldehyde, 6-Methyl-3,-5-Heptadien-2-One, 2-Methyl-3-(para-Isopropylphenyl) Propionaldehyde, 5-Methyl-3-Hexen-2-One, 1-Methyl-3Methoxy-4-Isopropylbenzene, 4-Methyl-3-Pentene-2-One, 2-Methyl-4-Phenylbutyraldehyde, 6-Methyl-5-Hepten-2-One, 4-Methyl-5-Thiazoleethanol, 4-Methyl-5-Vinylthiazole, Methyl-alpha-Ionone, Methyl-trans-2-Butenoic Acid, 4-Methylacetophenone, para-Methylanisole, alpha-Methylbenzyl Acetate, alpha-Methylbenzyl Alcohol, 2-Methylbutyraldehyde, 3-Methylbutyraldehyde, 2-Methylbutyric Acid, alpha-Methylcinnamaldehyde, Methylcyclopentenolone, 2-Methylheptanoic Acid, 2-Methylhexanoic Acid, 3-Methylpentanoic Acid, 4-Methylpentanoic Acid, 2-Methylpyrazine, 5-Methylquinoxaline, 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran-3-One, (Methylthio)Methylpyrazine (Mixture Of Isomers), 3-Methylthiopropionaldehyde, Methyl 3-Methylthiopropionate, 2-Methylvaleric Acid, Mimosa Absolute and Extract, Molasses Extract and Tincture, Mountain Maple Solid Extract, Mullein Flowers, Myristaldehyde, Myristic Acid, Myrrh Oil, beta-Napthyl Ethyl Ether, Nerol, Neroli Bigarde Oil, Nerolidol, Nona-2-trans,6-cis-Dienal, 2,6-Nonadien-1-Ol, gamma-Nonalactone, Nonanal, Nonanoic Acid, Nonanone, trans-2-Nonen-1-Ol, 2-Nonenal, Nonyl Acetate, Nutmeg Powder and Oil, Oak Chips Extract and Oil, Oak Moss Absolute, 9,12-Octadecadienoic Acid (48%) And 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic Acid (52%), delta-Octalactone, gamma-Octalactone, Octanal, Octanoic Acid, 1-Octanol, 2-Octanone, 3-Octen-2-One, 1-Octen-3-Ol, 1-Octen-3-Yl Acetate, 2-Octenal, Octyl Isobutyrate, Oleic Acid , Olibanum Oil, Opoponax Oil And Gum, Orange Blossoms Water, Absolute, and Leaf Absolute, Orange Oil and Extract, Origanum Oil, Orris Concrete Oil and Root Extract, Palmarosa Oil, Palmitic Acid, Parsley Seed Oil, Patchouli Oil, omega-Pentadecalactone, 2,3-Pentanedione, 2-Pentanone, 4-Pentenoic Acid, 2-Pentylpyridine, Pepper Oil, Black And White, Peppermint Oil, Peruvian (Bois De Rose) Oil, Petitgrain Absolute, Mandarin Oil and Terpeneless Oil, alpha-Phellandrene, 2-Phenenthyl Acetate, Phenenthyl Alcohol, Phenethyl Butyrate, Phenethyl Cinnamate, Phenethyl Isobutyrate, Phenethyl Isovalerate, Phenethyl Phenylacetate, Phenethyl Salicylate, 1-Phenyl-1-Propanol, 3-Phenyl-1-Propanol, 2-Phenyl-2-Butenal, 4-Phenyl-3-Buten-2-Ol, 4-Phenyl-3-Buten-2-One, Phenylacetaldehyde, Phenylacetic Acid, 1-Phenylalanine, 3-Phenylpropionaldehyde, 3-Phenylpropionic Acid, 3-Phenylpropyl Acetate, 3-Phenylpropyl Cinnamate, 2-(3-Phenylpropyl)Tetrahydrofuran, Phosphoric Acid, Pimenta Leaf Oil, Pine Needle Oil, Pine Oil, Scotch, Pineapple Juice Concentrate, alpha-Pinene, beta-Pinene, D-Piperitone, Piperonal, Pipsissewa Leaf Extract, Plum Juice, Potassium Sorbate, 1-Proline, Propenylguaethol, Propionic Acid, Propyl Acetate, Propyl para-Hydroxybenzoate, Propylene Glycol, 3-Propylidenephthalide, Prune Juice and Concentrate, Pyridine, Pyroligneous Acid And Extract, Pyrrole, Pyruvic Acid, Raisin Juice Concentrate, Rhodinol, Rose Absolute and Oil, Rosemary Oil, Rum, Rum Ether, Rye Extract, Sage, Sage Oil, and Sage Oleoresin, Salicylaldehyde, Sandalwood Oil, Yellow, Sclareolide, Skatole, Smoke Flavor, Snakeroot Oil, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Solanone, Spearmint Oil, Styrax Extract, Gum and Oil, Sucrose Octaacetate, Sugar Alcohols, Sugars, Tagetes Oil, Tannic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Tea Leaf and Absolute, alpha-Terpineol, Terpinolene, Terpinyl Acetate, 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydroquinoxaline, 1,5,5,9-Tetramethyl-13-Oxatricyclo(8.3.0.0(4,9))Tridecane, 2,3,4,5, and 3,4,5,6-Tetramethylethyl-Cyclohexanone, 2,3,5,6-Tetramethylpyrazine, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Thiazole, 1-Threonine, Thyme Oil, White and Red, Thymol, Tobacco Extracts, Tochopherols (mixed), Tolu Balsam Gum and Extract, Tolualdehydes, para-Tolyl 3-Methylbutyrate, para-Tolyl Acetaldehyde, para-Tolyl Acetate, para-Tolyl Isobutyrate, para-Tolyl Phenylacetate, Triacetin, 2-Tridecanone, 2-Tridecenal, Triethyl Citrate, 3,5,5-Trimethyl -1-Hexanol, para,alpha,alpha-Trimethylbenzyl Alcohol, 4-(2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohex-1-Enyl)But-2-En-4-One, 2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohex-2-Ene-1,4-Dione, 2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohexa-1,3-Dienyl Methan, 4-(2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohexa-1,3-Dienyl)But-2-En-4-One, 2,2,6-Trimethylcyclohexanone, 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine, 1-Tyrosine, delta-Undercalactone, gamma-Undecalactone, Undecanal, 2-Undecanone, 1 0-Undecenal, Urea, Valencene, Valeraldehyde, Valerian Root Extract, Oil and Powder, Valeric Acid, gamma-Valerolactone, Valine, Vanilla Extract And Oleoresin, Vanillin, Veratraldehyde, Vetiver Oil, Vinegar, Violet Leaf Absolute, Walnut Hull Extract, Water, Wheat Extract And Flour, Wild Cherry Bark Extract, Wine and Wine Sherry, Xanthan Gum, 3,4-Xylenol, Yeast ... ...

11/19/07.…It’s 4:00AM Monday morning and I just can’t sleep. It’s hard to be on the road for five weeks and then just stop. It takes a few days at home to get comfortable again. Yesterday I sat on the sofa with a fire in the fireplace thinking about the last seven years on the road. I’m really amazed at all the places I’ve been and how many times I’ve shared this story. I’ve been everywhere from the High Plains of Kansas to the Adirondack mountains of New York. In almost every county in Indiana to the Gulf Coast of Alabama. From Northern New Hampshire to having lunch on the shore of the Sioux River in South Dakota. From the heart of tobacco country in North Carolina to schools here at home in Massachusetts. I have met some amazing people and some inspirational youth. I am truly thankful for this opportunity. Over 1,400 schools and over 900,000 people have heard our family story and countless millions more have seen at least one commercial on TV telling Marie’s story. Marie’s story has become an amazing legacy to help people quit smoking and to inspire so many others not to start. I am proud of all that has been accomplished but know that there are many miles to go. ...

I made it safely home after a month on the road. Stayed for the weekend and now I’m on the road again. The weekend went by so fast it was like I wasn’t even home. I had a great month on the road. The Indiana and New York schools were nothing short of amazing. Things happen so quickly on the road when I get home it just seems like a blur and the schools on the first week of a long trip feel like they happened a year ago. I’m at my next destination and it’s very early on Tuesday morning. I only have one school today and then a short three hour drive to my next destination. My Mom is out of the hospital and recovering at home and that is a huge load off my mind. So…..Thanks to everyone that helped me get through my long trip, thanks for all the letters and I look forward to seeing you in your area soon....

After two days and 1,500 miles of driving I have reached my next destination. In the last three weeks I have driven over 5,000 miles and have been in my truck for over 90 hours!!! It was very hard to leave and come here with my mother still in the hospital. I know she will be ok but my Mom and Dad both needed me there. My Dad needs to go home for rest while someone stays with my mother to make sure everything is going smoothly. I hope and pray she goes home this week. Everyone I have ever worked with knows my dedication to what I do and my parents are a big part of that driving force. In the last seven years and 1,400 schools I have only had to cancel one time. I’m very thankful that I have had the opportunity to be so committed. It’s going to be a good week here in the north country....

I get a lot of emails wanting to know the name of the song I play at the end of my program. The song I play is Kenney Chesney "Who you'd be today"...

...“Following my path“…..I love what I do….Don’t like how I got here…but I love what I do. To have the opportunity to possibly change someone’s life is a true blessing. I feel so lucky that I get to spend one hour in a school sharing my family’s story. When I was in middle school, high school and as a young adult I never would have dreamed my path would lead me here. I believe that EVERYTHING that has happened along "my path" has been to prepare me for the events that are taking place in my life at this very time…..this very moment. I don’t believe in “chance”. This has all been a part of my path from the beginning. Growing up where I did and how I did. My parents and sisters. Meeting Marie and spending 25 years with her. I'm very thankful for every person and every experience (good ...

Great news!!! My Mom went home yesterday (Monday) and she is resting comfortably. We expect she will have a full recovery. I can't begin to explain how releived I am. Welcome home Mom, welcome home............

After two days and 1,500 miles of driving I have reached my next destination. In the last three weeks I have driven over 5,000 miles and been in my truck for over 90 hours!!! It was very hard to leave and come here with my mother still in the hospital. I know she will be ok but my Mom and Dad both needed me there. My Dad needs to go home for rest while someone stays with my mother to make sure everything is going smoothly. I hope and pray she goes home this week. Everyone I have ever worked with knows my dedication to what I do and my parents are a big part of that driving force. In the last seven years and 1,400 schools I have only had to cancel one time. I’m very thankful that I have had the opportunity to be so committed. It’s going to be a good week here in the north country....

After eight days in the intesive care unit my Mom is doing better. She is now in a regular room but still has a long way to go. Thank you all for your prayers....

My Mom had her surgery and she is doing good. She is still in the intensive care unit. She is off the ventilator and it appears she will have a full recovery...WHEW!!!! I will be really glad to get down that way to visit her and help with her recovery. Thanks to everyone who said a prayer for her. I am grateful.....Rick...

I've had some bad news come my way. My mother had a heart attack this week and she will have open heart surgery on Monday. I'm very worried about her. I'm out on the road speaking in schools this week and next week. She made me promise not to cancel my schools that are scheduled for next week. I really want to go be with her but I WILL KEEP MY PROMISE to go to the schools that are scheduled. I ask that everyone please say a prayer for my mothers surgery....

My best friend of over 40 years called this morning. His wife of over 20 years died this morning of a suspected heart attack. I had know Rhonda since we went to school together and lived in the same neighbor as kids growing up.... Rest in peace Rhonda............

