Dawson's Blog

May 18, 2007

The shootings at Virginia Tech really got my attention.  It reminded me once more how short life is and how quickly we can slip away into eternity.  At least once a month on my radio show Dawson McAllister Live, I receive a call from a friend of someone who has passed away in the last 48 hours.  Those are always difficult calls, but worth taking because it forces my audience and me to think about what really matters.  This all brings me to my point.  I asked myself the other day, “Dawson, what would you want written on your tombstone?”  That’s a powerful question because it forces me to think about what my life is all about. 

There have been some very interesting epitaphs written on tombstones over the years.  Some of the more humorous ones come out of the Old West.  One from Silver City, Nevada says, “Here lies a man named Zeke, second fastest draw in Cripple Creek.”  Another from Colorado goes like this: “He got a fishbone in his throat and then he sang an angel note.”  Still another from Culver City reads, “He called Bill Smith a liar.”  Another famous, humorous quote on a tombstone goes like this: “I told you I was sick.”  There was another quote from a famous movie star from the past.  Her name was Betty Davis.  She is buried in Forrest Lawn in Hollywood Hills, California.  Her tombstone simply says, “She did it the hard way.” 

So what do I want written on my tombstone?  I’ve thought about it a lot.  I want to be known as a man who had a deep relationship with God and did his best to help those he loved the most.  So here goes:  “He loved God and served teenagers.”  What do you want written on your tombstone someday?  Let me hear from you. 

Have a great week,
Dawson




Fri May 25 2007
Hey there i love your show i listone to it evry sunday and i love it really. you rock D LOVE YAH keep it up...... Amanda

Thur May 24 2007
Dawson, this is a good question.. what do i want written on my tombstone? wow.this will have me up all night. but i just want to say that your show is remarkable.i listen to it every sunday night ever since i first turned on my radio and heard it. you really help out teens.i remember the other night i was listening to your show and a bot in highschool called.and all he wanted was to meet his dad and for his dad to watch him play football. and you said "i'll watch you play".and you said you would come watch him play.and at that very moment i realized how much you really care about others.its not everyday that someone offers to help a complete stranger. but thanks for helping everyone. -holly

Thur May 24 2007
My tombstone would say "lived a good life;was lucky to have a home." - Laura

Thur May 24 2007
first i just want to say the events that happened at VT also devestated me. i'd want me tombstone to be short and sweet. i thought and this is what i got; "I lived a good life and loved the Lord" - Shawn

Thur May 24 2007
i need help baddd... i am 12 and i am having som troubles with my parents because they are divorced i live with my dad the reason i live with my dad is cuz my mom got a boyfriend and she is an alcoholic and i really wanna have a relationship with her but somthimes i feel that she does not care about me actually i know she don't care about me because she always tells me she hates me and i have way more i just don't really talk about it that much i really need your help i need some advice somone i can talk to i have gone to lots of counsling and things they just don't seem to understand i am on the break of giving up on everything please help me p.s i love your station it help kids teens and people that are having a hard time because just when you think you got it bad you hear somone else talking about there life and you realize how lucky you are i don't no if you can help me but i need this ~*~ Ashley

Thur May 24 2007
"Something Clever" It's a bit of an inside joke. I'm generally the funny man in my group. But from time to time when I can't think of something clever to say I just say "Something Clever". I think it sums me up pretty well. - Brandon

Thur May 24 2007
Well I just want to say I love your talk show I listen to it almost every sunday. I listen to the advice you give some of the people who call because, some of them have the same problems as me. Well I really don't know what I would want on my tombstone, that is kind of hard to think about. But I would probably want it to say "She was a loving aunt and sister but man did she have an attitude." - Laurissa

Thur May 24 2007
Dawson i love ur show i listen to ur show every sunday it helps me with my problems ur show opens my eyes to see whats happening and the problems with me and my friends ur show helps me solve those problems and when i have problems and i'm bout to go insane ur show keeps me from doing that i love ur show.  - Tanika

