OPINION

Three Cheers is a weekly collection of upbeat letters that inspire readers to think and act positively. Share your own timely story or observation by sending it
to "Three Cheers" at letters@dallasnews.com.

1. Young black males and Black History Month
It takes a young black male to know a young black male, so the young black males who are progressive, professional and educated must show other young black males who have a distorted perception of reality that they can get an education and still get respect -- and build wealth using brains instead of illegitimate means and brawn.
The members of Executive Capital Assembly and I are in the business of training, developing and exposing young black males to become more well-rounded and enlightened individuals -- while still maintaining a sense of responsibility to their community. The model for attracting and developing young black males is to show them that they can still be sophisticated, educated and a positive asset to their community while navigating through any environment and achieving their goals.
During Black History Month, it's time for those who have achieved their goals and have successfully navigated through those environments to come back and uplift the community. Show us how to get jobs and build networks. Teach us how to save and start a business with only $1,000. Help us stay focused and achieve goals to revitalize and redevelop the 'hood.
Let me guess. You don't have time, and "us" is really not your responsibility, right?

2. Dallas Cowboys staff member reaches out
My grandson's flag football team won its division game at the Oakland Raiders facility and thus won a trip back to the Pro Bowl.
On the return flight, there was a mixup in seat assignments, so the team of boys could not all sit together. My grandson, Caleb, was sitting between some adult strangers. My grandson took out his journal to write -- for school. The man sitting next to him asked what he was doing.
Caleb told him about his school journal. The man then said, "Well, I can give you something to write about." Turns out this man was also on his way back from the Pro Bowl and is the director of coaching video for the Dallas Cowboys.
He asked Caleb if he would like to try on his Super Bowl ring. He took pictures of Caleb with the ring on. The man gave Caleb his card, told him to tell his parents to e-mail him and he would send the pictures to them. This man has sent these pictures to Caleb, and that 11-year-old boy is ecstatic.
So, thank you, Robert Blackwell, for your kindness to an 11-year-old boy. He will never forget that encounter with you.

3. Like pages out of a novel
With snow softly coming down and the tree branches bowing a couple of weeks ago, many people lost power, including my children.
Later, running to our front door with bags in hand, they were welcomed by a roaring fire in the fireplace and favorite comfort foods galore -- pancakes and bacon, mac and cheese, chili, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, popcorn, chocolate pie and fudge.
We spent the next three days and evenings by the fire, watching the Olympics, dozing, reading the paper and other material, listening to music. My grandsons were playing games, hanging out and just enjoying each other's company.
The best part for me was sitting by the fire and reading Louisa May Alcott's Little Women to my 9-year-old granddaughter. My grandchildren call me Marmee, as in the story, so that made it even more special. It was indeed as if we were in Concord back in the 19th century.
Sunday afternoon, it all came to an end with the dedicated, hard work of Oncor, resulting in the return of power. Soon after, everyone packed up and rather reluctantly went home -- but the lasting memories of such a magical weekend linger with us all and shall for a long time.