From the Observation Deck

When I worked for the Cleveland Lumberjacks Hockey Team (not to be confused with Monty Python’s Lumberjacks), we used to play this song called “Why can’t we be friends” whenever a fight broke out on the ice. I thought about that the other day during my last ride down to the beach. Both cats and the dog came on this trip. The cats hate the car but I had to take them. Grendel stood up (shaking) for the first 20 minutes afraid the cat was going to smack him. The cat was so nervous she didn’t care about him but he didn’t know that. By the end, it was almost like they were friends.

So why does it seem like it always takes traumatic situations to bring people (or pet-siblings) together? History is filled with examples of this—the American colonies in the 18^th century, the characters in Lost (live together or die alone), and many of us after a disaster hits our country (Katrina, 9/11).

I propose we reach out to each other when we don’t have to. Let’s see what that feels like. My church has started a movement (if you will) called Grace Epidemic. Its intention is to basically “pay it forward.” If you feel like you want to help someone—it can be in all sorts of ways big and small—then check it out at http://www.graceepidemic.com/.

Just as I was finishing this post I received an e-mail from a friend who is a civilian currently deployed in Qatar. He gave a wonderful description of what life was like there and mentioned that a recurring theme was the co-mingling of all kinds of people dressed in everything from bikinis to suits and burkas. All talking, socializing, going to the gym, raising their kids, and getting along. What a wonderful, colorful world we live in.

Do you know the song, “I don’t want to work, I just want to bang on the drums all day?” I heard that song on my way home from the beach yesterday. Don’t be jealous folks, I spent the long weekend painting, scraping, hammering, and performing other tasks meant for young people. On the way down there and back as well as during the stay, I met several nice people in various job roles. So I thought I’d start a sort of Canterbury Tales series of people I meet. The first of this series is dedicated to the hardware store guys (and gals).

During my four-day stay at the beach executing those hateful muscle wrenching tasks, I managed to visit the hardware store a total of six times. Now I’ve always had an appreciation for people who work in hardware stores. They are the only retailers that I will talk to. I bet you know exactly what I mean. Finding the needle in the haystack is easier when “Jeff” the hardware guy says, “That’s in aisle four, halfway down on the left on the second shelf.” The hardware store guy is my new BFF. And I really hope we get some renters in this summer. I want people to notice the nice new toilet seat and the new stove vent (the conducting kind as we learned on trip two to the store).

Tune in for more tales and I’ll tell you about Chris the A/C guy, Shawn the plumber, and Dee the grocery check-out line lady. All really nice people doing important work with a smile. Have a great week! If you really aren’t happy at work, just think, you could work for Dunder Mifflin.

And just for fun I’m including this photo that has nothing to do with this post except maybe that Grendel would not allow me to start the pilgrimage home without him.

Grendel driving