Glad you stopped by… take a peek inside for a collection of short stories, social commentary, poetry, rants, and excerpts from current projects. Hope you enjoy your time here, check back often for new material and of course feel free to submit any questions or comments…
Author retains all rights to published / posted material – all posts are solely the work of the author
Joe
The 30th annual Rant… give or take a few years… those early days were actually hand written so the historical archives are a little sketchy. The older I get, which seems to be accelerating at a terrifying clip – the more important it seems to share my observations and experiences beyond just those every day rant-worthy irritations… maybe that’s just something old people feel they need to do… Yes might be one of those this year – which don’t be confused the ridiculous secret menu Starbuck’s orders, texting while driving, tying up the Dunkin’ line and general stupidity continue to irritate the hell out of me… but it almost seems rhetorical at this point. I’ve come to the unfortunate conclusion that people are not getting smarter… no not at all, and because I’m now supposedly being measured on the “grumpy old man” scale I have even less patience with those that walk among us… just out there breathing my air!
Frustrations aside though I reflect on another year of experiences and I wonder how I am going to integrate these into the tapestry of my life – how is it possible to continue expanding my capacity for the beauty, pain, passion, and love this life brings me every year? There are many days my heart whispers “just stay in the moment…,” not everything needs to be understood.
But I am finally beginning to understand one of the true benefits of age is realizing the suppression one’s emotions is a construct of a society that chooses not to value the freedom and genuineness of the human experience and I don’t have to subscribe to it. Additionally, the broader my experience, the more I become acutely aware of just how fortunate I am, we all have challenges in this life but comparatively these days mine rarely rise above the “rant” level. I’ve been working in Miami since early this year and that regular drive gives me plenty of time to think and reflect on life and it doesn’t hurt that its augmented by a well curated playlist – seems I have always had a personal soundtrack for this life.
Those drives are always a collage of memories colliding with each other – the sweetness of a whispered “papa”, hand made cards, Sunday family dinners, conversations with my mom, the poignant moments one can only share with a true partner, the privilege of leading an incredible team of people – not employees but people that are important to me. I’ve never been one to have separate identities, I simply strive to be a genuine person and make a quality effort regardless – not always successful, but it’s always my true aim. But for me it always comes down to finding balance among the wide range of experiences this life brings, never mind fitting each new one into its proper place.
I’m finding there isn’t a uniqueness to the challenges this life brings, but each one is personal in its own way. News from a long time friend that they are battling a difficult cancer diagnosis, or a woman we have become friends with – a single mother working endless hours to provide some semblance of stability for her three girls, or the myriad of other challenges that make up the every day lives of folks that are important to me. My bad knees or coffee line issues seem to pale when considered objectively; which doesn’t mean I don’t self indulge in my own frustrations, but I try to be present enough in those moments to keep some perspective. I guess that’s really the challenge for all of us, there is no way to know another’s journey; and it should go without saying that what might seem trivial to us may be the biggest challenge another is facing… so maintaining some perspective and not applying my personal bias is something I’m working on. I once wrote: “there is a filament that lies within the human experience that ties all things and all beings together…” I honestly don’t remember what inspired that line, but the older I get the truer it seems.
So uh where’s the actual rant? Were you looking for something political, or maybe a regurgitation of what some fool did in a drive thru line… or better yet an overly acerbic retrospective on the insanity of our current tipping culture or why does it take DoorDash 49 minutes to go 1.3 miles? I could resurrect my disdain for insurance companies – footnote Kiersta’s house is finally – yes a year later – coming back to life after a long fight with her homeowners insurance. I’m just happy they are going to get their home back; that rant hits way too close to home.
We could of course go in the opposite direction and have a lively discussion on all the wonderful things that happened this year… there is plenty, for instance Kyle and Dani have set a date to get married in 2026, the grands are growing up and have any number of things to discuss… we just covered Kiersta and Jon getting their house back to whole and of course I think Tammy is serious about possibly retiring next year… But you know as wonderful as those all are the original point of the rant was to craft a sarcastic and acerbic response to those types of year end epistles – ironic isn’t it? Maybe there’s something to that whole filament thing that only becomes obvious in the context time or more accurately experiences.
