In the workshop prior to the April 12 workshop. Paul Costello took a group through the Living Stories process. One of the stories that emerged from that workshop and which continued to resonate through the weekend of storytelling was Dave Rippey's story about a simple event that occurred on the morning of April 11, 2003 and became a memorable story:
 

Dave Rippey: I began with some reflections on beginnings and endings. Our charge was talk a little bit about beginnings and endings. And my own reflection on that was that our entire lives, our days, our moments, are characterized by beginnings and endings. Some we notice, and some we don’t. Some are more dramatic. Some are more auspicious. But in any case, our lives are surrounded by them. So that’s to say that beginnings and endings are where you find them, and ultimately, what you make of them. 

   So I had such an experience this morning, coming in on the metro. I, along with a number of other people here, heard the announcement that an individual had been struck by a train at Metro Center and that further, “We regret the inconvenience, and thank you for your patience.” 

   And that brought me up short. What occurred to me was a question: what if those were the first words spoken in public about this individual, should the individual happen to have died. I thought: what an epitaph! “We apologize for the inconvenience. We thank you for your patience.” 

   It was at that moment that I felt a sort of daily beginning with a fresh resolve that should this day mark the end of my life, the first public things said about me would be, “We do not regret the inconvenience.” (laughter, applause)