Speaker From board rooms to classrooms to lecture
halls, Willie Weir entertains, motivates, and inspires.
Dear Bob ... A Journey into the Deep South
My 2001 adventure was a 2,000 mile journey with my wife Kat through the Deep South. My commentaries that originally aired on public radio station KUOW (Seattle) were written in the form of letters to my friend Bob Nadir. I've known Bob for many years. We share a love for theatre, running, and really, really hot Thai soup.
In 1998 Bob contracted ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). When Bob's condition reached the point that he could no longer turn the pages in the books he was reading, I offered to come by his house and read for him.
I have always kept my journals by writing letters to my brother. For this journey, I asked Bob if I could write to him. Days before we left I sent Bob an email asking him if he would mind if I shared those letters with the listeners of KUOW (read the letter).
Bob and I read thirteen books
together before ALS ended his life here on earth on. I have traveled all over the world, but I have never come close to exhibiting the the courage and compassion of Bob Nadir.
Robert Jamieson of the Seattle Post Intelligencer wrote
three columns about Bob. They are definitely worth a read.
If you would like to know how you can contribute to help out others who are struggling with this terrible disease, visit the
ALS Association Evergreen Chapter website.
Visiting with my buddy Bob
Deep South Commentaries
Who's Vera?
What does the Southeastern United States have in common with a Ford Taurus?
Hog Hunting
Introduction to true Southern living.
The Roller Coaster
In which Willie uses baseball to illustrate the extreme emotional ups and downs of travel.
Southern Hospitality
Sometimes it's there. Sometimes it ain't.
Taken In
Bad weather leads to a wonderful encounter.
Stereotypes
.357 Magnums and dahlia tubers--they're all part of the mix.