One might say its been a year of change, but truth is there is a steady cadence to life and change, evolution even revolution is just part of that journey – I propose the key is to be self-aware enough that we are not reactive but objective about the journey. Life isn’t something that happens to us, don’t be a spectator watching yours go by wondering why… no be in the moment, be present, be the main character the key ingredient; and if fate shines on us we will share some bright moments in the filament that binds us all together.
Stay in the light my friends, Ill see you on the journey…
A solitary figure stands silently gazing skyward a cryptic smile crosses his lips as mother moon deftly slips among the fleeing storm clouds.
The sounds of distant traffic form a modern symphony, a skyward gaze with a cryptic smile, mother moon deftly slips among the fleeing storm clouds.
A future version gazes upward wondering how many stood here before him lost in thought, as mother moon deftly slips among the fleeing storm clouds…
A cryptic smile…
In honor of 2025’s first full moon…
So, my progeny have been on my ass about where is the RANT this year… tempts me not write one; I mean seriously what the hell… So, I decided I would give them a quick summary “rant” to hold them over while I mull over what to say this year… So here goes: my legs hurt like a bitch, hurricanes suck, been working to many damn hours, crypto is ridiculous and probably mostly cause I don’t have any of it… babies are good even if they shit their diapers… older kids are good even when they don’t know how or when to be quiet… really big kids are good except when they ramble about certain stocks like umm “GameStop”… more often than not your sports teams will disappoint you – but we cheer for them anyway… what’s up with that? The older you get the more memories you make, but now you have to worry about forgetting them… weird.
Well let’s dive right in, cause that’s about as good an intro as you’re going to get anyway.
As most of you know by now, there is no rhyme or reason to how these rants develop… sometimes it’s just a straight-out bitch session, or I wax nostalgic over days of yore, even worse I might get philosophical about who knows what honestly, and if that’s not enough there’s always a chance I might decide to pontificate on some social issue or topic… ughhh!
There are some hard and fast rant rules though, and that means we have to cover the Castagno hi-lite reel first… and we have a couple of big ones this year! First, and it’s not even close, we welcomed Renlee Elizabeth Williams to the family this past February… and no need to wonder – she is pretty fond of her PaPa. Her big sister Annie loves her to death and the rest of us are pretty taken with her too.
Now you may have heard that we have hurricanes down here in Florida… it’s the price of living in paradise; well, what some call paradise – but till you drive down here or pay our insurance rates you might want to check that. Anyway, major event number two… hurricane Milton; normally we just hunker down and ride these storms out and this one was no different. We did all the normal prep work, gathered necessary supplies and waited to see where that asshat Cantore would set up. A cat 1 storm is no fun, but usually no more than an inconvenience and a few days with no power – following a week of more than 18 inches of rain Milton rolled through our town as a strong cat 2 much higher than forecast. It wasn’t fun, and plenty of folks suffered major flooding and wind damage – a most unwelcome follow up to Helene a week or so earlier that devastated our coast and most of western NC.
All this to say that the family suffered major damage to Kiersta’s home when a huge, and I mean really huge, oak tree was toppled over crushing the back half of her house. This tree brushed Annie’s room, came through the roof into the living room and master bath… Kiersta’s family spent a few terrifying hours huddled in the dark wondering if the roof would hold and if they would make it out alive… we were finally able to get there and bring them out about 3 hours later… you don’t have to believe in miracles to understand just how fortunate they were to not be injured.
Hundreds of folks have responded with an incredible amount of help and support over the last couple of months and Christopher opened his house to his sister – they are making the best of it with two families crammed together. FEMA gets a bit of a bad rap in these situations, but her insurance has yet to make a reasonable offer and has disbursed zero funds in support… criminal in my mind and part of something that needs serious reform down here in paradise. We are blessed that none of them were hurt… homes can be replaced… lives cannot.
Damn we are on page two already! And look you don’t have to worry I am not about to go on and on about how it sucks to get old and everything hurts, or whine about not listening to some of you on Bitcoin before it broke $100K (what the hell right?) or God forbid go on and on about some crazy stock… although there is a very good chance I’m going to bitch about how the Yankees played in the World Series and I would give you good odds on the memories thing. Before we move on though… all the grands are great – no need to confirm with their parents – you can take my word for it. You know this rant started as a “real” look at life with my kids, but to be honest I’ve got some really good ones and we are way past that these days.