Thur May 24 2007
what i would want on my tomb stone is "i wish that everyone would be nice to me and treate me the same way that everyone else is being treated" - Hillary

Wed May 23 2007
If I were to suddenly fall ill and die, I would want to be remembered as someone "Who loved helping those in need of a little favor and always gave whatever he could to the needy." - Alex

Wed May 23 2007
I would want my tomb stone to say "my one wish to oz was to live my life with all my heart ... but instead he dropped a house on me and sneered, "You have no heart!" - Monica

Wed May 23 2007
i love your advice - Tiffany

Tues May 22 2007
well, I really don't know, and frankly, at twelve years old, it's not exactly something I'd want to think about, but you're right, I could head out to school tomorrow and get hit by a bus...so, i guess...I think I'd want people to remember me for the way I lived, not that I was dead, so probably "A Girl Who Loved Her iPod More Than Any Guy" I guess it's funny, like me and so ya, sorry this was so long!! ~~*Laura*~~

Tues May 22 2007
i really like your show. i listen almost every sunday. i like the way u push to do everythng in your power to help these people. keep it up or ill have to listen to more music on sunday nights, id really hate for that to happen. ohh and by the way on my tombstone i rewally am too young to be thinking about that right now , i still have a long life ahead of me. - Brandon

Tues May 22 2007
Dear Dawson,I listen to your show every Sunday.I love the fact that you actually care about us and about helping solve our problems.It's cool to know when you need to talk to someone but think that they would make fun of you,just remember how Dawson,actually trys to put himself in your shoes just to help solve your problems.Now I realize that noone's perfect and every one has struggles through out lige.It's good to know that someone cares.~God Bless :) - Serena

Tues May 22 2007
Ur cool - Anonymous

Tues May 22 2007
You rock Dawson!!! - Gabriella

Tues May 22 2007
u are the best and i really wish i could meet u in person! ps i listen to u every sunday night! please stay on the air! thanks ~Kara~

Tues May 22 2007
i guess i would put 'daddys girl' because my dad has taken care of me for all my life and had taken care of me by himself for the last 4 yrs with out my mothers help - Andrea

Tues May 22 2007
Hmm. What do i want on my tombstone. She was a great, loving aunt, but was a failure in every other aspect of her life. - B

Tues May 22 2007
Father, Husband Enjoyed bowling. Never made it to a career but kept trying in school. Married to loving wife Maria and father of Kaylee from a previous relationship. - Anthony

Tues May 22 2007
i dont really know what i want on my toom stone i really hate to think of death it scares me....but i guess i would want mine to say..."she died with memories,and is waiting in heaven for you" because i have so many memories of everything in i never want to let them go....thanks dawson for everything you do...i never thought i would ever find someone to help me in my teenage life it means alot.... - Laci

Tues May 22 2007
i would want written on my tombstone " I wish yall would have known before i left how i really felt about everything" - Crystal

Tues May 22 2007
She was the one who fought for us and perished in help and pleads -Brittany

Tues May 22 2007
I think my would say " Princess who rules her kingdom" - Rena

Mon May 21 2007
"the one that Dawson McAllister saved." - Rena

Mon May 21 2007
hey i just want to drop by and say thanks. My phone dropped a call on one of your helpers and i want to say sorry to him. He was a great help till my phone dropped the call. thanks for everything! - Brett

Mon May 21 2007
Geez, this sparked my thinking quite a bit. I know I would want it to say something about loving God with all my heart, but I know that if I were to die today that wouldn't be true for me. I guess I have to use this as a challenge to love God and serve Him better.  - Catie

Mon May 21 2007
i heard you last night and i got to thinking about how the world would remember me...ive done alot to help people but ive also done some bad things that the people i did them to might never forgive me for what i did to them i dont want the world to think negative things about me so i am going to ask for forgiveness from both those people and god and i hope that one day on my tomb stone i wish it would say this:ariana was the kind of person who would help whoever she could in any way she could she was a person who loved god and atleast made a good effort to get along with people god bless ariana