9/30/07.….Thank You North Carolina…… I got home Saturday afternoon from a great trip down to North Carolina. After a good nights sleep I’ve still been really tired all day today. We went to breakfast at a favorite restaurant in a town near by this morning. Pulling into the parking lot I saw a waitress out back having a cigarette. Well wouldn’t you know she ended up being our waitress. HUH!! I said ”sit right here” as I patted the seat next to me. She told me “I can’t I just had a cigarette”. I said “I know”, “sit right here”……When I tell you tobacco control and helping people quit, or motivating them to want to quit is twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week I’m not kidding. I want so bad for all the people I meet, that I know want to quit, to be able to quit. The same thing happened last week with my waitress in North Carolina and earlier this year with another waitress in another town near by my home……………….I’m so thankful to all the people that help me along the way. Those people who meet me early mornings and travel school to school. It can be very hectic and stressful trying to make those schools on time and I’m grateful to those that help get that done. To all the students in all the states….As I stand in your gym or auditorium I am so thankful that you give me a fair chance to share my story. You have all been so respectful and I could never explain here in words how that makes me feel. I am a blessed and lucky man. I hope that you all take the time each day to look at your life and be thankful for every experience…good or bad. Sometimes it’s the bad things that can be turned around and then become something very positive……………….Peace in your lives…Rick ...

I like this....... Written by Joe from Hannibal,NY. .............................................................................................................. Everyone hears the word cool But the cool people just act like a fool Some people think cool is smoking But all your really doing is choking When you smoke you lose Your heart stops to take a snooze You might even die Then all your friends and family'll cry So when you want to be cool Don't act like a fool Don't smoke Then you won't choke When you don't smoke you win And then your heart won't end up in a bin Then from smoking you won't die So then all your friends and family won't have a reason to cry heres something you can use in your presentation JOE Hannibal High N.Y....

9/12/07.….On the road again…The weeks building up to this years travel have been pretty stressful. I’m having a lot of problems with both knees. This summer I’ve had a total of five shots in my right knee and three in my left knee. They seem to help but I believe that time will tell. I love what I do and it will take a lot more than pain in my knees to stop me! It is the most difficult and demanding thing I have ever done but I love it. I don’t like how I got here with Marie’s death but I love talking to young people in schools across the country and exposing the truth about the tobacco industry. Thank you to both of the middle schools that gave me a standing ovation this week. I can’t begin to describe how that makes me feel. I will be in New York for the rest of this week and then home for a short visit and then off to my next destination. I’m so thankful for all the awesome people that have come into my life and help me do what I do. I could never do this alone. I am also thankful that the schools allow me time with their students. I know that the one hour I take to share Marie’s story is important and I feel blessed that the schools let me spend that hour with their students. ...

Happy Birthday Marie...I love you and I miss you..........

8/6/07 … Trying Times … I know we all have those times. Last week I went to a wake where there were four open caskets in the same room. All were killed in a plane crash in Alaska. Two of the caskets held the body of a friend Paul and his wife. I’ve known Paul for about twelve years and had worked with him in the past as a carpenter in the trade show business. Paul was the kind of guy that everyone immediately liked. He was a kind man that never had a bad word to say about anyone at any time. Retired after thirty-five years in the Navy Reserve and also retired after twenty-five years from the fire department. Paul helped run the food bank in his town and even after retirement he kept the fire station ice cream locker full. Paul had given his life to serve and help others. The loss of Paul and his wife Marianne will be felt throughout the community. I’ve attended a number of funerals in my fifty-three years but for some reason this one hit me particularly hard…………………….. My youngest sister Denise came to visit with her husband and two sons. It was great to see them all and to take a little fishing time with my two nephews and my brother-in-law. They left to go home the day after Paul’s funeral and I think that made it even harder to watch them go. I don’t get to see my family often. They live so far away………………. There have been some other stressful issues in my life this week but I know that all the things that are happening are intended to teach me, to make me stronger and to make me a better, kinder person…………....

6/9/07.…..5:30am…….I love early morning! I read in a book by Dr. Wayne Dyer “The morning breeze holds secrets…don’t go back to sleep” I find this to be very true for me. My mind is not cluttered from the day and it is much easier to read, write, think and learn during these early morning hours. Both of my grandsons are here for the weekend and that brings such peace to my mind. Shane, the three year old will wear you OUT!!! I love him but that three year old energy can be exhausting. Jake, the thirteen year old is such a peaceful young man. I picked him up yesterday after school and watched from a distance as he interacted with other kids as he left school. It’s so nice to see that he just loves and gets along with everyone. …………….......................... I’ve learned a lot in my fifty-three years of life on this planet. I’ve LEARNED TO LIVE as if I will die tomorrow. I don’t mean that in terms of I go out and live on the edge. Not a whole lot of danger here in my world. LOL!!! I mean that in terms of trying to be the best person I can every minute of every day. To be genuinely kind to everyone that crosses my path. I think it would be such a drag to be hateful the day before you die….LOL!!!! I’ve LEARNED TO LEARN as if I will live forever. What a wonderful gift…the ability to learn. Not just to learn math or science or any other subject, but to learn about ourselves and the people and world around us. When someone shares a thought or part of their life with you that is a pretty amazing gift. Sometimes that gift can even be a thought or belief that you may disagree with but be thankful that you were chosen to be the lucky one to receive that gift and that you have the opportunity to learn from that. I’ve LEARNED LISTEN. I’ve learned to listen when someone shares their life with me and I’ve learned to listen as my own mind shares it’s thoughts. Listen to your mind!! Be aware of the constant chatter and discussions that go on in your mind. Step back and become an observer of that chatter and those thoughts. Who knows…..you might just learn something about yourself. I’ve LEARNED TO LOVE. “Faith, hope and love are some good things he gave us, but the greatest is love” Nothing can be more powerful in your life than love. It can make you not sleep, not eat, not think straight and yes it can even break your heart….. BUT…..It can make you float on air, smile at the world and love has the miracle power to mend a broken heart. I know that the very essence of my being and the way of transforming my life is love. I’ve LEARNED TO LAUGH. Is there anything that can make you feel better than a good belly laugh? Is there any stronger medicine or drug? I love to laugh (especially at myself) and I love to make people laugh. Life is short so make sure you get as many laughs in as possible………The five “L’s” are great gifts from God. Don’t waste them. ...

5/13/07.…… It’s been a blessed year……. I’m finally home after a month on the road. I am totally exhausted. I woke up at 1:30am this morning……just couldn’t sleep. I’ve been sitting here in my office reading all the wonderful letters sent to me from students, teachers, parents and grandparents and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many people. God has blessed me with a gift to be able to communicate a story that has now affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. I AM A BLESSED MAN!!! I will remember all the friends, all the schools and all the faces as I go into my summer time off….. It’s time to put another year behind me and it’s time for some fishing with my grandsons Jake and Shane. Thanks to everyone that has helped make this year possible. Peace in your lives...

The list of additives found in cigarettes is listed here on my journal page for those who have asked for a copy. Search below and you will find it....

5/3/07.….I’m a tired man….. This has been one of the most difficult weeks I have ever had as a public speaker. My schedule has been a mess!!!! I have put up with being cut short, disrespectful students, bookings for grades MUCH younger than what I speak to. I’m not sure what I need to do to get people to understand the rules for what I do. I DON”T speak to kids younger than sixth grade. Twice this week I’ve had KIDS that were WAY to young to experience a story of this power. After I left one school yesterday it looked like the large majority of kids were absolutely bawling their eyes out. One boy walked by with the whole front of his shirt wet from crying so much during my program. This is not fair to the kids and it’s not fair to me for people to just ignore the requirements that I send out in advance….well in advance!! The school today would only allow fifty minutes to do my one hour program and then they were VERY late getting into the room. What is up with all this? I came VERY close to canceling all the programs this week because of the really bad schedule that was set up. I did pull it together and did my program because it so important to me to keep Marie’s story alive but starting in the fall of 2007 that will not be the case........................................... To the disrespectful students that just don’t care………….I hope you NEVER have to face the disrespect that you showed. I hope you don’t loose someone in your life that you love, travel to share their story and put up with the crap I deal with from people like you. ...

4/30/07.… Anti-Tobacco Speaker…… Never in a million years would I have dreamed of being an anti-tobacco speaker. Today I’m very glad that’s what I do. I have now reached almost one million youth across the USA with a message of heart break and deception. My heart is broken with the loss of my wife Marie. We were soul mates for 25 years. The deception comes from an industry that lies to the public and deceives our children with their manipulative marketing tactics to replace those like Marie who die or the ones like the teacher this morning who quit. I’m tired but will never give up as long as the industry continues with their tactics to addict youth. I will never give up as long as the industry keeps coming out with products like Camel No. 9.….I will never give up on creating a generation of non-smokers....

4/30/07.… Sometimes….. Sometimes it’s not about you. Sometimes it’s not about me. This time I believe that it was about a teacher. I DON”T talk to youth below grade six. This morning I left my hotel and got in the car with my contact person. As we headed for the school she told me the students would be from the 4th and 5th grade. “I DON”T THINK SO!!! I don’t “do” 4th and 5th grade.” It will be ok she assured me. “I DON”T DO 4TH and 5th GRADE!!!” These kids can handle it she assured me again. After thinking about it I agreed that with her experience in this school system that I would (on this one occasion) speak to this group. As we head to the school I’m thinking ……. OOOHHHH NO! Well…..Thank you God for proving me wrong again and teaching/reminding me that EVERYTHING happens for a reason…EVERYTHING!!!! After the program a teacher approached me, tears in her eyes and told me that last night she prayed for God to please help her quit smoking. She had quit before and had started up again in November. She wanted to quit and had asked God to please help. She told me that today is what she needed to push her to make the final decision to quit and that this will be the day. Thank you God for putting the two of us on the same path of destiny. ...

4/25/07.…Forgiveness…..KVMS…..I know that a LOT of you are very upset over what happened in your school but I want you to move on and the hardest part is I want you to forgive Mr. Auker. Life is to short to hold a grudge and I want this to end now. No more letters talking about what happened…..forgiveness is so important and I want you to do that starting now. Focus on the things that we did talk about. Focus on your family and all the good things that you have in your life… Focus on love and understanding…....forgive. ...

4/24/07.…..A Blessed Life…… I hope that everyone who reads this feels like God has blessed their lives. I know that it sounds crazy but losing Marie was a gift from God. God has blessed my life and given me the ability and opportunity to reach over 900,000 youth and adults with a powerful story of love. I am thankful for this opportunity in my life. EVERYTHING in your life happens for a reason. Even the smallest most insignificant thing that happens in your life is a gift…be it difficult and heart breaking or be it easy and fun, each and every moment is a gift and opportunity provided to you. Take those opportunities and gifts of life and love and be thankful. I know I am……..The letter I received today and pasted below touched my heart and I hope it will also touch yours….God Bless….Rick ………………………………......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Rick, thank you for sharing your life with us. Marie is your guardian angle now. She is very proud of you. We were very fortunate to have you at KV. When I was about 10 years old I wrote a letter to my father, from the heart, to stop smoking. I am in my 30's now and he still ,to this day, carries it with him. He never smoked again. The letter is all worn out but the love will never wear out. I could feel the LOVE that drives you. Every time you mentioned Marie, looked at her picture, and smiled thinking about her. I am blessed to know what the love is. Thank you, thank you for sharing that. I think its time to write the letters again to others in my life. Next to my Pastor in a Sunday Sermon, I have never heard another speaker who has touched me so deeply. BLESS YOU! Nothing is impossible through God. He will continue to guide you because I know many of us will keep you in our prayers asking God to give you strength. ...