Now about those Yankees… it was great to get to the series no doubt about that, and my dear friend Marcellus and I had great seats for game three at the stadium. They played miserable and it was cold… but I was in Yankee Stadium watching the boys in October… did I mention it was my birthday? It was a damn good night no matter the score! No need to discuss this Soto mess either… $765M is crazy I don’t care how good you are or think you are. Pains me to say it, but the Dodgers were just a better team this year… even with Ohtani not showing up. Looking forward to spring training and making another run next year and having the Red Sox continue to suck.
So where is the actual RANT you ask? Or at least some basic bitching… doesn’t the SBux line still infuriate you? Aren’t there still moms in minivans randomly picking donuts at Dunkin’… yes there are, but isn’t it a bit rhetorical by now?
I think my newest irritation though is this incessant tipping bullshit we are being forced to deal with… let me explain, you can’t get through a drive thru any more without being asked to add a tip? When the hell did this start? It was bad enough when they started putting the recommended tips on your receipt… like we can’t do basic math – and the scale went from 10/15/20% to 20/25/28% must be that inflation I keep hearing about. I generally tip well, but let me do the math and decide what the amount should be… and for the love of God don’t ask me for a tip in a drive-thru!
As long as we are talking about the drive-thru; why the hell do they need my name? Chic fil A is bad about this; “can I have a name for the order?” uh no you can’t you just put a numbered placard on my window that should suffice or better yet call me “165” … and I’m not tipping either, so you can keep the blessing! One of our local coffee shops always asks too – I give them a different name every visit… we are thirty plus iterations in and I’m wondering if they will ever catch on… you can be sure they always remember to ask for the tip though. In fact, you can’t pay without answering the tip question… believe me you get the look when you hit “no”.
I know it’s hard out there and folks need every little bit they can get… but I would rather pay fifty cents more per cup of coffee or a bit more per dozen donuts then get the “you didn’t tip” stare down from some morose teenager working the window… and Chic fil A you can’t even ask… lunch for two is already like forty bucks or something ridiculous… wish that was an exaggeration. Something isn’t right when you have to check your bank balance before sneaking out for a cheat meal. And yes I know this is a “first world” problem… but that’s why this is called a RANT… so just chill and silently shake your head at my “privilege”.
Ranting aside though, I do want to talk about this memories thing I mentioned at the beginning. Maybe it’s the holidays, or just the older you get the more acute the realization that time really is running away from us. Morbid… no not my point, but every year I sit down attempting to catalogue the events of the previous year, maybe bring some sense to things and make sure I don’t forget some important detail… I run through the memories. It is inevitable to have them blend together, triggering older memories, sometimes even things forgotten and before I know it I am strolling through my past pushing through a tangled web of feelings and oh so many memories. If you have lived at all you know that life is kaleidoscope of highs and lows and it is only the oblivious idiot that manages to come through unscathed… and truth be told that’s not living.
Every year is an opportunity to add a layer, wander through another year’s worth of memories and if fate has favored me come away with more smiles than tears. And what might this have to do with anything you ask? It’s my opinion that we are collectively on a shared journey and our memories are simply the filament that binds us all together… if you pause and look back you will see the tapestry we’ve woven together… even when we didn’t know we were sharing an experience… so look forward with gratitude and stay in the light… it’s where the good memories live.
Joe
A J. Castagno short story..
Big Tom’s Smoke Shop had long since succumbed to the move away from high end cigars and pipe tobacco, choosing to hawk instead a vast collection of neon colored flavored vapes and strangely shaped glass “pipes”. The window tint had yellowed under the unblinking Florida sun and silently flickering in the grimy window, a faded neon “open” sign sputtered and blinked out its forlorn message. A collage of stickers from various tobacco and vape companies peeling along the edges covered the double doors – washed out from long exposure to the same sun that had relentlessly attempted to penetrate the floor to ceiling windows. Firmly affixed to the top of the one working door, a small brass bell intended to announce the arrival of any timid soul brave enough to venture into the interior; it hadn’t worked in years not that there had been any substantive traffic to announce.
