ello John!

I was having some trouble uploading my pictures/story on the samstone website but did want to share my wonderful experience.

I received my SamStone 1 day prior to tackeling my biggest athletic acheivement to date: The Tempe, AZ Ironman Race.  Yes.  Just prior to setting out to complete a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run, I received a Samstone from a family friend, Cheryl Leach.  Admittedly, I was a little skeptical when she asked me to carry a rock with me on the 140.6 mile journey.  Afterall, I had spent the last year training and spending money to be the lightest, fastest, and most aerodynamic I could be!!  She briefy shared the touching story behind the special stone and I was committed. I could not pass it up.  What touched me most is how your family in its darkest time made one of the greatest gifts of all:  donating Sam's organs.  I have been active in the Donate Life campaign and hearing your family's story renewed my interest and commitment to this life-saving cause.  Thank you for the gift.

Where is Sam you ask?  Well. 2 places actually.  One stone started with me in the leg of my wetsuit.  He saw a beautiful sunrise and jumped in a balmy reservoir the morning of November 21st.  He then joined my second stone in my bike bento box (along with gels, salt tabs, and a Cliff bar)  as I set off into the Tempe desert.  At mile 73 (when I was 100% sure I was going to finish this race) I dropped one stone at a breathtakng location in the desert very near a modest memorial site for someone that passed away.  Sam #2 finished my bike ride, transitioned into my tri top pocket and hit the road for the marathon.  After seeing the same sun we started the day together viewing set againest the moutains, Sam and I turned the corner and bolted into the straight away to complete the ultimate atheletic test: THE IRONMAN.  Sam and I finished in 12hours and 2 minutes.  Now my SamStone sits next to my Ironman Finisher medal.  We did it!!!!

Thank you for sharing and I look forward to checking back often to see where Sam's travels bring him next.

God Bless,

Krisa Urchell

I just got a wonderful note from Senator and Marcelle Leahy. The Senator told me he now has a SamStone on his desk. What a great guy !

Name = Jan Younkin

Email = janice@all2easy.net

Message =
I found a Samstone in my suitcase! and, wow, what a story I have!  I
went to Gilbert, Arizona to celebrate my one and only GREAT
Granddaughter's 2nd Birthday;her name is Addison.  I developed chronic
bronchitis on the day of my arrival and was ill the entire time I was
there.  My daughter, Cheryl Leach, took me to an Urgent Care Facility
for some much needed medications and I managed to make it to Addison's
Birthday Celebration but all other "fun stuff" was a 'no go'!  When I
arrived back in Granbury, Texas and opened my suitcase; there it
was….a Samstone which I picked up and kissed immediately!  Right
now, I have it in a special place in my home.  Perhaps, in time, I
will give my Samstone a new home.
Oh, by the way, I believe you know my grandson, John Leach.  May God
Bless you each and every day!

Name = Jamile Sims

Email = jamile@jamile.com

Message =
I placed a SamStone on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 in Chaing Mai,
Thailand.  You'll notice that this particular SamStone is rectangular
in shape.  I liked that particular stone and took it with me on this
Thailand trip.  I've included four photos.  That morning I bought food
at a local market and gave the food to a Buddhist monk out for his
morning alms walk.  He gave me a blessing for the gift, and then I
walked to a nearby area and placed this SamStone.

Hi, Brynn,
 
Here are the pictures we took of placing the Sam stone in Chongqing, China.  This was at the base of the People's Liberation Monument, in Jie Fang Bei.
 
Hope Carl is getting along well.  Whew….has to be difficult.  Please give him my best.
 
Let me know these came through OK.
 
Thanks,
Kathy

Name = Bill Edwards

Email = stretch@us.ibm.com

Message =
The 1st week of 2011, the Edwards family (Karen, Bill, Peter, & Mark)
went to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.   We went to two Mayan ruins,
Tulum & Coba.   From the seaside of "El Castillo (the Castle)", we
placed the SamStone in the foreground and took a picture (looking
North) of the "Temple of the Winds".    But we saved the Stone for a
better place.   At the next Mayan ruins we visited, COBA.  
Specifically, at the top of the 2nd tallest (12 stories/42 meters)
pyramid in the Yucatan… Nohuch Mul.    Scrambling around the back of
the summit Temple which bears a well preserved carving of the
"descending God".  Our 6'7" son Peter climbed up the wall a few feet
and placed the stone where we hope it will stay for a Very long time.
   That SamStone will have views sweeping to the NorthEast well above
the table flat Yucatan forest.    Many told us that 2011 will be the
last year general public will be allowed to climb the Pyramid.    
SamStones… what a cool idea.

Name = Bill Edwards

Email = stretch@us.ibm.com

Message =
The 1st week of 2011, the Edwards family (Karen, Bill, Peter, & Mark)
went to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.   We went to two Mayan ruins,
Tulum & Coba.   From the seaside of "El Castillo (the Castle)", we
placed the SamStone in the foreground and took a picture (looking
North) of the "Temple of the Winds".    But we saved the Stone for a
better place.   At the next Mayan ruins we visited, COBA.  
Specifically, at the top of the 2nd tallest (12 stories/42 meters)
pyramid in the Yucatan… Nohuch Mul.    Scrambling around the back of
the summit Temple which bears a well preserved carving of the
"descending God".  Our 6'7" son Peter climbed up the wall a few feet
and placed the stone where we hope it will stay for a Very long time.
   That SamStone will have views sweeping to the NorthEast well above
the table flat Yucatan forest.    Many told us that 2011 will be the
last year general public will be allowed to climb the Pyramid.    
SamStones… what a cool idea.

Name = Shawn Garrett

Email = vermont05452@yahoo.com

File attached = Sam stone.png

Message =
We placed a Sam Stone in Booth Bay Harbor Maine.  Its on the foot
Bridge undernieth.  If your on the bridge facing out to the ocean its
about 12 pylons from the left and about 5 from the building on the
food bridge.
Latitude, Longitude
43.851006,-69.625018

John,

Last week, we were in Morocco, where we had a great vacation.  On our last night in Essaouira, left a Sam Stone on the wall of the old town:

Love to Diane,

Hugh Varilly
IBM Distinguished Engineer Emeritus

John,

Last week, we were in Morocco, where we had a great vacation.  On our last night in Essaouira, left a Sam Stone on the wall of the old town:

Love to Diane,

Hugh Varilly
IBM Distinguished Engineer Emeritus