When I was born I my lungs were full of mucus. I was rushed into an oxygen tent in an attempt to keep me alive. My father was informed that my death was imminent.

My father being the second son of a devout Irish Catholic family knew he had to have me baptized before I died or I would spend eternity in Limbo. He rushed out and found a Catholic priest that had been ordained the day before. The priest agreed and rushed in to baptize me. As he got to the part where he announce my name he realized that he had forgotten to get my name. Being newly ordained he thought he had to continue so he used his name. John!

My parents already had my name picked out. They picked the middle name from my two grandfathers, Sydney James Meserve and Walter Bartlett Stanley.

After I got out of the hospital my parents had me baptized again using the full name they had chosen (No, I am not Bart!).  It has been said that when the devil looks at me he sees two crosses on my forehead and thinks he has double vision.

So the start of my life is a funny story. I use this story to remind myself that God has a sense of humor. The twists and turns have kept things fascinating ever since.