2010 Castagno Rant

This is one of those years that really challenge me; I mean where to even start on this rant? I could wax nostalgic about the triumphs and accomplishments of my progeny, the trials and tribulations of having three boys in college, or would you rather a litany of professional accomplishments? It matters not where we start, in the end we will still be right where we are. I know what you’re thinking… “oh good mercy here we go again…” but really aren’t you used to this by now?

Well let’s get those pesky kids out of the way first, even though none of them really qualify as kids anymore and never mind that they keep multiplying; and no nobody knocked anyone up… well as far as I know anyway. But it turns out there is this program that assists folks that don’t have enough teenage drama in their lives to actually import teenagers from all over the world to live in their home. Yes foreign exchange students provide this much needed angst with a really cool accent. I highly recommend this to anyone that doesn’t have acid reflux, need a root canal; have kidney stones or some other chronically obnoxious condition. Oh by the way, if you are truly blessed with peace and happiness I suggest getting two of them at once… no really its so much better. Just so you completely understand I have three 16-year-old daughters this year all speaking a different language! Yes Dad loves his three girls, so much so I’ve been working in Chicago since September… I kid I kid, that’s not why I’m in Chicago. 

I have to be honest I am having a difficult time believing how quickly this year passed. So much so that I am weeks behind on this rant. The Castagno kids are all well, Chris has graduated college with a degree in Finance; which you would think qualifies him to manage his finances, but do not be misled my friends. Seriously though he is working in the billing business with me and doing a fine job. He recently began working full-time, which of course qualifies him for a title and business cards.  I am thinking about making him the Director of Spending Time in the Trenches; might be a bit long for a business card though. Most importantly though is he is great with the clients, especially the older ARNPs those ladies really seem to love him… I am not asking too many questions at this point. 

Cory is the comeback kid sporting a 4.0 at UF in political science this semester and is also working on a minor in sociology. I think that will qualify him to be an ultra liberal Senator from California. And you know that makes Dad a very happy man. Seriously though he is really doing great and beginning the process of looking at masters programs to continue on and on and on… I am sure somewhere down the line is a PhD and a great many more tuition payments. I have never met anyone better at making a dollar last than this young man he has honed it into an art form. Only person I know that has completed a 10 day road trip from Florida to New Orleans, the “whiskey trail” and Savannah on $24.72. Of course he claims his “two girlfriends” insisted on taking care of everything…. Hmm.

And then there is my Kyle… what to say about Kyle! He moved out of the house this year and struck out on his own, first order of business: no haircut since last spring. A cross between Hiawatha and Fabio quite the combo believe me. Still playing his instruments and making music… his favorite song lately seems to be, Dad can I come over for dinner? He is working though and making his own way and it’s all very good. He claims he is attending USF full time, but I haven’t seen a grade in two years and have no idea what he is studying. I think it has something to do with indigenous people, the Peace Corps, and a woman from Ohio; and not necessarily in that order either.  He has embraced the Native American side of his heritage and made a real effort to achieve an appreciation and respect for the culture and way of life. I have always believed understanding where we came from helps us understand where we are going. 

As for the princess, she started driving this year and almost made it to 2011 without an accident. Fortunately no one was hurt and no traffic ticket, so all in all not too bad. It is hard to believe she has grown into a young woman. She walked past me out to her car the other day, purse on her shoulder, cell phone at her ear and I am thinking to myself, who is this young woman in my house. I am proud of the adult she is becoming but it is difficult for a father to see his little girl making her own way. We are starting the college search one more time and before I know it she will be striking out on her own as well. As most of you know she is an exceptional soccer player and is having another outstanding year, even if she likes to frustrate her father by acting as if she would rather be somewhere else. And don’t get me started on the boy friends let’s just say that they have to meet with me and her brothers; although I think she enjoys torturing them with the “Dad talk”. 

On the work side of the coin things are busier and more interesting these days then they have been in a number of years. This may be the most fun I have had since first breaking into healthcare tech some 20 plus years ago… frightening that it’s been that long. Seriously though, with the renewed focus on bringing technology into the physician clinical space this business has become interesting again. Of course that has put me back on the “road” after a five year break, now I am busy consulting on enterprise wide EMR implementations, but it sure seems to make a difference when you are working for yourself. Of course flying today is a bit different. Lets just say if you’re a big guy like me, taking your belt off in a security line has become a weekly adventure, never mind trying to get it back on while grabbing your shoes, jacket and brief case and getting out of the way of some young professional that doesn’t realize he is only a few blinks of an eye away from being the “old guy”. Of course I do enjoy a little payback when he is in the middle seat next to me playing games on his IPhone and daintily sipping his Starbucks. I have spent a lot of years preaching the business benefits of the PC over those ultra hip Apple computers, I mean only graphics guys and musicians use those things and neither one of those is a real job right? Well I hate to admit it but I am writing this on my new MacBook Air and it’s freaking awesome. I am thinking about getting a pair of sandals and growing a ponytail this year also. And who knows maybe I’ll go GREEN and buy a hybrid Lincoln Town Car… do they even make one of those? Oh wait a sec I’ve almost cleared the second level of Angry Birds on my IPod Touch I’ll be right back… I am just kidding I went with the Nano it’s a bit easier to hide. 

As for Tammy and I we have spent this year planning for the next year, well at least for the party anyway. It will be twenty-five years of marriage this February. Hard to believe and if you follow the statistics even harder to do! It is interesting when you begin to reach milestones that represent half or more than half of your life. First thing I realized is it’s getting significantly harder to deny that I am getting old. Second thing that struck me is damn the scoping is just around the freaking corner. Actually, the first thing I thought about is how amazing it is with the myriad of things that can tear a relationship apart two kids figured it out and managed to grow up along the way raising a family through the tough times and the good times. We have been blessed with great friends, more opportunities than a person probably deserves and the strength and patience to put up with each other. I remember watching my girl walk down the aisle of a little country church in South Carolina on a cold night 25 years ago, 20 years old and wondering what the hell I was doing. Scared, excited, and feeling like a schoolboy after his first real kiss; twenty-five years later I see my Tammy and still feel the same way. Come celebrate the adventure of the last 25 years with us on February 26^th in Florida if you have the opportunity. My friends I wish you the best of all things in 2011 and I’ll try to be on time this year!