4/23/07.…Kankakee Valley…….What a wonderful group of students today!!! To bad I can’t say the same thing about the middle school principal. NEVER and I mean NEVER in over 1,200 schools have I had someone walk down the isle and cut me off in the middle of my program!!! Information is distributed months in advance of my arrival informing everyone that my program is sixty minutes long. There is nothing fun or exciting about reliving my wife’s death three times a day and I refuse to let her story be cut short because the principal could not do his job….SHAME on you Mr. Auker!!!! The 8th grade students that tried to protest and refuse to leave I appreciate that but I would rather you turned that protest against the tobacco industry. Believe me I do not hold the students responsible for what happened so please don’t feel you need to apologize to me. Kankakee Valley you guys rock!!! Thank you for a great day. ...

4/21/07.…. Southern Indiana is behind me now. I had a good tour across south west Indiana last week and it sure felt good to be back. I’ve always enjoyed sharing Marie’s story here…….but…..On Tuesday I had a bad day. Nothing to do with the schools or students, it came from within. For the first time ever I wanted to just quit and go home. Maybe it was missing my family, maybe it was just the relentless schedule I keep but I just wanted to give up and go home. Luckily the youth in the schools on Tuesday sent a BUNCH of letters to my website and it made a huge difference in how I felt. I really have to thank you all for writing to me. I woke up on Wednesday morning refreshed, renewed and ready to carry on. ………………………………....................................................................................................................................................................................................... I did have one school that disappointed me this week. For the first time ever I had a bunch of students that slept through my program….very disappointing….I don’t do this for fun, I do it because I want to make a difference in the lives of our youth. I don’t blame this on the students as much as I blame it on the administration in the school. When I arrived the students were watching a movie in the auditorium. The school was not set-up or even close to ready for me to speak. At the very last minute they brought down a table for me to set-up on and pretty much just left me hanging. There were probably only three to four teachers in the room and they made no effort to help even after I commented how many students were sleeping. I left there very disappointed and frustrated that this had happened. Luckily I have learned over the years that I can’t get to everyone with this program so I try to focus on the ones that do want to be a part of this and there were more that wanted the program than not. To those who listened and shared your letters THANK YOU…for those who slept… I hope you never have to experience the way you made me feel………….....

4/10/07.…. Heart Broken…… I got terrible news yesterday that a dear friend of mine from Kokomo, Indiana was killed in a car crash on Easter Sunday. Joy Edwards was a wonderful person with a heart of gold. She was fun to be around and a she cared so deeply about the people in her life. It has always been my pleasure to call Joy my good friend…rest in peace Joy. I will always remember you and keep you in my heart.............…………… My heart and prayers have now turned to Joy’s children and the long road to physical and mental recovery from this tragic accident. Please say a prayer tonight for Joy and her family...

4/5/07 Sioux Falls, South Dakota……. I’m headed home for a week but it sure has been good being in SD. What a great group of young people I got to talk to this week. Dell Rapids you guys were awesome and the same for Gorman High school in Sioux Falls. The night program last night was awesome with probably sixty five people present. I have to admit that I started out a little disappointed in Dakota State University where only three students came to hear my message. I’ve learned a great lesson in the last few years that it’s not about large crowds and I really hoping that the students that came will use this message in their lives and career. … ……………………………..................................................................... On a bad note…never have I been more disappointed in TV news coverage than what we received from the Sioux Falls local TV station. They absolutely butchered my message and didn’t even begin to give an accurate report on my message. I wish I could remember their call letters so I could post it here but I know the reporter that did such a pitiful jobs name was Chris….Shame on you Chris for doing such a terrible job of reporting the news!! I have new rules for TV interviews because of you….From now on….NO QUESTIONS! I will make a statement and you can play it or not! It’s because of news stations like the one in Sioux Falls that the tobacco industry gets away with murder....

March 26th……….. What a wonderful week I had in Western Kentucky. The youth and all the people I worked with there are so kind and friendly. In the three days there I got five standing ovations!! Wow!!! I know that Maries story has changed the lives of so many youth across America and it feels really good to bring that message to Kentucky schools. I received a great honor while I was there….the governor of Kentucky made me a “Kentucky Colonel” which is the highest award that you can receive in the state….what an absolute honor to be chosen to receive that award. I know that I’m really looking forward to returning to Kentucky someday. ………………………………....................................................................................................................................................................................................... Staten Island, New York. I drove from home to Staten Island this morning and found it to be the most stressful drive I have EVER taken. I just don’t know how people can deal with all that traffic every day. I’m thrilled to be here to speak in the schools but totally stressed out about driving to and from the schools and then to my hotel. I will be on Staten Island for three days and then in Brooklyn for two days. I’m a country boy so I guess I’ll be glad when my mission here is accomplished and I get my country butt out of the city…LOL!!! I found out today that the youth smoking rates here on Staten Island are the highest in the city. I sure hope Marie’s story can help change that....

My friend, Karen Butts, passed away yesterday morning. I pray for her husband, children and family...

I have two questions. If anyone knows the true answer please respond to "Write To Rick"........... 1) If several TRILLION cigarettes are smoked world wide every year how how much smoke is that? What is the volume of smoke?................. 2) How much does it cost to make one cigarette?...

3/6/07.…Medina High School……I have always felt that I could make a difference in the lives of young people. I have also always known that the young people I work with have the ability to change and affect my life. Today at Median High School was one of those day when the youth had as much impact on me as I did on them. “Locks of Love” is a way for people to help other people by donating their hair to be made into wigs for people that lose their hair from medical procedures. Today at Medina, after my program, one of the girls at this school donated her hair. She came up on stage and they CUT off 10 “ of her hair to be donated…..There were probably 10-12 students also on stage that have raised money for charity. One of the boys that raised the most money SHAVED his head on stage. This had such a huge impact on me to see these youth with such kind hearts do something that means so much to others. I can GURANTEE that I will NEVER forget Medina High School………...

3/5/07.…It’s very hard to find the time to sit down and write the things I want to say. Sometimes it seems I’m just saying the same things over and over. When your involved in tobacco control and the way I tell Marie’s story over and over it becomes difficult to stray from the things I’ve already said. There are a few things that have changed in my way of thinking…I, at one point, was totally against FDA regulation of the tobacco industry. I see people dying from this industry EVERY DAY and I’ve always had the belief that it shouldn’t be regulated but it should be illegal. After all we are talking about the lives of 1,200 Americans EVERY single day and I have a difficult time seeing beyond that. What I’ve come to discover/believe is that tobacco will probably never be illegal (though it should be) so for now maybe some regulation from the FDA will be better than nothing!!! We need regulations for advertising (that continues to target youth) and we need regulations that control the ingredients that go in to making tobacco products. We need the FDA to control the nicotine levels in products that addict the people that use/abuse tobacco products. WE need stronger laws that do a better job of protecting innocent adults and children from the harms of second-hand smoke. Don’t get me wrong here….I still want them OUT OF BUSINESS but sometimes it takes smaller steps to reach the end goal. FDA regulation could help but I still believe in my heart that the only way the killing will end is for a generation (or several generations) of youth to grow up as non-smokers. ………………………….............................................................. As I travel the country sharing Marie’s story I’ve encouraged people to be more open in sharing their stories with everyone that will listen. This is especially important with policy makers and political leaders. They need to understand that the stories we share are the stories of real people and real families…. …. ….I’m so thrilled to see so many people sharing their stories on this website. ...

1/2/07 I can’t believe another year of my life has gone by. The older I get the faster time seems to move….really kinda’ scary…….. I’m psyched about my schedule for the new year. This is the busiest beginning of the year since I started to speak full time six years ago. I always think that the program has stopped growing but thankfully I’m always wrong. There are still a LOT of people that want to hear our families story. Thankful, that is what I am………. Since the beginning I have always thought that the only way the deaths caused by the tobacco industry will end is to have a generation of non-smokers. People (young people) that refuse to fall for the lies and light that first cigarette is the only way. I’m still confused, and angered, that the local and federal policy makers refuse to control an industry responsible for KILLING 450,000 Americans EVERY SINGLE YEAR!! To bad there is no spinach in cigarettes then maybe we would have a chance at changing the future. Spinach kills and spinach is pulled from the shelves, Ephedria kills and it is pulled from store shelves, Firestone tires and the list goes on……why is tobacco allowed to kill so many? Answer: $$$$$$$$$....................................................................................................................................... 2/2/07 10:00PM Nobody said it would be easy….. Well here I am sitting in a service plaza on the New York thruway with snow coming down so hard I couldn’t see fifty feet on the highway. I have NEVER seen it snow so hard. The wind is blowing over thirty miles per hour and the temperature is eighteen degrees. These are very dangerous conditions and I had no choice but top stop. I just want to go home but that will have to wait. The wind is actually making my truck shake!!! I’ve been in Indiana for the last two weeks traveling the state and going school to school and town to town. I feel good about the last two weeks but feel very frustrated with the way tobacco control is going there. When will the law makers of Indiana wake up and do the right thing? I heard a comment the other day that one of these elected officials said he “wants a higher tobacco tax but does not want that money to fund tobacco control for Indiana because if people quit smoking the fund will dry up” I want to know what happened to an oath to protect and serve? Where is the integrity? And where are the morals that should be an integral part of being a public servant?? Being a public servant does not mean meeting your own personal agenda. ...

