My Dad

My father died five years ago today. He was 83.

I miss him every day. Yet, I am thankful that he's not here as I fear that he and I would have major disagreements on the state of our country.

My father was a conservative. He was unwavering in that conservatism. He believed that you either chose one side or the other and had little time for moderates who, in his mind, straddled the issues of the day.

For all of his conservatism and strength of opinion, my father was soft-hearted. His emotions would pour out when seeing his grandchildren or hearing of their exploits. He was fiercely devoted to his wife, and to me, and enjoyed when the broader family would gather. He loved to tease and no one was safe from his digs, be it wife, son, daughter-in-law, parents, parents-in-law, nieces and on and on.

I learned much from my father. But, what's striking to me is how much my children took away from their time with him and my mother.  While it takes a village to raise a child, it certainly helps when grandparents add to and complement the direction provided by parents.

My father's memory was waning fast in the days and weeks prior to his passing. His body had failed him long before. Seeing his mind falter was something that would have been hell to continue to observe.

I miss him. I am blessed to have had him as my Dad.

The View...via Zoom

Who knew that "zoom" would become not only the name of product but a verb, and a verb not in the sense of speed or movement?

It's been awhile, friends and followers, and I apologize for being AWOL. You see, there's been a lot going on in our little ol' world that's been a bit distracting.

So, in keeping with that general distraction and "new" normal, here are some random observations about life, both professional and personal, through staring at a computer screen all day and then shifting senses to what's coming through the telly, bluetooth speaker or on the turntable.

+ I read a blog post by Diageo's Andrew Geoghegan earlier this week, in which he wrote, "Hire for mindset: curious, culturally connected, provocative, bold, innovative, objective and collaborative." That's one of those lines that I wish that I had written as I agree completely--being around the curious is what spawns great insight, thinking and, ultimately, action.

- Is there anything more damning as to our state of affairs than the fact that the wearing of a mask is now a political issue and split by party lines? Please...please--listen to science and wear a mask. The spread of a virus only slows if all of us listen to science.

+ Is there a better song of lost love than Sinatra's rendition of "One For My Baby (And One More For the Road)?"

- Why did someone have to come up with the term "social distancing" when, in reality, being socially distant is the last thing that we need at this time? "Physically distancing" is more appropriate. Don't distance yourself socially--reach out, connect, reconnect, even if not physically in proximity to one another.

+ Billions on Showtime. Watch it.

- "Zoom fatigue." It's a thing, yet...

+ ...I have reconnected with friends and colleagues across the country because of the wonder of Zoom technology. It's been a conduit for connection in as personal a way as possible in these times.

- Mike Gundy. C'mon man, v1...

+ You don't have to be a country fan to respect the incomparable success of Garth Brooks, both in album sales but also in his uncanny ability to sell out venues across the world. I strongly recommend the two part documentary series on Brooks on Netflix titled "The Road I'm On."

- C'mon man, v2 = Major League Baseball.

+ And, finally, this bit of truly anecdotal "research." I have, through my work, consistently asked colleagues in other businesses how they and their teams are doing. To a person, the common theme is "productivity is higher than ever." Will that productivity continue as the stay-at-home situation continues for many? Who knows...but isn't this a testament to the reality that an office is not a necessity for achieving results?

Stay well, dear readers. Be safe.