By Kelly McCarty

Begora.... It's St. Patrick's Day! I hope all my Metro family is doing well. While there are tons of snow still on the ground here in Michigan, but when I look at the calendar, it says the first day of spring is right around the corner, I can finally start to see a light at the end of the tunnel.  The DMGC Texas Holdem event this past month was a lot of fun. It was great seeing a lot of old friends in the process. It was an outstanding event, and another 5 figure donation back to the Michigan Lupus Alliance. Thanks to Chuck and the crew for all their efforts with the evening. I got a chance to go out to California this past month and visit my bro Jerry and his wife Kathlene and their kids Dana & Evan. I had a great time! Got to meet a few stars and kick back in the warmer weather of So Cal. All's I can say is that Don Rickles & Craig Ferguson are a hoot. Thanks Gwenda for the greenroom hookup. Thanks Jer & Kathlene for your generous hospitality.

I recently read on the internet, (so it must be true) that your money likely has traces of cocaine on it?  It said that a study by Jack Demirgian of the Argonne National Laboratory revealed that a full 78% of the currency circulating in Miami and other major US cities carries trace amounts of cocaine. I would assume that if that is true, that it is probably true elsewhere, too.

They were only looking for cocaine, but I wonder what else might be found on the bills? Maybe fast-food products, such as frying grease, mustard or teriyaki sauce? Tea or coffee? And how about rouge or lipstick from purses and lint from pockets? Perhaps ink from a leaky pen? I've found more indistinguishable stains on some of my money than I care to think about.

What's more, we're told that if they look closely enough, they can even learn something about where your money has been. To the store. To the beach. Even hidden beneath a mattress. Just about anything that comes into contact with money leaves a bit of itself behind. Then, when the bills rub up against each other in a wallet or billfold, they share contaminates. Everything the bills touch will be changed, however slightly.

So it is with us. Everything we touch is changed. Margaret plays hand bells at church, I asked her why they always wear gloves when they play the bells. She told me that you don't touch the bells with your bare hands, because the oils from their hands changed the quality of the bells.

Everything we touch is changed. And everybody we touch is changed -- even if we're not infected with something contagious. I'm not only talking about physical touch, either. Often we touch their minds and spirits and hearts. Everybody we speak to, rub shoulders with or even smile at...is changed in some minute way. These changes can be helpful or hurtful, depending on our interaction. It is like leaving a piece of ourselves behind with everyone we meet, and taking a piece of them with us.

And even little changes can make a difference. NO ONE is insignificant in this regard.

Bette Reeves said, "If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito." You don't need to be a mosquito to have an effect on people around you. The question is: what little part of yourself will you leave behind? How will you influence them? Will your encounter be thoughtful or hurried? Helpful or harmful? Intentional or accidental?

There is something awe-inspiring about the influence we have on one another. Whom will you touch today? What will you leave behind, and what will you take with you?

I leave you with this final story about touching someone's life. To all my Metro readers... Have a fun St. Patty's Day, a Blessed Easter, and as always, health and happiness to you and yours'.  May there always be work for your hands to do; May your purse always hold a coin or two; May the sun always shine on your windowpane; May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain; May the hand of a friend always be near you; and May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. We'll see you back in May.