The following list is posted on the website for the "Indiana Prevention Resource Center" at "Indiana University"................ Additives Found in American Cigarettes ------------------------In addition to tobacco, which contains nicotine, the following 599 ingredients have been identified in tobacco industry documents as being added to tobacco in the manufacturing of cigarettes by the five major American cigarette manufacturing companies. While some of these chemicals, such as sugars, vanilla extract, prune juice, and vinegar, are generally recognized as safe when used in food products, all produce numerous additional chemical compounds when burned. None, probably, is more deadly than nicotine, however. Acetanisole, Acetic Acid, Acetoin, Acetophenone, 6-Acetoxydihydrotheaspirane, 2-Acetyl-3- Ethylpyrazine, 2-Acetyl-5-Methylfuran, Acetylpyrazine, 2-Acetylpyridine, 3-Acetylpyridine, 2-Acetylthiazole, Aconitic Acid, dl-Alanine, Alfalfa Extract, Allspice Extract, Oleoresin, And Oil, Allyl Hexanoate, Allyl Ionone, Almond Bitter Oil, Ambergris Tincture, Ammonia, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Hydroxide, Ammonium Phosphate Dibasic, Ammonium Sulfide, Amyl Alcohol, Amyl Butyrate, Amyl Formate, Amyl Octanoate, alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde, Amyris Oil, trans-Anethole, Angelica Root Extract, Oil and Seed Oil, Anise, Anise Star, Extract and Oils, Anisyl Acetate, Anisyl Alcohol, Anisyl Formate, Anisyl Phenylacetate, Apple Juice Concentrate, Extract, and Skins, Apricot Extract and Juice Concentrate, 1-Arginine, Asafetida Fluid Extract And Oil, Ascorbic Acid, 1-Asparagine Monohydrate, 1-Aspartic Acid, Balsam Peru and Oil, Basil Oil, Bay Leaf, Oil and Sweet Oil, Beeswax White, Beet Juice Concentrate, Benzaldehyde, Benzaldehyde Glyceryl Acetal, Benzoic Acid, Benzoin, Benzoin Resin, Benzophenone, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Butyrate, Benzyl Cinnamate, Benzyl Propionate, Benzyl Salicylate, Bergamot Oil, Bisabolene, Black Currant Buds Absolute, Borneol, Bornyl Acetate, Buchu Leaf Oil, 1,3-Butanediol, 2,3-Butanedione, 1-Butanol, 2-Butanone, 4(2-Butenylidene)-3,5,5-Trimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-One, Butter, Butter Esters, and Butter Oil, Butyl Acetate, Butyl Butyrate, Butyl Butyryl Lactate, Butyl Isovalerate, Butyl Phenylacetate, Butyl Undecylenate, 3-Butylidenephthalide, Butyric Acid, Cadinene, Caffeine, Calcium Carbonate, Camphene, Cananga Oil, Capsicum Oleoresin, Caramel Color, Caraway Oil, Carbon Dioxide, Cardamom Oleoresin, Extract, Seed Oil, and Powder, Carob Bean and Extract, beta-Carotene, Carrot Oil, Carvacrol, 4-Carvomenthenol, 1-Carvone, beta-Caryophyllene, beta-Caryophyllene Oxide, Cascarilla Oil and Bark Extract, Cassia Bark Oil, Cassie Absolute and Oil, Castoreum Extract, Tincture and Absolute, Cedar Leaf Oil, Cedarwood Oil Terpenes and Virginiana, Cedrol, Celery Seed Extract, Solid, Oil, And Oleoresin, Cellulose Fiber, Chamomile Flower Oil And Extract, Chicory Extract, Chocolate, Cinnamaldehyde, Cinnamic Acid, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Bark Oil, and Extract, Cinnamyl Acetate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Cinnamyl Cinnamate, Cinnamyl Isovalerate, Cinnamyl Propionate, Citral, Citric Acid, Citronella Oil, dl-Citronellol, Citronellyl Butyrate, Citronellyl Isobutyrate, Civet Absolute, Clary Oil, Clover Tops, Red Solid Extract, Cocoa, Cocoa Shells, Extract, Distillate And Powder, Coconut Oil, Coffee, Cognac White and Green Oil, Copaiba Oil, Coriander Extract and Oil, Corn Oil, Corn Silk, Costus Root Oil, Cubeb Oil, Cuminaldehyde, para-Cymene, 1-Cysteine, Dandelion Root Solid Extract, Davana Oil, 2-trans, 4-trans-Decadienal, delta-Decalactone, gamma-Decalactone, Decanal, Decanoic Acid, 1-Decanol, 2-Decenal, Dehydromenthofurolactone, Diethyl Malonate, Diethyl Sebacate, 2,3-Diethylpyrazine, Dihydro Anethole, 5,7-Dihydro-2-Methylthieno(3,4-D) Pyrimidine, Dill Seed Oil and Extract, meta-Dimethoxybenzene, para-Dimethoxybenzene, 2,6-Dimethoxyphenol, Dimethyl Succinate, 3,4-Dimethyl-1,2-Cyclopentanedione, 3,5- Dimethyl-1,2-Cyclopentanedione, 3,7-Dimethyl-1,3,6-Octatriene, 4,5-Dimethyl-3-Hydroxy-2,5-Dihydrofuran-2-One, 6,10-Dimethyl-5,9-Undecadien-2-One, 3,7-Dimethyl-6-Octenoic Acid, 2,4-Dimethylacetophenone, alpha,para-Dimethylbenzyl Alcohol, alpha,alpha-Dimethylphenethyl Acetate, alpha,alpha Dimethylphenethyl Butyrate, 2,3-Dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-Dimethylpyrazine, Dimethyltetrahydrobenzofuranone, delta-Dodecalactone, gamma-Dodecalactone, para-Ethoxybenzaldehyde, Ethyl 10-Undecenoate, Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate, Ethyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetoacetate, Ethyl Alcohol, Ethyl Benzoate, Ethyl Butyrate, Ethyl Cinnamate, Ethyl Decanoate, Ethyl Fenchol, Ethyl Furoate, Ethyl Heptanoate, Ethyl Hexanoate, Ethyl Isovalerate, Ethyl Lactate, Ethyl Laurate, Ethyl Levulinate, Ethyl Maltol, Ethyl Methyl Phenylglycidate, Ethyl Myristate, Ethyl Nonanoate, Ethyl Octadecanoate, Ethyl Octanoate, Ethyl Oleate, Ethyl Palmitate, Ethyl Phenylacetate, Ethyl Propionate, Ethyl Salicylate, Ethyl trans-2-Butenoate, Ethyl Valerate, Ethyl Vanillin, 2-Ethyl (or Methyl)-(3,5 and 6)-Methoxypyrazine, 2-Ethyl-1-Hexanol, 3-Ethyl -2 -Hydroxy-2-Cyclopenten-1-One, 2-Ethyl-3, (5 or 6)-Dimethylpyrazine, 5-Ethyl-3-Hydroxy-4-Methyl-2(5H)-Furanone, 2-Ethyl-3-Methylpyrazine, 4-Ethylbenzaldehyde, 4-Ethylguaiacol, para-Ethylphenol, 3-Ethylpyridine, Eucalyptol, Farnesol, D-Fenchone, Fennel Sweet Oil, Fenugreek, Extract, Resin, and Absolute, Fig Juice Concentrate, Food Starch Modified, Furfuryl Mercaptan, 4-(2-Furyl)-3-Buten-2-One, Galbanum Oil, Genet Absolute, Gentian Root Extract, Geraniol, Geranium Rose Oil, Geranyl Acetate, Geranyl Butyrate, Geranyl Formate, Geranyl Isovalerate, Geranyl Phenylacetate, Ginger Oil and Oleoresin, 1-Glutamic Acid, 1-Glutamine, Glycerol, Glycyrrhizin Ammoniated, Grape Juice Concentrate, Guaiac Wood Oil, Guaiacol, Guar Gum, 2,4-Heptadienal, gamma-Heptalactone, Heptanoic Acid, 2-Heptanone, 3-Hepten-2-One, 2-Hepten-4-One, 4-Heptenal, trans -2-Heptenal, Heptyl Acetate, omega-6-Hexadecenlactone, gamma-Hexalactone, Hexanal, Hexanoic Acid, 2-Hexen-1-Ol, 3-Hexen-1-Ol, cis-3-Hexen-1-Yl Acetate, 2-Hexenal, 3-Hexenoic Acid, trans-2-Hexenoic Acid, cis-3-Hexenyl Formate, Hexyl 2-Methylbutyrate, Hexyl Acetate, Hexyl Alcohol, Hexyl Phenylacetate, 1-Histidine, Honey, Hops Oil, Hydrolyzed Milk Solids, Hydrolyzed Plant Proteins, 5-Hydroxy-2,4-Decadienoic Acid delta- Lactone, 4-Hydroxy-2,5-Dimethyl-3(2H)-Furanone, 2-Hydroxy-3,5,5-Trimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-One, 4-Hydroxy -3-Pentenoic Acid Lactone, 2-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzaldehyde, 4-Hydroxybutanoic Acid Lactone, Hydroxycitronellal, 6-Hydroxydihydrotheaspirane, 4-(para-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-Butanone, Hyssop Oil, Immortelle Absolute and Extract, alpha-Ionone, beta-Ionone, alpha-Irone, Isoamyl Acetate, Isoamyl Benzoate, Isoamyl Butyrate, Isoamyl Cinnamate, Isoamyl Formate, Isoamyl Hexanoate, Isoamyl Isovalerate, Isoamyl Octanoate, Isoamyl Phenylacetate, Isobornyl Acetate, Isobutyl Acetate, Isobutyl Alcohol, Isobutyl Cinnamate, Isobutyl Phenylacetate, Isobutyl Salicylate, 2-Isobutyl-3-Methoxypyrazine, alpha-Isobutylphenethyl Alcohol, Isobutyraldehyde, Isobutyric Acid, d,l-Isoleucine, alpha-Isomethylionone, 2-Isopropylphenol, Isovaleric Acid, Jasmine Absolute, Concrete and Oil, Kola Nut Extract, Labdanum Absolute and Oleoresin, Lactic Acid, Lauric Acid, Lauric Aldehyde, Lavandin Oil, Lavender Oil, Lemon Oil and Extract, Lemongrass Oil, 1-Leucine, Levulinic Acid, Licorice Root, Fluid, Extract and Powder, Lime Oil , Linalool, Linalool Oxide, Linalyl Acetate, Linden Flowers, Lovage Oil And Extract, 1-Lysine, Mace Powder, Extract and Oil , Magnesium Carbonate, Malic Acid, Malt and Malt Extract, Maltodextrin, Maltol, Maltyl Isobutyrate, Mandarin Oil, Maple Syrup and Concentrate, Mate Leaf, Absolute and Oil, para-Mentha-8-Thiol-3-One, Menthol, Menthone, Menthyl Acetate, dl-Methionine, Methoprene, 2-Methoxy-4-Methylphenol, 2-Methoxy-4-Vinylphenol, para-Methoxybenzaldehyde, 1-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-Penten-3-One, 4-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-2-Butanone, 1-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-2-Propanone, Methoxypyrazine, Methyl 2-Furoate, Methyl 2-Octynoate, Methyl 2-Pyrrolyl Ketone, Methyl Anisate, Methyl Anthranilate, Methyl Benzoate, Methyl Cinnamate, Methyl Dihydrojasmonate, Methyl Ester of Rosin, Partially Hydrogenated, Methyl Isovalerate, Methyl Linoleate (48%), Methyl Linolenate (52%) Mixture, Methyl Naphthyl Ketone, Methyl Nicotinate, Methyl Phenylacetate, Methyl Salicylate, Methyl Sulfide, 3-Methyl-1-Cyclopentadecanone, 4-Methyl-1-Phenyl-2-Pentanone, 5-Methyl-2-Phenyl-2-Hexenal, 5-Methyl-2-Thiophenecarboxaldehyde, 6-Methyl-3,-5-Heptadien-2-One, 2-Methyl-3-(para-Isopropylphenyl) Propionaldehyde, 5-Methyl-3-Hexen-2-One, 1-Methyl-3Methoxy-4-Isopropylbenzene, 4-Methyl-3-Pentene-2-One, 2-Methyl-4-Phenylbutyraldehyde, 6-Methyl-5-Hepten-2-One, 4-Methyl-5-Thiazoleethanol, 4-Methyl-5-Vinylthiazole, Methyl-alpha-Ionone, Methyl-trans-2-Butenoic Acid, 4-Methylacetophenone, para-Methylanisole, alpha-Methylbenzyl Acetate, alpha-Methylbenzyl Alcohol, 2-Methylbutyraldehyde, 3-Methylbutyraldehyde, 2-Methylbutyric Acid, alpha-Methylcinnamaldehyde, Methylcyclopentenolone, 2-Methylheptanoic Acid, 2-Methylhexanoic Acid, 3-Methylpentanoic Acid, 4-Methylpentanoic Acid, 2-Methylpyrazine, 5-Methylquinoxaline, 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran-3-One, (Methylthio)Methylpyrazine (Mixture Of Isomers), 3-Methylthiopropionaldehyde, Methyl 3-Methylthiopropionate, 2-Methylvaleric Acid, Mimosa Absolute and Extract, Molasses Extract and Tincture, Mountain Maple Solid Extract, Mullein Flowers, Myristaldehyde, Myristic Acid, Myrrh Oil, beta-Napthyl Ethyl Ether, Nerol, Neroli Bigarde Oil, Nerolidol, Nona-2-trans,6-cis-Dienal, 2,6-Nonadien-1-Ol, gamma-Nonalactone, Nonanal, Nonanoic Acid, Nonanone, trans-2-Nonen-1-Ol, 2-Nonenal, Nonyl Acetate, Nutmeg Powder and Oil, Oak Chips Extract and Oil, Oak Moss Absolute, 9,12-Octadecadienoic Acid (48%) And 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic Acid (52%), delta-Octalactone, gamma-Octalactone, Octanal, Octanoic Acid, 1-Octanol, 2-Octanone, 3-Octen-2-One, 1-Octen-3-Ol, 1-Octen-3-Yl Acetate, 2-Octenal, Octyl Isobutyrate, Oleic Acid , Olibanum Oil, Opoponax Oil And Gum, Orange Blossoms Water, Absolute, and Leaf Absolute, Orange Oil and Extract, Origanum Oil, Orris Concrete Oil and Root Extract, Palmarosa Oil, Palmitic Acid, Parsley Seed Oil, Patchouli Oil, omega-Pentadecalactone, 2,3-Pentanedione, 2-Pentanone, 4-Pentenoic Acid, 2-Pentylpyridine, Pepper Oil, Black And White, Peppermint Oil, Peruvian (Bois De Rose) Oil, Petitgrain Absolute, Mandarin Oil and Terpeneless Oil, alpha-Phellandrene, 2-Phenenthyl Acetate, Phenenthyl Alcohol, Phenethyl Butyrate, Phenethyl Cinnamate, Phenethyl Isobutyrate, Phenethyl Isovalerate, Phenethyl Phenylacetate, Phenethyl Salicylate, 1-Phenyl-1-Propanol, 3-Phenyl-1-Propanol, 2-Phenyl-2-Butenal, 4-Phenyl-3-Buten-2-Ol, 4-Phenyl-3-Buten-2-One, Phenylacetaldehyde, Phenylacetic Acid, 1-Phenylalanine, 3-Phenylpropionaldehyde, 3-Phenylpropionic Acid, 3-Phenylpropyl Acetate, 3-Phenylpropyl Cinnamate, 2-(3-Phenylpropyl)Tetrahydrofuran, Phosphoric Acid, Pimenta Leaf Oil, Pine Needle Oil, Pine Oil, Scotch, Pineapple Juice Concentrate, alpha-Pinene, beta-Pinene, D-Piperitone, Piperonal, Pipsissewa Leaf Extract, Plum Juice, Potassium Sorbate, 1-Proline, Propenylguaethol, Propionic Acid, Propyl Acetate, Propyl para-Hydroxybenzoate, Propylene Glycol, 3-Propylidenephthalide, Prune Juice and Concentrate, Pyridine, Pyroligneous Acid And Extract, Pyrrole, Pyruvic Acid, Raisin Juice Concentrate, Rhodinol, Rose Absolute and Oil, Rosemary Oil, Rum, Rum Ether, Rye Extract, Sage, Sage Oil, and Sage Oleoresin, Salicylaldehyde, Sandalwood Oil, Yellow, Sclareolide, Skatole, Smoke Flavor, Snakeroot Oil, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Solanone, Spearmint Oil, Styrax Extract, Gum and Oil, Sucrose Octaacetate, Sugar Alcohols, Sugars, Tagetes Oil, Tannic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Tea Leaf and Absolute, alpha-Terpineol, Terpinolene, Terpinyl Acetate, 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydroquinoxaline, 1,5,5,9-Tetramethyl-13-Oxatricyclo(8.3.0.0(4,9))Tridecane, 2,3,4,5, and 3,4,5,6-Tetramethylethyl-Cyclohexanone, 2,3,5,6-Tetramethylpyrazine, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Thiazole, 1-Threonine, Thyme Oil, White and Red, Thymol, Tobacco Extracts, Tochopherols (mixed), Tolu Balsam Gum and Extract, Tolualdehydes, para-Tolyl 3-Methylbutyrate, para-Tolyl Acetaldehyde, para-Tolyl Acetate, para-Tolyl Isobutyrate, para-Tolyl Phenylacetate, Triacetin, 2-Tridecanone, 2-Tridecenal, Triethyl Citrate, 3,5,5-Trimethyl -1-Hexanol, para,alpha,alpha-Trimethylbenzyl Alcohol, 4-(2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohex-1-Enyl)But-2-En-4-One, 2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohex-2-Ene-1,4-Dione, 2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohexa-1,3-Dienyl Methan, 4-(2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohexa-1,3-Dienyl)But-2-En-4-One, 2,2,6-Trimethylcyclohexanone, 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine, 1-Tyrosine, delta-Undercalactone, gamma-Undecalactone, Undecanal, 2-Undecanone, 1 0-Undecenal, Urea, Valencene, Valeraldehyde, Valerian Root Extract, Oil and Powder, Valeric Acid, gamma-Valerolactone, Valine, Vanilla Extract And Oleoresin, Vanillin, Veratraldehyde, Vetiver Oil, Vinegar, Violet Leaf Absolute, Walnut Hull Extract, Water, Wheat Extract And Flour, Wild Cherry Bark Extract, Wine and Wine Sherry, Xanthan Gum, 3,4-Xylenol, Yeast ...

