Another Great Gratuity

Here are a couple of mini-notebooks you can keep in your pocket, so you will never have to risk not being able to record “that brilliant thought” that just came to you. Enjoy, Ron. 
P.S. I enjoyed your blog site.

Among the coolest
gratuities ever.

When Ron got seated in the shuttle I saw he had a sketchbook and pen on his lap. Away we went.

“Are you going to get anything done at home while you’re waiting for your car?” I asked.
“Yep. I’m popping up the tent camper; cleaning it out, getting ready for a little time off.”
“This time of year most folks are putting their campers away for the winter.”
“Well, I just finished up a seven month project and this is the time I have.”

It turns out he’s a software engineer specializing in user interface. He makes programs easier to use. He runs his own firm. And, when he was young, his father was a offset litho printer. He remembers.

We talked about clients, deadlines, expectations and the beautiful, wild fairyland of Peninsula State Forest in Door County Wisconsin. Mmmm ... down time.

Anyway, I asked him about sketching. He uses that book to think with. He did not show me anything. It’s more of a think book. I told him I understood that.

Hence the gift he sent along to me with the afternoon driver. I really wished we’d had more time.

...
The problem is you think you have time. ~ buddha
Be kind now. ~ david

Anti-Stress Swag

We generally have standard teller counter banter. It sometimes includes chat about gear. For instance, she took her 4s to iOS7 with no problems. That’s encouraging. I was waiting for someone to tell me that.

Otherwise, we don’t really have time four five six much else, she’s usually thirty-seven, thirty-eight, counting, ninety-nine, one hundred, money.

One day recently she asked me five simple marketing questions. Apparently I passed the test. For my participation I received a stress ball. I squeezed it once to see if it works. It’s fine. I’m very relaxed. See?

I mentioned my blog. I’m more than just a guy handing over money. I have a life ... et cetera. She thought she’d like to see her name on the internets. Hi Tonya!

That’s all we can say. Banking and privacy. Nothing more to see here, folks. Move on along.

Comfort and Dignity

Yesterday I met a hospice nurse team coordinator. She does not usually sit bedside with the patient and family but she has and would again if she lost her current job. Every death is unique and many can be given comfort and dignity.

She lost a brother a year ago. And it was only the day before I met her that she went and picked up his final belongings. There was nothing there of personal value. It’s all going to Goodwill. It was still very difficult. Making the trip. Going in the house.

And I lost a brother a year ago. So we talked about death, dying, religion and spirituality. We covered the cultural taboo and denial of death. And neither one of us cried.



I recommended Falling Upward by Richard Rohr. She made a note of it and thanked me.

On the upside she has a two week old granddaughter and has taken this week off to be with her daughter. How lovely. Life goes on.

And, so today her car is done in the body shop. I pick her up. We are glad to have met one another. She’s already ordered the book from the library. It’s in Bay View. She’s in Bay View. She hopes to get the call. She says she's ready for a new idea that will help her move on.

“Normally,” she says, “I’m not this chatty. You’re easy to talk to.”

Well, I think to myself, I practice.