gistfile1.js

sys = require('sys');

getData = function(field, callback) {
    console.log('this would get the data from ' + field + ' then continue');
    //db.getFromField(field, function(error, response) {
    //if(!error) {
    //    data = response
    //    callback(data);
        callback('some data');
    //}
}

runner = function() {
   // get data from field, 'username'
   getData('username', function(data) {
       console.log('now you have ' + data)
       // Script wouldn't get in here if getData hadn't returned 'data'
   })
}

runner()