It's been 7 years today since Marie's death due to a lifetime of smoking. I hope everyone remembers why we all fight so hard against an idustry that takes so many lives. Today 1,200 American famalies will experience that same loss. What will YOU do to bring about change? What will happen to an industry that goes totally unregulated? Will you be silent?...

YES I do read every letter that is received here on my website and I read all the letters that are delivered by mail......Thanks... Rick...

1/2/07 I can’t believe another year of my life has gone by. The older I get the faster time seems to move….really kinda’ scary…….. I’m psyched about my schedule for the new year. This is the busiest beginning of the year since I started to speak full time six years ago. I always think that the program has stopped growing but thankfully I’m always wrong. There are still a LOT of people that want to hear our families story..... Thankful....... that is what I am………thankful....... Since the beginning I have always thought that the only way the deaths caused by the tobacco industry will end is to have a generation of non-smokers. People (young people) that refuse to fall for the lies and light that first cigarette is the only way. I’m still confused, and angered, that the local and federal policy makers refuse to control an industry responsible for KILLING 450,000 Americans EVERY SINGLE YEAR!! To bad there is no spinach in cigarettes then maybe we would have a chance at changing the future. Spinach kills and spinach is pulled from the shelves, Ephedria kills and it is pulled from store shelves, Firestone tires and the list goes on……why is tobacco allowed to kill so many? Answer: $$$$$$$$$...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...

12/5/06...KICKIN’ SOME TOBACCO INDUSTRY BUTTS!!!!!!! What an amazing year working with some cool people that all have the same goal as me….kickin’ some tobacco industry butt! It’s been a long and difficult year but I REALLY feel like the tobacco industry took a beating this year. I meet more and more people every day that have had enough of the tobacco industries generation after generation of telling lies, addicting our loved ones and targeting our youth. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! I met a teacher a few weeks ago in NY and she said to me “Rick, that was really good again” I asked her had she heard me speak before and she said “yes, I heard you when I was in high school” What a great sign that we have reached a generation of young people with Marie’s story. How can I ever begin to thank the people who have helped me touch so many lives with her story. New York, Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Massachusetts. Kim and Johnny, Gina, Christina, Katie, John, Travis, Jeff, Karry, Sara, Victoria, Karla, Ursula, Nan, Tom, Clif and Mary, Amy, Beth, Chris, Terry, Peg, Ann, Donna, Tricia, Allison, Michelle, Mary Jo, Bruce, Tina, Karin, Melanie, Sue, Becky, Stacey, Brandi, Scott, Julie, Lorene, Karesa, Laura, Russet, Tara, Deb, Jim, Mark, Olivia, and on and on and on…..I will remember you all for what you do. Your commitment to making our world a better place is truly inspiring to me. I got home Friday feeling very tired but good. My knees hurt and I thought I would just rest for the weekend……WRONG!!! Got a call Saturday to come to the emergency room where my three year old grandson Shane was being prepped for emergency surgery to have his appendix removed!!! There is nothing so heart breaking as seeing someone you love so much in so much pain. Shane is home now and being the three year old that he is (-: On his way home he wanted popcorn chicken from KFC. Last I talked with him he was eating chicken and watching Star Wars……....

11/16/06 NEW YORK!!! I’m not quite sure why I get such enjoyment in coming to New York…. Is it because my Dad is from New York and I have a lot of relatives that live here and I feel that connection?.… Is it all the good friends I have made over the last five years of working with the youth and adults here?… Is it because New York is close to home?…… The answer I believe is all of the above. I have gotten a ton of letters from youth and adults across New York and that means the world to me. The postings over the last four weeks are just awesome! I love getting those letters here on the website. To thank all the schools individually would be hard to do so I want to send a general thank you to all the New York schools I’ve visited. What great young people!!! Yesterday I spoke in two health classes in an “inner-city” school. Before I went to this school people seemed a little “concerned” that I would be in this school….”tough kids” “ooohhhhh” “aaahhhh” …….well guess what….They were all wrong. The kids in this school were very polite and showed respect for Marie’s story and the time that I spent there. ………………………………........................................................................... THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE-OUT……. I hope everyone uses this day to make a choice to be healthy and smoke free. It has been proven by scientist and researchers that smoking can take your life. “WHAT PART OF DEAD DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?” Do it for yourself…Do it for your family now….And do it for your family of the future. Scientist have PROVEN! PROVEN! that smoking can cause harm to EVERY organ of your body. Check this out………… A 40 year old that quits NOW and puts that money in a 401k plan would save $220,000.00 by age 70!!!!! The costs don't stop with your paycheck. New figures from the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assert that smokers cost the economy $92 billion a year in lost productivity. An additional $75 billion is estimated spent on public and private health care combined. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says each American household spends $630 a year in federal and state taxes due to smoking....

10/30/06.……….Four weeks across the mid-west and I couldn’t feel better about that trip. I visited some amazing schools and had the blessed opportunity to work with some wonderful young people. Thanks not only to all the youth but to the adults responsible for getting me where I needed to be on time. It’s not easy to schedule this many days and this many schools and I truly appreciate ALL of your hard work to make this trip so successful. To all the schools………..it would be hard to thank each of you personally so please accept my general thanks to all the students for giving me a fair chance to share the things I've learned in my many years here on earth. To the student that gave me your pack of cigarettes after the program… I’m so thankful that my words meant that much to you. To Lane…what a wise choice for you and happy 18th birthday and good luck in the future. To Castle High….you KNOW how much all of you mean to me and keep on “paying it forward” (more on that below) Peace in your lives….Rick ………………………………....................................................................................................................................................................................................... “Pay It Forward” ………. In the six year I’ve been speaking I’ve tried an experiment three other times. I would pull five random people from the audience and give them $20 each to do as they please. There are no requirements but I ask that they consider “paying it forward” to someone else. The only thing I “ask” for in return is that they write to me and tell me what they did with the $20. Of the 15 people I have tried in the past only two responded that they had actually paid it forward…..good enough. For my return trip to Castle High School I decided that I would try it again. I would skip enough meals in the first three weeks of my trip to save $100 before I arrived at Castle….. “Good leads to good“…..At one of the schools I visited I was given a very nice card and inside was a gift card for $100 good for any store, anywhere…. COOL!!!! But I decided that the thing to do was “pay that money forward” also…… $200 double cool!!! Ten people from Castle joined me on the gym floor that day and I gave them $20 each with the hopes that they would “pay it forward” That was last week and I want to share with you the first letter that I received ……………………… Dear Rick, My name is Morgan *****. In late October you came to our school for an assembly. You shared personal secrets and inspiring stories about your wife, son , and grandson's. I was inspired by it all. I sat there listening to you and I couldn’t think of who you reminded me of. I have finally figured it out. You remind me of my friend Charlie. He was one of my best friends and a man I would be proud to call my grandfather if I had ever had the chance. He passed away about four years ago, but he had your spirit and that same bald head and white beard. I was one of the 10 people you brought down from the audience to stand with you. When you gave each of us the twenty dollars, I wasn’t sure what to do with it. You said we could do whatever we wanted with it. I'll admit at first I was like "ooo twenty dollars!" but then I thought about it and I wanted be make a difference with that money, like you made a difference. I know there was probable many people that talked to you afterwards but one particular girl talked to you about her mother. Her mother has had lung cancer for about 6 years and hasn’t smoked a day in her life. Her name was Sarah and she was a good friend of mine. She told me about a lot that has happened in her life. Its hard to see so many bad things happen to such a good person. Yet she is one of the most positive happy people I have ever met. When I stood there while you gave me that money, I thought about the most deserving person that I could give it to. Mr. Stoddard. I paid it forward. I found Sarah after I finished talking to you about my dad and I gave her the money. I just wanted you to know. Thank you Mr. Stoddard for what you have given me. The inspiration. Sincerely, Morgan ********* ***** ...