Mon May 21 2007
i would like something along the lines of You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you. on my tombstone or one of my poems - Matt

Mon May 21 2007
well.... this is a tough question. if i had to choose now i would probably pick something about what meant most to me in life something to either do with soccer, dance, friends, or family. but right now i just cant decide!! - Morgan

Mon May 21 2007
A free spirited naked soul wandering through troublesome years - Katey

Mon May 21 2007
I love ur show I listen to u every week, if I ever need to talk I will call u - Tina

Mon May 21 2007
u r amazing!i'm 13 and i need help w/ my living situation, so i am calling u this sunday! on my tombstone i want "yes, she had problems but there were always friends around her" - Brittany

Mon May 21 2007
hey dawson, on my tombstone i would probably like it to say.. i love life!!! lol!! - Maggie

Mon May 21 2007
"He spread god's word and was killed protecting his country" - Luke

Mon May 21 2007
i'm not sure what i want on my tombstone..."I wish you knew how funny i was" maybe? - Sheng

Mon May 21 2007
what i would have on my tomb stone is " this stone is to a loving daughter, sister, cousin, and friend to many." thats what i would have on my tomb stone. - Tyler

Mon May 21 2007
Hi dawson you are the best you have helped me even thou i have never called you, i listen to you every sunday.  i would like this on me toom stone - The girl how now lives in heaven wating for you - Teaya

Mon May 21 2007
This is a cool blog Dawson! I'd just like to say thanks for what you for all of us with problems and issues in our lives. I probably would want the phrase "The Tic-Tac lover that we all loved" written on my tombstone. Thanks again! Katie

Mon May 21 2007
i love to lasen to your show i leason to it every day and hear kids that have the same problems as me and i do what you tell them to do and it helps me a lote u rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Cheyenne

Mon May 21 2007
i listened to you show last night and i would like to say that i wish i had more courige to talk to you! p.s. i love your show and think that it's an awsome thing to be talking to teens 25 and under about there problums. - Elisa

Mon May 21 2007
I love this web site - Emily

Mon May 21 2007
Hey dawson, I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoy your show. I am here in memphis,tn and we get it on Q107.5. But anway. I think that the help and advise that you provide for the teenagers and those others who may call you. I would like for those listners and callers to remember two things that God said, which have brought me through many tough times 1. He said that we are the apple of his eye and that nothing can seperate us from his love. 2. He also said that he will never leave us nor forsake us. I want to once again commend you on your awesome work and hope that those you contact get the help that they need. oh, yeh. and you asked that when we passed on, what did we want on our tombstone: " Well done my good and faithful servant" - Lorenzo

Mon May 21 2007
he lived and died and now his family cries - Aaron

Mon May 21 2007
i'm still in school and I learn somthing new everyday so i want mine to say "He died learning" - Nick

Mon May 21 2007
i think that i'd put some of my most memrable moments of my life. lol:] - Dakota

Mon May 21 2007
I love your show I always listen every sunday! I always want to call but i never get the chance!! N e way i think it is great what you do for us teens in trobule!!! - Heather

Mon May 21 2007
i do believe my tombstone will say " She still lives in love" - MaryAnn

Mon May 21 2007
i know i'm older than ur callers but on my tombstone it should read "Thank God it's over". Life is bad and i can't wait to leave this world, but I will wait for God to call me home at least thats the way i feel now, but that is subject to change at any moment. have a great day. - Charlene

Mon May 21 2007
May you find peace in death that you could not find in life. That's how I feel now but I want it to say somethings else, someday perhaps! - Pogiboy

Mon May 21 2007
Texas Born and Texas Bred. Now I'm good ol' Texas dead. - Jessie

Mon May 21 2007
I would want "She was a loving person who belived in god and followed her dreams" on mine - Allyssa

Sun May 20 2007
15 going on 40. thats what i would want on my tombstone.  - Heather

Sun May 20 2007
looooooooooooovvvvvvv ur show plus on my tumb i would have them write He Never Noticed - MFE

