Nancy, the Insightful

I've been praying for Nancy-the- Insightful this week. You see, she and her husband and sons drove up to Kansas City to spend time with her parents. Normally, this is a joy, but this year it is difficult because Nancy's mom has Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's is an ugly and cruel disease for the people who love the person who suffers with it, and Nancy and her father are stumbling through. Trying to make the best decisions they can when the only options seem to be bad and worse.

Knowing this was going to be a difficult week, Nancy asked some of her friends to pray for her, and in typical Nancy fashion came up with a way that we might remember. Now, I have to pause for a moment to tell you that Nancy has a memory device. If you ever see Nancy with her right hand ring sitting on top of her wedding ring, you know she is trying to remember something. The device Nancy sent us in her e-mail had to do with powder rooms and was completely hilarious. I simply couldn't do it. I didn't want my friend forever associated with white tiles and....never mind. But I am wearing my wedding ring on my right hand this week so that I will remember. It's odd how often I notice it. And a very cool reminder to pause and pray for my friend.

Nancy truly is one of the most insightful people I know. She can often can perceive things the rest of us can't see. You would think this would be a gift--and in fact, to our company, it is. Almost like having your own Betazoid onboard (Star Trek reference). Nancy interviews people, checks references, serves as an executive liaison, and is a barometer for our team.

However, it is a two-edged gift. While it is wonderful to have someone notice all the special things about you that no one else seems to, I've noticed that not everyone appreciates having hidden intentions exposed or being confronted with something they aren't dealing with in their life. In fact,if Nancy ever starts a sentence with "it occurs to me," you should run. Because whatever she is going to say to you, it is probably true, and you probably would prefer to continue living in your own personal denial.