10/23/06.............. Oak Hill Middle School, Central High School and Reisz High School THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!! I had a great day in your schools. Special thanks to Central for the card and gift certificate you passed along to me…..be assured I will “Pay It Forward” Marie’s story reached almost 4,000 people today….WOW!!! I am so thankful to have the opportunity to come to all these schools. I admit that I’m tired but very inspired and energized for tomorrows programs....

10/22/06 It’s been nine days since I last wrote here in my journal…..a VERY busy nine days and nine days that I’m thankful for. My trip across Kansas was wonderful. All the schools were pretty small but we had a great time. I find the people of Kansas to be friendly and kind. Thanks to all the waitresses, hotel staff, school administrators, teachers and students that showed me their kind and caring side. The KDHE employees that cared for me and kept me on time and in the right places were just amazing. We laughed and we worked hard together to make a difference in the lives of the students, teachers and communities that we had the privilege of sharing Marie’s story with………I am thankful. I believe that all of our paths cross for a reason. Sometimes we know why and other times we are not so sure, but be assured that EVERYONE’S path that crosses yours is for reason ........................................................... I’ve often talked about being kind and giving to one another. If you give freely of yourself with no expectations of anything in return you will be repaid ten fold. You get what you give and you get what you live. If you live a bad life, making bad choices, doing hateful or mean acts to others that is exactly what you will get in return…..but…..If you treat others with respect and kindness that is EXACTLY what you will get in return….”The love you get is equal to the love you give” Fill your life with good thoughts, good intentions and good deeds and you will forever be blessed. Peace in your lives my friends……..Rick...

10/8/06 Well here I am sitting in a hotel room (again) just outside Kansas City on my way to the next area. I’m very tired today. I just feel overwhelmed with the length of this trip. I talked to Shane (my 3 year old grandson) and he said “Grampy, you coming home from Kansas?”. It broke my heart. I just don’t know how I’m going to get through five more weeks of this.......................... Last week in Indiana was just awesome. THANKS to all of the people that posted letters here on the website. I love reading those letters. I’m sure that’s what’s going to make the difference on this trip. I don’t think I could do this without your encouragement. Please, just remember….....”Surely it is our duty to do all the good we can, for all the people we can, in all the ways that we can”. The world can be a very tough place. There are a lot people out there that are not very nice….please make up for that by being just be little bit kinder/nicer to one another. ...

The last two days have been great here in Indiana. Yesterday I was in the South Bend area and in the Greenfield area today. What great kids I get to share Marie’s story with. I’m tired tonight but after the standing ovation today at Greenfield Middle School I’m ready for tomorrow. Thanks to all the kids today who allowed me to share Marie’s story with them and for showing respect and kindness. How could I ever ask for more than that? I truly believe that this IS the generation that will make the difference. I thought a LOT about my grandsons Jake and Shane today and I miss them so much. I talk to them on the phone but it’s not quite the same as being with them. It can be so difficult trying to balance making a difference in peoples lives and my own personal home life. ...

8/25/06..... Do you ever wonder why things happen as they do? Every month I try to donate food to the food share program in my town. About a week ago I talked with one of the local people that sells corn and told him I wanted to donate about $50 worth of corn and how much corn will that get me. He said he would let me have two large bags of corn. About 5 ½ dozen ears per bag. So we made the deal and I would pick up the corn on Thursday. Cool. Jake (my grandson) and I got up Thursday morning and headed down to the corn man. When we got there a sign had been posted “No Corn” “Closed until Aug 25” ……..WHAT is up with that??? Jake and I had put off our fishing trip to pick up the corn and the man wasn’t there. Closed??!! AS Jake and I left and started heading home I thought ….“nope”….”not going home”…..”I can get some corn” We did a u-turn (legally…LOL!) and headed for a place that I new also sold local grown corn. It would only take about another 7 minutes to get there ………………….HERE IS A SIMPLE TRUTH……..When you do random acts of kindness really good things can and do happen……. I talked to the farmer at the new farm stand and told him what I wanted to do. How much corn can I get for fifty bucks? The guy said he would let me have 3 big bags for $50..COOL!! That’s 1 bag more than the other dude. As we loaded up the corn the guy says “Go ahead and take 4 bags” Jake and I delivered the 4 big bags of corn to the food bank, went home, grabbed the boat and went fishing for the day. EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE HAPPENS FOR A REASON.. EVERYTHING.. If the other corn guy had been there Thursday morning we would have gotten only half the corn we delivered….....

8/22/06 A lot has been going on over the last month or so. I’ve been to Indiana Teen Institute, the Indiana State Fair, vacation and a short motorcycle trip with my grandson Jake out to the Berkshire Mountains in Western Massachusetts. Teen Institute was great as always. I’m amazed at the transformation the students go through in just a few short days. We talk about teaching kids to become leaders but I think it is more that we have the privilege to watch the leader that already exists inside them emerge. As our community project we once again picked up cigarette butts on the campus of Vincennes University. Less than 40 students, working in unbearable heat, on less than half the campus picked up over 10,000 cigarette butts. This is the third year in a row we have picked up this many butts. HEY VINCENNES>>>>>WAKE UP!!!!!!!! The Indiana State Fair was a special day indeed, but it certainly started out a little rough….. Packing for a 2,000 mile, eight days on the road motorcycle trip requires some good preparation. I packed my trailer that I pull behind my motorcycle, checked the toung weight of the trailer, did all the little final checks that need to be done, fired her up and headed for Indiana. On one of my very first stops at the New York border I realized I had forgotten my map, map directions, hotel information, tickets to get me in the fair and on and on and on !!!!*%$@# !!!! Decision time….I decided to just keep on going. I had remembered most of the map directions. I had stayed in the same hotel before and I’d just bet I could get myself in that fair some how. Wait it gets better……Heading down Rt. 1 in Indiana my trailer lights shorted and blew the fuse to my brake/ turn signals and horn. Ok decision time again…Am I just jinxed and should go home before something really bad happens or keep going….I decided to fix the fuse and short and keep on going. After 1,000 miles and all the little problems I was feeling a little worn and tired and new the next day at the fair was going to be long. The next day at the fair it POURED rain. TWICE!! I though man this is some few days and then it happened…. AS I turned from the “corn dog” wagon I noticed a young boy of maybe 10 years old. I smiled and said “hi” as I walked away, to eat my Indiana State Fair corn dog, a woman just off to my right says “he would really like to meet you” I shook his hand and we talked for a minute and I realized that ALL the things leading up to this moment were to test my will and to go to the fair because of this ONE MOMENT in my life and his…. That’s powerful. Everywhere we go and everyone we meet is not just chance. Our paths cross for a reason that will probably always be unknown. ...

I felt I used my time much better this year at the fair by informing all the people attending the motocross show about the new tobacco product called “Tabocca” I find it disgusting and infuriating that phillip morris has decided, once again, to use the people of Indiana as test subjects for their new deadly product. HEY INDIANA>>>>>>>TELL phillip morris WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THEIR PRODUCTS!!!!!!!!!!!! Vacation was nice. We rode the motorcycle over 2,000 miles in eight days. We rode across New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. The Berkshire Mountains, the Catskill Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains are just a beautiful place to be mentally and physically. It was refreshing to say the least. I love long motorcycle trips. It clears my mind. Jake and I had a nice ride and a chance to talk about life things. He is such a good kid and I am so proud of him. I have no doubts that he will grow up to be a fine young man. ...

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7/29/06 It can be so hard to sit down and write my feelings. I know that a lot of times I hold back what I truly want to say, but I will keep trying to get better. I’ve been at the Indiana Teen Institute camp for a week now and I admit it “I’m tired”. I’m tired mentally and physically. It is when the youth leave camp that the fatigue sets in. I’m looking forward to today because the middle school session will begin and I know my energy level will go to where it needs to be. The high school session was great. I know in my heart that the youth that participated in the high school session have the ability to go back to their communities and schools and make a difference................... I hope that (even though my heart is in tobacco control) they will work towards many goals. Hunger in our own back yards is all too familiar in our country. I want you to think about what can YOU do to change that. There are families in every community across or country that go to bed every night wondering will they eat tomorrow. There are students that are in your schools and class rooms that had nothing to eat for supper last. What will you do about it? I asked the youth that were in camp last week if they were outraged that the tobacco industry kills 13,000 people worldwide EVERY DAY!! Let’s put it this way……. if baby formula killed 13,000 babies every day would you be outraged? If “Gummy Bears” were addictive and killed 13,000 children every day would you be outraged? What will it take for the world to be outraged that the tobacco industry gets away with the same killing patterns but survive because they are a billion dollar industry. What will it take? ...

7/15/06 I’m home from a short, but very busy trip to Indiana and then Washington, DC. TEEN POWER camp in Evansville was really cool! I had a great time seeing everyone I know and getting to meet some new people. The teens from the camp are another group of young people who will grow up with the same goals in mind….shutting down the tobacco industry by staying smoke-free and passing that along to their children someday…… and so on and so and so on. We did a break-out session where fines were handed out to people or things that influenced a fictional character to smoke his first cigarette. It turns out once again that peer pressure was the number one factor. Young people do have a lot of “negative pressure” in their lives. I believe that it’s time to turn that around……. youth need to reverse the negative peer pressure and start pressuring your friends with positive peer pressure. If people will pressure you to start smoking do you have the right and the responsibility to reverse that? …WASHINGTON, DC... I’ll get right to the point. I’m disappointed with myself….I wore a suit jacket and didn’t wear my black t-shirt and motorcycle boots. Now I know that doesn’t sound like a big deal, but to me it is. I should have walked up on that stage wearing my motorcycle boots, t-shirt and jeans like I have done in a thousand schools! I should have had the same “let’s put the tobacco industry out of business” and “nothing else is good enough” attitude that I always have! I let the “thought” of being around so many high powered people blur my vision! I apologize. I’m outraged that they estimate one BILLION people will be killed in the twenty-first century by the tobacco industry. I’m outraged and I should have said so! ……………..The conference was awesome. I met people from around the globe that have a vision of a smoke-free planet. I’m so honored to be a part of this and have made new friendships that will last a life time. I learned new things that will certainly be passed along to as many people as possible. I had the absolute honor to meet and have a small private conversation with Dr. C. Everett Koop. WOW!!!!! What an amazing man. Just to see him in the room was amazing but to talk with him about anti-tobacco programs and young people was truly inspiring. I have few days off and then off to ITI…..soooooooo…. “I’m goin’ fishin’” ...

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/sgr_2006/index.htm...

6/28/06… The Surgeon General’s report is OUT!!! How many times do people need to be told that exposure to ANY, ANY tobacco smoke IS harmful to your health. If you expose your children to tobacco smoke your are putting their health at risk. There is no more arguing this subject. The information is SOLID, POSITIVE proof that the health risk are very real. Tobacco smoke IS toxic and poisonous. There are more than 50 CANCER CAUSING chemicals in second-hand smoke. There is NO risk-free level. **Secondhand smoke is composed of side-stream smoke (the smoke released from the burning end of a cigarette) and exhaled mainstream smoke (the smoke exhaled by the smoker). Because side-stream smoke is generated at lower temperatures and under different conditions than mainstream smoke, it contains higher concentrations of many of the toxins found in inhaled cigarette smoke.** Even passing through tobacco smoke can have health risk. Here are 6 major conclusions to the Surgeon General’s report……………. 1) Many millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces despite substantial progress in tobacco control. 2) Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke. 3) Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children. 4) Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer. 5) The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. 6) Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke. STOP putting your family and yourself at risk. Speak out and let the entire world know that enough is enough. STOP BEING THE SILENT MAJORITY! SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION!! ...

