Risk & Business Magazine JGS Insurance Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 6

LIFE IS UNCERTAIN
Eat Dessert First
M
y father used to tell us
all of the time, “Life is
uncertain; eat dessert first.”
As kids, we really didn’t
understand the meaning
behind those words, but we were willing to
embrace them no questions asked! Mom,
however, had other ideas and said your
father is talking about an idea, a principle,
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that you’ll understand someday.
As I approach the 40th anniversary of my
high school graduation, I understand the
concept completely. I was talking with a
fellow graduate recently, and he was telling
me they were looking to have a banner
made up in honor of all those who have
passed too soon. “Ken, you wouldn't believe
how long that list is and some of the names
BY: KEN HAGER, AAI, CIRMS
PRINCIPAL
JGS INSURANCE
on it.” Unfortunately I would and do, as I
have come to understand the concept many
times over in the recent past. 
Most recently, my best friend Joe DeFino
passed away from ALS, more commonly
known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Awareness
of this disease was raised with the Ice
Bucket Challenge in 2014. When that
challenge started, neither Joe nor I had any