It had been a long hot summer trying to get healthy, she had cut down to four cancer sticks a day as her mother used to call them… that was winning right, not that there was anyone to ask; trading two packs a day for sweet cherry vape was progress wasn’t it… and it tasted good too. She pushes through the door shivering just a bit as the icy cold air hits her, there is a sweet oily smell in the air – a combination of syrupy sugar and industrial cleaner. The grimy exterior had given way to garishly bright fluorescent lights illuminating the shelves of vape cartridges and bouncing off the glass display cases holding a broad collection of brightly colored glass pipes. She hadn’t been able to find any “Lost Mary”, some man-boy trying to impress her had given her one months ago, he had been sweet but still just a boy… a weakness if she was honest with herself. He had faded, but the taste of that cherry mist hadn’t; only problem is you couldn’t find it anywhere up here; maybe it was just a South Florida thing she mused wandering through the aisle not really paying attention to the myriad of colored boxes.
Josh had watched her stroll through the door, it wasn’t often anyone bothered to patronize Tom’s never mind a woman put together like this one, a combination of ‘90s cool and edgy punk… she seemed young at first glance, but if you looked a little closer you might notice the marks of a life lived, heartbreaks, and hardship… it had smoothed out her natural beauty a bit, but there was something intoxicating as well – the essence of the feminine emanating almost effortlessly from her. He stammers out, “can I help you find something…” She glances up with a wan smile, “Lost Mary?… cherry?” He wasn’t really her type or maybe he was she thinks wondering if she is falling back into bad habits? He was cute no doubt, younger-probably too young with a full beard and a well inked sleeve… what you would expect in here she thinks to herself. She shakes the thought loose noticing that he is standing just a little to close, close enough she can smell the cheap cologne and beard oil he had anointed himself with a little to generously that morning.
He steps back, “actually I think we have a couple over here…” he wanders down the aisle and reaches up pulling down two of the dark pink boxes, “yep two left… forty-eight bucks apiece, pretty expensive… you sure you want them?” She nods contemplating whether to give him her number or not… lately she had sworn off men again, well bad relationships anyway, which of course they all seemed to evolve to at some point. Then came the inevitable recriminations, the feelings of inadequacy, the heartache and tears. It was routine she was all too familiar with, yet she still seemed unable to break the habit. Loneliness has its own demands and more times than not they trumped good sense and knowing better. She places her card on the counter and gives him a smile finding the strength somehow to turn without giving in… progress right? He watches her go wondering what it would be like to have a woman like that, he shakes his head thinking he should have asked for her number as he watches the door close behind her… Lost Mary… cherry flavor he thinks with a grin… damn she was hot.
Another year winding down and it’s almost past time to have completed the rant… Who could have predicted it would be the week before Christmas and I would find myself sitting in a hotel in North Carolina struggling to condense a year’s worth of experiences into a few short pages? It’s rare I find myself ambivalent when it comes to rant material but, the whole SBux and Dunkin’ thing seems a bit tired – which doesn’t mean they aren’t true, cause let’s be honest those are universal and timeless and there’s been plenty of examples again this year… I fear it’s never going to change. I guess I should insert the normal disclaimer here too… every year the audience for this grows and there will be some “first timers” – don’t take yourself to seriously and if something here pricks your conscience or sensitivities well you might want to ask yourself why… understand though it’s probably you not me…
Last year we talked a bit about being vulnerable, opening up to the ones you love and doing this thing called life together… still good advice and this year has been a further exploration of that dynamic. Our family has another generation coming along and will be adding a fifth grandchild in February… boy do we seem a long way from those first rants! I think back on those early days, the struggles, leans times, figuring it out along the way while learning to raise young children – we were still so young ourselves. I sometimes wonder if my kids are having their own rant worthy experiences; part of me hopes so and then again I’ve worked hard to give them an easier path – maybe the measure is they don’t feel the need to write their own rants – they would probably just text it anyway!
I normally keep “work” out of these but, it’s worth mentioning that I went back to work a year ago and that shit continues with no real end in sight; hell, I am even traveling again if you can believe it. As usual I have met some really great folks, made some new friends, and as is always the case have run into some seriously toxic people – they are out there! Oh, if you are wondering which one you are… don’t wonder you know the truth… I’ll be magnanimous though – no names or details; I’ll just smile and raise my glass of wine toasting their inability to be a genuine human. Hurting feelings in the first page – it’s like the old days, how refreshing.
