The beauty and the little secrets of life are all about being simple and being human.

The Peanuts characters have been my buddies ever since I learnt to drink with my mug, and the mug is still with me. In fact the mug means so much to me that I stopped using it 20 years ago for fear of breaking it.

In his last years, Charles Schulz suffered from Parkinson's Disease. As a result, he experienced hand tremors that made his linework shaky. He admitted that the tremors sometimes were so bad that while working, he had to hold onto the side of his desk with one hand to steady himself. In addition, he had to reduce the strip from four panels to three to reduce the amount of drawing. Charles Schulz died in his sleep at home on February 12, 2000. The last original Peanuts strip was published the very next day. When I saw the newspaper headline with the characters all in black waving goodbye, it was as if I was saying the last goodbye to a dear old friend. A dear old friend who lived his one dream, one passion and one job to the day he died.

This is a quiz designed by him. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.

1. Name  the five wealthiest people in the  world.

2. Name  the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name  the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4  Name  ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name  the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name  the last decade's worth of World Series winners.


How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.

These are no second-rate achievers.

They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies..

Awards tarnish..

Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.



Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:


1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?


The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the
most credentials, the most money...or the most awards.

They simply are the ones who care the most