Dan.  Thank you so much for those generous sentiments.  much appreciated.  I brought my religious upbringing to my public service by living by the Golden Rule of the New Testament admonition of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It was the opposite of Machiavellian politics but it served a higher purpose in the long run.  I found politics to be a character test.  it brings out the worst in some people and the best out of others. As former Senator Hollis French noted, i always urged members of my caucus to vote their conscience and win or lose, we would be ok and Alaskans would be well served.

I was afraid to read these comments after i shared one aspect of my life with the goal of, in some small measure, making life better for others who may be struggling with the way they are.  But the comments are good. That was the whole point of this,  I truly hope it helps.  It was tough for me because of my upbringing in a southern, military, religious family.  Better days ahead.