Enough of that though, should we do a rundown of family events or maybe some pontificating on current events – we do have an election coming up and the world is tragic lately; then again when hasn’t it been? Always a matter of perspective, a derivative of where you stand in the continuum of the human experience; does it really affect me or can I simply feign the appropriate emotions while plodding along in much the same way I always have? It’s the fundamental existential question: does it really matter anyway? I think it probably does, but you could forgive the apathy of those that just say “fuck it all anyway…” So, I vote we skip the political and world events section this year, and since my vote is the only one that matters… motion passed unanimously!
So, family updates it is – and we have a few noteworthy ones this year. First off the princess is pregnant with number two! Yes another granddaughter is on the way; and if you know Kiersta then you understand how much she hates being pregnant. Not being a mom, she is a great one, and not having another child just the physical manifestation of actually having a human inhabiting her body… oh boy does she not enjoy that part of it. Annie can’t wait for a little sister though and her excitement is pretty contagious; we are within weeks at this point! Our core four continue their adult journey – jobs, relationships, kids, businesses, new puppies, stolen trucks, chickens and now that I think about it plenty of rant worthy events! The four grands keep growing; gymnastics, horseback riding lessons, piano, dance, soccer, all the activities kids are supposed to do, making parents ask, “what the hell were we thinking!” In quiet moments of retrospection, I often ponder where the time has gone, cliché? Sure, it is, but it’s too easy to trudge through another day assuming they won’t ever end. Having grands as great as mine though is a bit of a cure for the pervading cynicism of growing old. If I was a touch more sarcastic I would be sending out a yearly syrupy letter extolling their exploits… way to ironic even for me.
Couple of experiences really brought this getting old thing home for me this year; my daughter “gifted” me this online “story” activity – you write a weekly chapter recounting experiences from your life and this company compiles it all into a book for you; well not really for you but for those who remain after you sign off – beautiful hardcover with color pics. Two things on this – asking a writer to write a book about his memories is a perilous ask – no seriously. I reluctantly completed it though – all eighty plus chapters and now I am hoping there is a Volume Two somewhere down the road ‘cause geez do they know something I don’t? I am also anticipating at least one “WTF dad…” out of this… and in a few generations… “great, great grandpa was pretty crazy wasn’t he mom?” “That’s what they say honey…” Should be fun!
A few weeks ago, we lost a friend unexpectedly; “Cinnamon” was only about a year older than I am, went in for some routine outpatient surgery… never came home. The details aren’t important, but she left too early – I joined the family at the hospital for an “Honor Walk” – a ritual where the staff line the halls as they wheel the body to the OR for organ harvesting. There is no delicate way to describe this process and although I am glad I did it – I would be happy never doing it again. It was an unexpected and stark reminder of the impermanence of this thing we call life – organ donorship aside… her journey here is over. Apologize if that seems harsh, I am not blind to the huge gift someone will receive and how their life will continue forward and the joy their loved ones will experience… however, the scales are balanced by the magnitude of loss on this side.
I’m sure you’re asking by now… umm we going to RANT anytime soon? Listen both my knees hurt all the time, one of my shoulders only half works, I’m tired, old, and a bit grumpy so how about you calm the fuck down… I’m getting to it!
Here we go – broke down and took a flight this summer for the first time in almost four years; turns out the shit you see on the news is 100% true – people have lost their minds. I am old enough to remember when we knew how to act on an airplane and we didn’t wear our pajamas either. This wasn’t a little trip either – Tampa to Seattle so a solid six hours in the air each way; and unbeknownst to me this was apparently a CDC charter flight to test whether Covid is still transmissible – it is and yes I got it. I am pretty sure it was the woman sitting behind me on the trip home since she coughed literally the entire time; maskless of course and didn’t bother covering her mouth. I’ve got a great pic of her spewing spike proteins directly on me… Tammy swears you can’t contract it that quickly, but I’m pretty sure I was part of a horrible and involuntary science experiment. I’m not in a hurry to interact with the traveling public again anytime soon and even more reticent to get on a plane again – if you’re traveling; try acting like a normal, responsible and respectful human… it’s not that hard.
This air travel experience informed my decision to drive to my client in North Carolina recently… not interested in revisiting Covid again; having said that I can confirm stupid is not confined to those flying, but alive and well on our interstates. Now I’m not a drive 10 miles under the limit in the left lane guy, but I’m also not a ride your ass at 90MPH in the rain idiot, but those guys are out there and there seems to be an inordinate number of them in the Carolinas… just saying. And by the way, who doesn’t understand the universal merge rules? We take turns one from each side – it’s a system that actually works if you aren’t say a cantankerous entitled old guy in Jacksonville – he was ridiculous, but not quite brave enough to put his Mercedes at risk – I was willing to sacrifice the Kia though! I did feel bad for the young couple from Wisconsin that was completely traumatized by the Florida interstate scene; the man was nearly in tears trying to merge that U-Haul he was driving – he made the mistake of trying to be polite in a state that has never embraced that concept – they are going to love it here!
