Somewhere in the recesses of my mind is a clear recollection of an article I read years ago. The title was simply "Be There." The message was one of warning intertwined with a challenge: Don't be content to hear about events on television, read about them in the paper or depend on reports from others. Never miss an opportunity actually to be there, even if that requires a lot of effort.

The article spoke of never missing a child's or grandchild's ballgame, recital or onstage appearance. Sure, you just as easily could wait to see the pictures or call the child on the day of the event to wish him/her well. That's great. But it's not the same as being there.

Shortly after I read that article, the Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles, within driving distance of our home. It took a bit of effort and planning, but having just been challenged by that article, I made sure that we were there! I've watched so many Olympic events on television, but there's something special to me about the 1984 Olympics because I was there.

My husband and I made a special trip to New York City in the months following 9/11. It was bitterly cold, and the crowds were huge during the week between Christmas and New Year's. We waited in line for hours so we could be part of the first group of people allowed onto the makeshift ramp to view the site from a high vantage point. It was a moving experience that I will not soon forget. Seeing it on television was nothing compared with being there.

On Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, I will be hosting a Debt-Proof Living LIVE! event near Chattanooga, Tenn. I would like to invite you to be there. Really! I would love more than anything to meet you in person, to shake your hand and thank you for being a part of my journalistic family.

The event will consist of a three-hour Debt-Proof Living seminar, a lively event in which I will be teaching the five simple principles of Debt-Proof Living and the secrets for how to survive and thrive in any season of your life, but especially in these financially challenging times.

The event will be held at Abba's House, 5208 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN (http://www.AbbasHouse.com), from 9 a.m. to noon. Many thanks to the wonderful people of Abba's House, who are partnering with us to make this a completely free event.

Everything is covered once you arrive. Your job is to start planning right now for how you can make sure that you'll be there!

Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including her latest, "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" You can e-mail her at [email protected], or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. To find out more about Mary Hunt and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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