Mutual of omaha aha moment Patch#

He gave me one more breath-stealing squeeze and then turned and walked away. Thank you for writing it and thank you for accepting and understanding us.” “You wrote that book.” His breath warmed my neck. He never slowed, came directly to me and wrapped me in a hug.

It was crowded in that VA hallway, but folks got the hell out of his way.

Mutual of omaha aha moment Patch#

Long, salt-and-pepper beard, hair tied in a leather thong at the back of his thick neck, black leather jacket with a small skull on one side and a 1st CAV patch on the other – this grinning man strode directly to me. Seriously, there comes a point at the VA when I can actually hear Rod Serling’s voice in my head.Ī very large man made eye contact with me from down the hall and his eyes immediately crinkled at the corners. I was tired and hungry and at that point in a day of VA doctor’s appointments when I felt as though I’d been there forever and there was no hope of ever leaving. My Life with a Wounded Warrior, my latest book at that time, had just been released and was being used by the local VetCenter to help combat vets in our area of the world. Married to a Vietnam vet, a Marine who stepped on a landmine just outside Danang in ’65, I spend a good bit of time at one VA facility or another. Jack and I were at the VA for one of his appointments. Sank into the strength of the individual man, and the incredible men in general, who gifted me with that moment. I took a deep breath and remembered the power of the experience I wanted to share. Inside this tiny trailer, I was looking into blinding lights.

When I do public speaking, I count on, feed upon, desperately need eye contact from individuals in the audience. “Tell me your story.” A gentle voice said from between the two blinding lights. Reminded myself that squinting would intensify those two gigantic vertical wrinkles between my eyes. My carefully applied makeup began to run in little flesh-toned rivulets. Two giant lights came on, and the temperature instantly leaped twenty degrees. “Just relax,” the lovely young woman said. Told to take a seat in a tiny, curtained alcove surrounded by equipment, I perched my butt on a narrow stool and wished I’d lost those twenty pounds I keep promising myself to lose. The technicians, a friendly young woman and man recorded my information and brought me inside the Airstream. Now, I do a bit of speaking in front of large groups and I’ve long ago gotten over any stage fright in front of crowds. Still, I put on my makeup, combed my hair and trotted down to Mutual of Omaha’s cute little Airstream trailer set up on the Fayetteville town square. I have no problem exposing my emotional vulnerabilities but it takes longer than thirty seconds for me to say good morning, let alone draw back the curtain verbally to reveal an epiphany. Whether big or small, funny or sad, surprising or inspiring, each one is unique, deeply personal and worthy of recognition.When Mutual of Omaha sent me an email inviting me to participate in their Aha Moment, I knew exactly which moment I wanted to share.īut sharing that moment in a thirty-second commercial? Holy smoke, you all know me. 'As we begin our fifth Aha Moment Tour, we are excited to collect and share these special moments.

'Over the last four years, we have been deeply moved and inspired by the many aha moments people from coast to coast have shared,' said John Hildenbiddle, senior vice president of Brand Management and Public Relations for Mutual of Omaha. Over 50 commercials have been produced and aired since the campaign's inception in 2009. Each previous tour culminated in a month-long online public vote to determine which stories will be featured in Mutual of Omaha's nationwide television advertising campaign. In its four-year run to date, the tour has captured more than 4,000 people sharing their aha moments, with the videos shared socially and posted to the campaign website at. Participants who share their personal aha moments may be featured in a new 30-second television ad, which will begin airing in spring 2015. Traveling more than 9,300 miles, four crewmembers will tour in a custom built 34-foot Airstream trailer designed as a mobile video recording studio. OMAHA, NE-(Marketwired - Apr 14, 2014) - Mutual of Omaha is taking its popular Aha Moment Tour back on the road this summer, visiting 20 cities to collect real aha moments - life-changing moments of hope and inspiration - from real people across America.