6/25/06….. I’ve been feeling burnt out lately. I’ve been on the road sharing the details of Marie’s death caused by lung cancer for almost six years and I’ve told her story over 900 times. I’m burnt out!! These feelings always get me during the summer when I have time off and start to think about what I do. When I’m in schools I feel energized and know that Marie’s story is making a difference plus I’m so busy traveling school to school that I don’t have time to think. I will be at Teen Power Camp and then Indiana Teen Institute in July so I hope that will get me re-motivated. I will be flying to Washington right after the Teen Power Camp to be a part of the “World Tobacco Conference” for one day. I’m excited and nervous all at the same time. There will be people from all around the world coming together to discuss how we can make a global difference fighting big tobacco. I’ve been asked to sit on a panel of six people from six different countries to answer questions……me…….answering to the world……..me!! WOW!!! There will also be an interview that was recorded at my house a few months back that will air at the conference. The segment is called “Heartwarming profiles in courage within the tobacco control movement” I hope that people will understand the long term impact that tobacco has had on my life by seeing this short film clip. One thing that bothers a lot of people who lose a loved one is the world moves on like nothing ever happened. Everyone’s life returns to normal while you feel like life will never be the same again. The death of the person you love becomes old news to the world in a very short time. People are dead and it’s old news……14,000 per day……5 million per year……50 million every decade…….all thanks to one product that if used as intended causes death. NO OTHER PRODUCT IN THE WORLD IS ALLOWED TO KILL THIS MANY PEOPLE. SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION. STOP THE KILLING NOW!!! ...

5/24/06…New York…. I’ve had two great days here in central NY. I have one more day and then I head home. I am so impressed with the work of Reality Check. I so wish that all states could accomplish what Reality Check has accomplished. The youth here are fighting so hard against the tobacco industry and they are winning. I feel like we are so close to having a smoke free generation. We had a pizza party tonight in the little town of Copenhagen and about 60 youth showed up to show their support for Reality Check and the fight against the tobacco industry. It was really cool that some of the youth brought their parents with them…cool!! South Lewis, Copenhagen and Case………..Thank You for believing in Marie’s story. ...

Quietly Thinking….. I haven’t been writing much lately because I just don’t have a lot to say right now……but I have been quietly thinking. I’ve been thinking about all the things that go on in everyday life. I think how lucky I am to have family and friends that love me. I think how lucky I am to live in a free society. I think how things could be so different without a single moments notice. One thing I think about a lot (and this should be no surprise) is what I do, tobacco control. With all that I’ve learned over the last six years I become more alarmed (and dismayed) every day that tobacco is still legal. I think about why is a product so deadly allowed on the shelves of stores. I think about cigarette litter and how there is NO where you can go and not see cigarette butts all over the ground. I think about the terrible negative effects that tobacco has had on our lives and on our society. I think about have “I” done enough to stop this deadly industry. I think what more can I do. I think how non-smokers are the very large majority of the population yet we are the silent majority. I encourage you no matter your age or social background to please write to the editorial/opinion page of your local paper and voice your opinion for tobacco control. I encourage people in states that don’t protect innocent people with smoke-free work places to contact your local elected officials and voice your opinion. ...

Hey Rick~ I am sorry we did'nt get the chance to meet. I had just discovered that Marie had passed away by watching tv. I was horrified to learn that my childhood best friend died. I am the one that contacted the television station to get to you. I am sorry I did not follow up with you. Right after contacting you, I learned that I needed to go into the hospital for major surgery. At the time I was too ill and did not want to burden you with my own ailments. But anyway, I am doing well now. I want to let you know that I think you are doing a wonderful justice to Marie. Your love for her is wonderful. Marie continues to touch so many people lives, everytime you tell her story. I can't tell you how many times people comment on the commercials and radio ads. You and Marie do effect people EVERY time a commercial or radio spot appear. I also just saw the ad in our local Cape Cod times. So often the discussion comes up about smoking and then Marie is mentioned. I will tell you when I say that Marie and I were childhood friends. People in the discussion are touched by how close to home it hits. Although Marie and I ended up going off in different directions in our lives, she was always a big part of me. My most memorable memories of my life include Marie and her family. They all were terrific to me. Marie and I lived on Sydney Street in Dorchester only a few doors from each other. We were always together from the beginning in the sixth grade. Her parents always took me with them to Royalston for the weekends. To me it was a new world. Marie had a wonderful family. Mr. S******** was so kind (Alfred) Marie was so very close to him. It was difficult for her when he died. Mrs. S*******( the woman of steel) Joan the big sister and Peggy. All of their dogs, especially "Goody" ! They all were so good to me. Marie and I had a lot of first's together growing up, including that first cigarette! Viceroy! I remember that Marie, myself and our other very best childhood friend Moe Maureen ***********. ( I believe you met her down in LA) We all had our first cigarettes together. We would never have believed that smoking would have killed us. I quit smoking 17 years ago. It was something that I did not believe I would be able to do. Smoking was such a monkey on my back. I was so heartbroken to learn of Marie's passing. Just looking this picture on this website, makes me warm. Marie never changed. She was the happiest, high on life person I have ever known. She always made me laugh. She was always laughing. I am so sorry she had such a tragic end to her beautiful life. While we lost touch, I would have loved to have gotten back together with her. I know that she hooked back up with Moe and her husband in LA. I believe that is when I learned that Marie married and that her last name was Stoddard. It is amazing that I remembered that. Just hearing the name on television and looking up and seeing her! I know Moe and her husband ended moving back up here to Rhode Island and lost touch again. I also have lost touch with them. Do you know if Moe is aware of Marie's passing? I was going through a divorce 17 years ago and raising my two kids. So I lost touch again and still have not gotten back in touch There is so much I would love to know about Marie in her adult life. Did you guys have any children? If so how old are they. Any grandchildren? I am so fortunate to have two children and one grandchild…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. I would love to get the opportunity to meet you and talk about Marie, our childhood and teen years. And of course your life with her and your loss of her. The warm weather is coming and easier for travel. Whenever, I have a bowl of Campbell's chicken noodle soup, I think of Marie. We used to have a bowl of soup at her house after school and play the Beatle's "yellow submarine". Like I said I have crazy fun memories. I look forward to hearing from you. Stay well and continue doing this wonderful work in Marie's memory. Deb ...

4/27/06 “Sunny days seem to hurt the most, I wear the pain like a heavy coat, I feel you every where I go………..” These are words to a country song that haunt me constantly. Today is one of those sunny days here in Evansville, IN. and its days like this that I just want to be home. Sitting in a hotel room for hours wears on my nerves. I don’t have any regular schools today but have an after school program at 3:00pm and then a VOICE meeting after. It is so important for me to stay busy when I’m on the road….keeps me from thinking to much. Yesterday was a great day in the area around Batesville, IN. I stayed busy with three schools and then made the four hour drive to Evansville. The kids were awesome as usual and I was really pleased to get the chance to share Marie’s story to several hundred students. Last night there were quite a few emails and letters posted to the website and I’m so thankful that this story has had such a profound effect on so many young people. ...

I received this email last nigt. I've been having a hard time keeping my motivation up. This could not have come at a better time................Dear Rick, My name is Christopher ******* and I am one of the 7th grade language arts teachers at Angola Middle School in Angola, IN. A year or so ago, you came to Angola Middle School to do a speaking event for our students and staff and really left an impact on my heart and life (as I am sure you did with many that day.) I was doing some things on the computer today and God placed your name on my heart. I really just wanted to say hello, let you know that you are doing outstanding work in speaking with so many in your daily activities, and truly thank you for all that you do. Rick, I am not going to take up much time, but I did feel the need to spread God's truths and words with you a little to encourage you. I know that speaking in front of many cannot be an easy task by any means, especially about the topics that you tackle and the personal nature of them. I know that, though it might seem odd being a teacher, but I don't feel very comfortable in speaking in front of large groups. I can only imagine the courage you have been blessed with each time you go before an audience and speak your heart. I believe that God is providing you all the strength, courage, wisdom, and words because he knows that you are doing work for Him (as well as yourself) in order to help so many others. Please don't give up the terrific things you do. The following words are from the Bible to help you continue what you do: Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Sometimes when we can't be courageous out of faith, we can still be courageous out of obedience. The next time you face fear and the urge to back away from what is right, speak to it as you would a tempter and say, "My Lord has commanded me to be strong and of good courage. Buzz off in the name of Jesus Christ. I have things I need to get done." God will be with you. I just hope this message finds you and your family well! Thank you again for all that you do and may God continue to bless you each and every day. Take care, Christopher ******* ...

www.cigarettelitter.org...

4/23/06 A SMALL SALUTE… I was listening to a CD this morning and a song played that reminded me of some people I have known. Here are my thoughts on one of the many… I met Tony in a small New York town a little over four years ago. Even in high school Tony had a passion and drive to help people in any way he could. He emailed me a few times and wrote about his thoughts on finishing school, having some fun and working hard in Reality Check and then to go on to become a United States Marine. The last email I got from Tony he was headed for basic training in the Marines. Tony wrote to me one time that I had influenced his life and I made him want to be a better person. I’ve been told by so many young people that “I have changed their life” but it is also true that they have all “changed mine.” My friend Tony is one example of a young person that as a teenager influenced me to become a better and stronger person and he continues to be in my thoughts so many years later. I think about Tony often and I think how proud I am to call this man my friend. So the next time you see a Soldier make sure you say Thanks for all they have sacrificed and for all they have done ……………….who knows…… it may just be Tony. ...

On May 6th Indiana youth in the "VOICE" movement will have a "Drop Dead Day" to protest how many people die from tobacco use. Check out the www.voice.tv website for more information. Maybe your state or youth group would like to do something on the same day or send a message here at rickstoddard.com to encourage the VOICE youth. Short notice but you CAN do it. "SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION"...

4/12/06… It’s NEVER to late…… After your last cigarette... 20 minutes: Heart rate returns to normal... 8 hours: More oxygen in your blood, your lungs begin to clear, breathing becomes easier... 48 hours: Smell and taste begin to return... 3 months: Blood circulation improves, your immune system improves... 9 months: Less sinus congestion, wheezing and less shortness of breath... 1 year: Heart attack risk cut in half... 5 years: Lower risk of stroke... 10 years: Risk of lung cancer cut in half... SOME TIPS... DELAY just a few minutes for urge to pass... DRINK water to fight off cravings... DO something to distract from cravings... DEEP breathing to relax... DISCUSS how you feel with a friend or write your feelings.......... Some Cancers that are caused by the tar in tobacco smoke: LUNG CANCER, LIP CANCER, MOUTH CANCER, THROAT CANCER, LARYNX CANCER, BLADDER CANCER, PANCREATIC CANCER, STOMACH CANCER, KIDNEY CANCER, CERVIX CANCER.......... HEART DISEASE, STROKE, EMPHYSEMA,CHRONIC BRONCHITIS are caused by nicotine and carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke.................. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from: BRONCHITIS, PNEUMONIA, EAR INFECTIONS, SEVERE ASTHMA...................................... www.nysmokefree.com ...