Sun May 20 2007
I wish the world knew more about me - Garrett

Sun May 20 2007
1) wabishquad onaquad dewkway (white cloud woman, my indian name) 2) Where did I go wrong....? - Nikki

Sun May 20 2007
if i died tomr and wanted whatever on my tombstone i think i'd want ppl to know that i tried to be a good kid and i loved god but really never tried to make it out to church and i want ppl to know that i loved my life.. - Chris

Sun May 20 2007
want to be loved - ainhi

Sun May 20 2007
I'm not sure exactly what I'd like written on my tombstone (I don't want to think THAT far into the future yet haha), but I'd hope that it'd be something good, and sums up my whole life in a few words. I'd want people who visit me in the graveyard years after I'm gone to still get that image of me, or even strangers who pass my grave to know about my life, even if it's just a small chunk of it. - Jessica

Sun May 20 2007
i would right soccer owns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and i love ur show but theres 1 problem. well itsonly on 1 time a week and that sucks! Well im listing to u now and u rock so frickin much and i agree with all u saw, and ur talkin to rick about his depression, well can u email me back somethin, well u rock Josh. #12

Sun May 20 2007
i would like this to be written on my tombstone: "She served God and loved her fellowman with all her heart..." Do you think that's too long? - Caitlin

Sun May 20 2007
Dawson, that's a fantastic blog. And honestly, i've actually never thought about that question. But this blog has really mad me think about it, and i don't know what i want written on my tombstone. What i can think of right now would probably be "Lived the life that she wanted to remember" :] <3 - Brittany

Sat May 19 2007
the thing i would wont on my tombstone is that i was lovedby all who knew me send me a reply - Sid.

Sat May 19 2007
hi my name is Heather and i love the show. My grandma deid for cancer and i wish that i could see she one more time and say good-bye.

Sat May 19 2007
please call me sday night on kj103(102.7)at 10:00 please i want to call but i cant but i can talk if u call me!! please i want to talk. - Colton

Fri May 18 2007
I'd like my tombstone to read, "Saved by the most High to help and serve others in need" - Kimberly

Fri May 18 2007
i want my tombstone to say,"Call 911 someone died!" - Bethany

Fri May 18 2007
Dear. Dawson I was looking on your web page and seen your blog. It got me to thinking what would they write about me. Im only 18yrs. old and ive had an okay life but not like i want it to be. It's my senior year and it has sucked so bad where i have lost all of my friends and the one i thought was my best friend turned on me i thought i was going to die!!! i wanted to die. so now every on thinks im a lair and i dont want to known as a liar like eveyone thinks i am!!! over a bunch of lies!! ive always but my friens before me and i never wanted them to really worry about me and im always nice to everyone!! So i just tring to see what people might say!! BC there is so many lie's that have been told!! Buy was a good blog!!! Sorry for taking up your time!! Thanks for reading this!!! Samantha Allen

Thurs May 17 2007
I never really thought about it before, but I think that I would like part of Relient K's song "Deathbed" on my tombstone, along with the scripture reference 2 Timothy 4:7. I imagine it would look something like this: "I can hear You whisper to me, 'It's time to leave. You'll never be lonely again.'" "When I closed my eyes tonight, You carried me home." 2 Timothy 4:7 I think that neatly summarizes what death means to a Christian, and it shows that I know I'm going to a better place when I die. - Jonathan

Thurs May 17 2007
I would like mine to say "Overcomer."  - Caitlin

Thurs May 17 2007
I listen to your show every night on Sunday at 10:00pm. I listen to Hot 92, I really think its great what you do. Most of the time I don't have to call in or think about calling in because the people that already talk ont he line are going throught exactly what I'm going through. I would like to know if we could have a conversation over e-mail trying to solve my exact problems. if possible just e-mail me back. I'm ont he computer everyday around this time. Thank You and continue to do what you do it really helps. - Mahlon

Thurs May 17 2007
Hi Dawson, i'm tk from the street team and I just wanted to thank you for all that you have done for me and others that I have met here and even the ones that I haven't. - Tim