(Please read previous blog first!) OK, first thanks for hanging in there with us! You all have been very understanding and we really appreciate that. Last night Rich and I determined that it will be impossible to hold TBSE in the city of New Orleans this November. We are in the process of relocating to another city. I am not allowed to make an official announcement of the new city yet, but I am totally 100% certain that this city change will be met with a huge positive response by our TBSE attendees! Please continue checking right here and I will keep you up to date as soon as more information is available.

One more thing. Rich and I have had calls and emails from dentists all across the country wanting to help the dentists that have practices in areas that have been affected by Katrina. It is incredible to know there are people out there that open their hearts to colleagues in trouble. Rich and I are in the process of working out a way that we can all can help our fellow dentists. "Talk" to you soon!

We have just experienced a terrible storm here in the United States. Katrina has already passed through Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, leaving devastation in her wake. People have lost their homes and their lives. Entire areas have been turned upside down. Our hearts and prayers go out to anyone that has been affected by this violent storm.

It seems like whenever a tragedy strikes, we human beings start putting things in perspective. Seeing a hurricane like Katrina wipe out things that people have worked their whole lives for suddenly makes the things we worry about on a daily basis seem so trivial.

This morning, on my way to work, I was stopped on the main road coming into my office due to road construction. They had my lane closed off for what seemed to be an eternity as the oncoming traffic was allowed to get through. It seemed to never end. I had a lot to do at the office and this was such an incredible waste of my time.

Now ordinarily, I would get angry due to the poor planning of these workers. Why in the heck would they schedule this project right smack in the middle of rush hour? Imagine the incompetence of these idiotic workers not knowing how to manage the traffic.

But this morning was different. Just as I started to get upset, the images of the devastation in the south went through my mind. I’m thinking of the people that just lost everything they had. I’m sure they would LOVE to be in a ten minute traffic holdup in the comfort of their car sipping green tea and listening to good music. It’s terrible this tragedy had to happen to get me thinking like this. We should all think like this every day.

Same with something like a terror attack. I know after 9/11, the last thing I wanted to do was argue with someone or get upset over something stupid that was out of my control. But as unfortunate as it is, it all fades away over time.

I swear this time I’m going to change. These images are burned into my brain and whenever something trivial happens, I am going to remember to put everything in perspective.

This brings up another point.

As you may know, TBSE (The Best Seminar Ever) is scheduled to take place this year in New Orleans. Right now, we are practically sold out and the seminar is supposed to take place November 3-5. So you can imagine what we must be going through here as Katrina just passed through the city of New Orleans. I had nightmares of what would happen to TBSE. Would it have to be cancelled? What’s going to happen with all of the people that have signed up? If it goes on, will others still want to sign up?

Then, as I watched the devastation on TV, and as I witnessed what all of these people living through this hurricane must be going through, I thought of one thing. Whatever happens with TBSE will be insignificant compared to what is taking place in the south now.

Of course we are planning for TBSE to go on and Rich and I will do everything in our power to make this the best one yet. But we must understand there are some things that are simply out of our control right now. We need to wait and see, and then assess the situation.

So, in closing this blog, I ask for everyone reading this to take a few seconds and pray for the people and the animals (yes, pets and wildlife are in danger too!) that are in the middle of this terrible situation. Do whatever you can to help, whether it’s donating your time or giving to the Red Cross.

As far as TBSE goes, please do me a big favor and hang in there with us. It’s too early to decide anything. When we have more information, we will make a major announcement. Please, if you can refrain from calling our office and asking us if we know what’s going on with TBSE, we would appreciate that. We simply don’t have the staff to handle all of the calls. Let’s not make any quick decisions. We will do the right thing. Just wait for our announcement.

And remember, please pray for the ones truly affected by Katrina.

Thanks!