4/11/06 Home at last…….. 10:am. I’ve been home for a few days now and I think I’m finally caught up on rest. I got home Friday night about 9:30pm and slept through the night, got up Saturday morning still feeling really tired so I slept most of Saturday to. I took some time on Sunday and Monday and went fishing for a little while……Wow did that feel good!! So now I feel totally rested and ready to go forward with a very busy week. 8:30pm. I was contacted a few months ago by some people who wanted to interview me for a segment that would play at the “World Tobacco Conference” in Washington this year. During the last five years I have faced a lot of interviews on TV, radio and print but for some reason this one made me more nervous than ever before. I think I new that this would be different…not in a bad way but in a good but difficult way. We talked about how I got to this point sharing Marie’s story to so many thousands of people. We talked about Marie and the difference her life and her story has made in the lives of others. We talked about the tobacco industry and the global price that is paid daily for allowing this industry to continue its path of broken hearts and lies. We talked about the youth and how we need this generation to take a stand. We talked about tobacco world wide and I was surprised that I didn’t have a very good answer for what I though about the tobacco industry on a global scale. I need to listen to some advice from my Reality Check friends in New York “SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION” As always I feel that the people who cross your path in life are not just at random. Our paths cross for a reason…..To the four people who were here today for the interview…..we are now connected for life. I may never see or meet you again but we are now connected….peace in your lives….thank you….. And don’t play the drums to loud LOL!!! ...

4/6/06 Still on the road…….. I finally go home tomorrow. I’m exhausted but very glad that I’ve been able to travel and share Marie’s story for the last three weeks across Indiana, Kansas and Western New York. I want to thank all the people who were involved in making this three week trip happen. Thanks for the kindness and compassion that you have all shown to me and my family. Clarence Middle School……WOW!! You were just AWESOME!! I REALLY enjoyed the time that we spent together today. Keep sharing Marie’s story with your families and friends. You have the opportunity to become a smoke-free generation. “Silence is not an option” speak out and let your voice be heard. ...

4/3/06******** New York has been a very interesting and somewhat disappointing day.********** Attica, NY... The students were just awesome considering that we only had 40 minutes to present a one hour program. I’m glad to see the new letters to the website to let me know the message was heard loud and clear in Attica. Thank you!************** Batavia, NY…… To the student that was removed from the room before the program even started. I hope that you NEVER need to suffer the pain my family has had to suffer because you lost your Mom or wife to a needless death. I hope you NEVER need to deal with the disrespect that YOU showed in that auditorium this morning.**************** To all the OTHER students at Batavia……Thank you so much for showing respect for Marie today. Be assured that the student that was so disrespectful this morning does NOT reflect on you or your school. I never let one person sway my opinion of others. I enjoyed my time at your school and hope to return someday. THANK YOU!!!...

4/2/06 I’ve been on the road for two weeks now and I’m starting to get really tired. I spent a week in Indiana and then drove to Kansas where I spent a week. I left Kansas Friday afternoon after my last program and drove to central Iowa. From there I drove to central Ohio and then on to western New York this morning. I’ve put 4,000 miles on my truck in two weeks! I’m exhausted and I miss my family….. I really enjoyed my time in Kansas. The people there took good care of me. The response from the youth in the schools to Marie’s story was just awesome. Thanks to everyone who was involved in making this two week long tour happen. I can’t wait to return someday. Misty…How are you doing with your struggle to quit smoking? Are you still hanging in there? Don’t forget we are all pulling for you. You can do it! Don’t stop trying! ...

3/26/06 Misty…..read the letter from “Just A Parent” We are all pulling for you. I know that it is hard for you to quit but I know in my heart that you CAN do this. Just don’t stop trying. ...

3/26/06 Welcome to Kansas. I arrived on the high plains of Kansas yesterday afternoon. WOW!! I’ve never driven this far west across the country before and I was blown away by the stark beauty of this part of our country. The first thing I noticed is there are not a lot of trees like in New England where I live. The second thing I noticed is how hard the wind blows. When I went to do my laundry this morning I struck up a conversation with a man who told me the wind only blows twice every year in Kansas……once from the north for six months and once from the south for six months. I’m really glad to be in Kansas and I’m looking forward to speaking in the schools here tomorrow morning. I feel inspired by all the letters that I received from the youth and adults across Indiana and can’t wait to read the letters that I know will posted on the website from the youth and adults here. What a great thing to know that Marie’s story is spreading across the country. ...

3/23/06 Hey Crestview and Riverview thanks for all the really nice letters. I’ll keep all of you in mind as I go through the next 2 ½ weeks. Misty….You can do it girl!!! Don’t give up!!! Jake and Shane (my grandsons) I miss you so much… ...

3/21/06 What a great day in Huntington Indiana. Three schools and almost 1,300 students. Huntington…..you guys ROCK!!! Thank you so much for being a great audience. I know in my heart that you will all make the right decision and not fall for the tobacco industries lies. Keep talking to your family and friends and encourage them to stop. You are our future. Let your voice be heard and make your choices count. ...

3/20/06 I’ve been in Indiana for one day and things are going good. As exhausting as it is to relive Marie’s story every day I am thankful that I have the opportunity to work with so many good people. I spent yesterday in Terre Haute. I was excited about my return trip to that area and felt really excited to share Marie’s story at two area colleges and a middle school. The middle school students were just awesome. We had some good laughs and talked about some very serious stuff. I also had the opportunity to speak at Ivy Tech were I was pleased that there were a good number of students in the audience. I also want to thank the students from Ivy Tech for your letters. Now the bad news…..I also had the opportunity to speak at Indiana State University. I’m normally not bothered by small crowds at some of the places I speak but it bothered me that not ONE SINGLE STUDENT from ISU came to hear me speak. For those who have worked with me in the past you know my goal is to reach middle and high school students and I speak at colleges and adult programs because the need is there. If I’ve reached my middle or high school for the day I’m cool with it but this time for some reason it bothered me. I guess it bothers me because college students are the ONLY age group in the last decade whose smoking rates have gone up!! I don’t understand how someone who is smart enough to go to college would do something as stupid as smoking. ...

3/16/06 I’m inspired to see so many emails and messages to the website. I’m inspired to keep moving forward. I’m inspired to always be a better person. California, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Montana, Vermont, Washington, New Jersey, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Spain….and the list goes on and on….. These are a few of the states and countries that have political leaders whose moral conscience has prevailed. They have enacted second hand smoke laws that protect the lives of millions. When will the rest of the world follow? When will we follow with laws that protect the environment from cigarette litter? Check out www.cigarettelitter.org ...

3/14/06 Yesterday was the first chance I’ve had to look at the website and to post the letters that were sent. Just so you know, your letters inspire me to continue with Marie’s message. I’m no different than anyone else…. I need to know that what I do helps people. I need to hear it. Thank you so much for your response. The website is still under some construction and things may change constantly so check back often. I had a great visit in NY last week. I think it is so cool how many youth have decided to take a stand against the tobacco industry. You ARE the majority. I want you all to know that the things you are accomplishing in your area are also happening in other small towns and cities across the country. The most important decision you have made is to simply not smoke or chew. That is what scares the tobacco industry more than anything else. Make sure you go to the links page here on my website and check out Reality Check in NY and see what they are up to next. Reality Check, YOU GUYS ROCK!!! ...

2/16/06 Sometimes writing about Marie’s death can be so painful that I just stop writing. I’m in northern Alabama this week trying to help my sister Donna cope with the loss of her husband Ken less than three weeks ago. Ken was 56 years old, not overweight, no smoking and not showing any signs of bad health. Needless to say this has been a terrible shock to our entire family. Ken and my sister had been together since they were 16 years old. I know, as so many others that read this know, how difficult and painful this is for Donna. Ken was a great husband, father, grandfather and friend to so many. He influenced the lives of almost everyone he came in contact with. Ken we love you and we miss you………… This has been a very difficult year for me. The speaking engagements are slowing down because of all the funding cuts by local and state governments and I’m beginning to wonder is this part of my life’s journey almost over. As hard as it is to go out and relive Marie’s death every day I just can’t see myself doing anything else. I’ve spoken only once so far this year but I leave home soon to go back on the road for three weeks across the mid-west. When I’m out of the schools for to long I begin to really miss interacting with the kids. The message of avoiding tobacco and the heartache that it can bring your family is very important to me. I have a new website that will on line soon. Watch for www.rickstoddard.com . I’m very proud of how the site looks so far. It will have a page for me to write, a page for you to write, a page with news stories about the tobacco industry and on the same page news stories about me and what I do. One of my favorite pages will be the links page. It has links for youth and youth movements against the tobacco industry, links to sites for help to quit smoking, links for those who have cancer and need counseling. ...

12/29/05 Six Years of My Life… It was at this very time six years ago that Marie was fighting for her life. I felt like a helpless passenger in a runaway car with no brakes. The following is my diary entry from December 29 1999…. Things have been too emotional to write since the round of seizures in November. Marie has shown a steady decline in health. I fear, for myself, that Marie will be gone soon. The pain of losing her is unbearable. Thank you God for getting us through Thanksgiving and Christmas. Marie sleeps all but about5-6 hours per day. Pulse 50-60.Resperations erratic. VERY hard to wake. Unaware. Drifting……….. Ten days after writing this in my diary Marie would pass away. January 8, 2006 will be six years since Marie’s passing and often it feels like yesterday. During Marie’s illness it never occurred to me that I would turn the pain and grief of losing her into a story that has possibly changed the lives and smoking addiction for thousands of people. I’m very proud of what has been accomplished. Over 900 schools and 650,000 youth and adults have heard this story. I know in my heart that Marie would be proud. This has not been an easy journey but I am determined that Marie’s death will not be in vain. Through working with youth I hope her story and legacy will live for ever. ...

3/8/06 Never did I think I would see a website with my name on it. I hope that all of you who view this website find something that moves you. Moves your heart, moves you to action and moves you to ask why. It’s been just over six years since Marie died from lung cancer that was brought on by a life time of smoking. I’ve tried so many times to move on with my life but find that I’m drawn deeper and deeper into tobacco control. My main focus has been to keep young people from ever starting. In the last five years I have visited over 900 schools and shared Marie’s story with more than 650,000 youth and adults and here at home I have received 10,000 plus letters and emails. My heart has been touched deeply by all those who care about a woman they never new. Here are just a few notes about this website…… The “Home” page is designed to go along with my school program. Those of you who have seen my school program will recognize the flame picture (love those flames!)……… The “Rick and Marie’s Story” page gives just a brief description of how we got here…….. “Rick’s Journal” is where I will share my thoughts as I return to the road for the 2006 school year and I will also be including some “School Memories”. There will be times when I will be to tired to write and other times when I just have nothing to say. Be patient because I always end up with something to write about sooner or later (LOL!!)……… ”Write to Rick” is where I hope you will write not only to me but to the world. Tell them what you think about the tobacco industry, tell your family story, or share how hearing my school program has affected you……… ”In The News” I will share all the news I can find involving the tobacco industry and the global fight to stop addiction to tobacco. You will find that many states and a number of countries have already gone smoke free (are your school grounds smoke free?). I will also share any news stories about me and my visits to your schools in this section………I love the “Photo Gallery” page. I hope to change these pictures as often as the new ones arrive……… “Some Great Links” is by far my favorite page. I hope that those who are struggling with tobacco addiction will find help. I hope those who have cancer will find comfort and information. There are some good youth links to give you ideas and share what other youth are doing across the country and around the world to educate their piers and join the fight against the tobacco industry. Don’t forget YOU are a target for the tobacco industry. They need you to replace people who die from smoking or quit. DON”T BE A TARGET!!!! The “Booking Info” page is self explanatory. If you are interested in having me speak in your community fill out the form and I will contact you ASAP. All the information that is provided in this section will be kept confidential and will never be shared or sold. *Thanks…… Marie- for making me a better person. *Chris- for believing in me and pushing me forward on those long trips away from home. *Grandson’s- for keeping me grounded. *Amity Sites- for caring. *Indiana- I could have never made it this far without you. *Youth- The world needs you! We will never have true tobacco control without you. *My ITI Rubber Chicken- for being my co-pilot for tens of thousands of miles. (-: ...