Maybe I’m just out of practice, it’s true I haven’t really traveled since early 2020, but I just don’t remember it being as insane as it is. Seems to me we have suffered a degree of systemic trauma – a loss of grace and collective patience – did all that social isolation leave a permanent stain on us? The pandemic has been declared over for now, assuming you believed in it to start with; but many folks never returned to an office, to the socialization of spending time face to face, working shoulder to shoulder (literally) and it shows. This is not a new theme for me and a bit of self-introspection is probably in order; is this my new reality or has it always been this way, but I am now just noticing? Did I change, get older, develop a greater sensitivity to these abrasions or has something really changed – my guess is probably a little of both.
For myself I am working hard to develop a greater self-awareness in these situations, making more of an effort to foster positive personal interactions, reduce the tendency to have an immediate negative reaction to these triggers. If you find yourself in similar circumstances rise above, stay the course, and remember time is moving quick enough as it is… no need to waste any energy on this type of nonsense – we all have better things to do with the time allotted to us. Unless you are in my drive thru being entitled and taking up way more of my time than is reasonable… which means order off the damn menu or go inside – just can’t fix stupid!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays my friends none of us know the length of our journey… but is definitely worth the trip, so stay in the light…
Joe
An unexpected interruption…
How do you prepare for the unexpected? You don’t, and that’s really the point, isn’t it?
The last Friday in April of 2022, I was working to help put the final touches on a merger/acquisition plan; I was in a SVP slot at one of the forward-thinking genomics firms focused on changing the trajectory of modern medicine. On Monday May 2, I found myself, along with other employees, a casualty of the transaction.
If you have worked professionally for any amount of time you can probably relate to the cascading emotions caused by these “interruptions” – disbelief, fear, perhaps even anger. Yet this story ends with hope – a new model of approaching job loss that surprisingly came about, in part, thanks to COVID-19. I share this story in hopes that it will help others.
Not the first interruption
In 2003 I was an up-and-coming director at WebMD Practice Services. On the cusp of turning forty, I felt impervious, with all the trappings of a six-figure salary and a cool title. It was Monday October 20th 2003, and I found “The Package” on my desk when I sat down with my coffee. To be honest, I don’t remember exactly how the rest of day went, but I do remember the emotions. I remember driving around, unsure of what to do, how to explain to my wife and four kids and mostly questioning myself. What had I done wrong? Wasn’t I good enough?
All I accomplished, beyond some emotional processing, was using up a tank of gas… there weren’t any magical answers out there, and even though I wasn’t the only “interrupted” that day, I sure felt alone – there were no social networks to lean into, no personal email accounts or cell phones to call.
The Solo-entrepreneur
I decided to hang my own shingle as an independent consultant. It was incredibly hard to switch from a mid-level exec with direct deposit and benefits to convincing companies to write me a check for “good” advice. Yet over the subsequent sixteen years I built a successful consulting firm, learned to lean on friends and family and had amazing projects with outstanding people supporting some excellent companies and health systems.
Back to corporate, and a virtual way of being
In late 2019, I plunged back into the corporate world as a SVP at a genomics firm. I built a team of highly skilled and motivated folks – possibly the best team I’ve ever led. Six months later, we were in the middle of a pandemic – time to pivot. We learned how to operate virtually, and there were new levels of collaboration and teaming. We struggled with home and work balance, prayed no-one got sick and worried when we did.
Covid, as difficult as it was, forced us to grow together virtually, to learn to communicate differently, and taught us to solve problems no one could have anticipated.
The second interruption, and a new way forward
It’s May 2022… the merger has spawned an interruption none of us predicted. It’s different this time, and then again, it’s the same; the same feelings of anxiety, hurt, helplessness, and anger. The difference is the creative problem-solving and resilience we learned during the Pandemic. We’ve utilized technology to find each other, and face this together. Folks in disparate departments, titles, skillsets and geographies, some of us have worked together, many of us haven’t, but we are sharing this interruption.
