X-ecutive

Sorry about the long break in the saga. I haven't been ill in several years and even though as an executive I was one of the few lucky ones to have gotten a flu shot in the midst of the shortage last year, I still got the flu and it was a doosey! I don't remember feeling so sick before. Anyway, I am back up and at it. In the midst of catching up on all that was left while I was down, I have been amiss in writing to this blog. No more, as with all things in life right now, thing are a moving again.

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to rejoin my father, a great man, and a mass of people, ordinary caring wonderful people in a volunteer charity event. Now I have done many charity events in past years but from a different perspective. I was either a representative of my former corporation or made large donations on behalf of the corporation and was regarded or generally presented as such. This weekend I was just my dad's son and a volunteer to assist in the event.

My father has long been a charity volunteer and coordinated. He is in his seventies and still more active than many half his age including myself. It has always been that way. I remember as a kid in high school, my father would get up early before going to work and go swim, run, and play racketball. Then he would at times ride his bike to work. I tried to get up for a while and keep up with him but I couldn't then and I still can't now. But it was great to be with him and most of my brothers and sisters to support him and assist in the MS (Multiple sclerosis) walk.

It was a great event and extremely rewarding to be there as just a volunteer and see all the people, both volunteers and walkers all there to support a common purpose. Those are great moments when you see the best in people. It means a lot more than time when I had just cut a big check.

Don't get me wrong, the support of corporations are critical to charities but somehow much is lose in translation coming from the perspective the large donor. You know you are helping by writing the check but you rarely get out and really associate with those you affect. Anyway, as part of my new life. Our family's new life, we will and are making more time for real charity. We are also much more richly rewarded and I appreciate the opportunities I have to serve through my father's efforts. In a couple of months he will, once again, be on the MS 100 mile bike ride! He has been the oldest rider for the past several years, but there he is, riding, raising money and awareness for this research. No, I don't think I could finish the 100 miler if I tried, but I am starting to ride again. Maybe, by next year............ Thanks dad, I hope when I grow up, I can be like you!

I am actually in Montana this evening. Life is good! But that is for my next post.