The pandemic lessons are paying unexpected dividends
Make no mistake there have been tears, hurt feelings, and plenty of “what next” and “why did this happen?” Yet shared trauma, the need to heal, to move forward and to transition to a new reality, has bound this group of people together in a way even more potent than sharing the same employer and mission did. In the first twenty-four hours, a virtual community was deployed, folks started connecting, sharing resources and opportunities. But more than anything, nobody felt alone and we were looking forward, not backward.
“And so began the mental roller-coaster: AM green smoothie and workout; PM devoured a double bacon cheeseburger and whimpered under blankets. My solace every day that gets me out of bed – strength in numbers. We’re capitalizing on our collective wisdom.”
NH, Interrupted Director
“As this was my first time going through a corporate restructuring, I’m glad I had a great group of people to lean on and to learn from. I love the group we’ve built, where we’re talking about difficult emotions that a reorganization like this can bring, and there’s no shame behind it. They help make this big event in anyone’s life seem like it’s only an (unexpected) interruption.”
JJ – Interrupted Doc Writer
“…At first, I was shocked, followed by feelings of inadequacies, superseded by anger. I stopped to think and realized that these were not just my emotions, but this was the collective “we are all going through this together”. I am invigorated with a new perspective and prepared to meet those challenges all ‘With a little help from my friends.’”
MP – Interrupted IT Admin / Developer
“This job-loss experience compared to a similar one in 2002, but couldn’t be more different. In 2002, I processed every feeling alone and had no idea who would respond to my outreach and when. This current experience is cathartic, inspiring, and instantly social. Some of it is the access to collaborative tools; the bigger piece is a level of resourcefulness, collectively learned accomplishments, and empathy for one another developed through the Pandemic that is driving us to help each other.”
JH – Interrupted Director
“Watching teammates mobilize quickly to utilize social media and the tools we used in our work lives, for our own selves, was so enlightening and refreshing. Staying structured and accountable to each other really makes a difference. For me the connection and bonding are what helps the most…”
MA – Interrupted Sr. Business Analyst
As a group, we believe it’s important to share this experience, and lessons we have learned:
If you’re “interrupted” find, or create a community of people that are facing the same challenges you are.
It’s never “just business”, it’s also personal; respect that feeling.
Band together:
For my part I’ve come to realize I don’t have to be on a project or leading a team to provide leadership, guidance and mentoring – in this space and time I find it even more important and rewarding to shoulder that mantle.
It’s in the darkest hours that the filament binding us together burns the brightest… stay in the light…
Joe Castagno
SVP of the Interrupted
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 26th 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!
2011 CASTAGNO RANT
Honestly I had great intentions this year of getting started on this rant early, working it, reshaping it, making it special for all of you… Well not really, the reality is that for the most part this is a selfish undertaking allowing me to reflect on the past year, smile, cry, and laugh at a host of memories; but probably more than that it is a reminder of how truly fortunate I am. So let’s fire up some Etta James on the iPod, pour a little single malt and see if we can fit all this into a few pages…
I struggle with where to even start describing the exploits of the Castagno Clan this year; to say it’s been eventful doesn’t really begin to tell the tale. From the Chicago snowpocalypse to Cory graduating from UF with honors this past weekend we have managed to fill another year with the full spectrum of experiences and emotions. I usually jump right in with the kids, but this year Tammy and I celebrated our 25th anniversary so let me start there. We decided a serious party was in order and Tammy invited 350 of her closest friends; I mean our closest friends. It was quite a party and if you weren’t there don’t miss the next one. There are days I can’t remember what made me wander out of the wilderness into this woman’s love but I know I am home and there is a peace and warmth that is beyond simple explanation and understanding. The chaos that is life strives to overwhelm us, but I cherish the moments we escape into our own private world enjoying a simple touch or look. Those of you with someone to love know of what I speak and those of you that don’t my wish is that you find that someone soon.
With only our daughter left in high school we are rapidly approaching the empty nest, or we would be if Chris had not moved back in, but more on that later. Kiersta has had quite a year and the older she gets the more of her mother’s good looks she displays, unfortunately these seem to be mirrored by an equally large portion of dad’s opinionated attitude. Quite a delightful combination for dear old dad I can tell you. She continues to shine as a soccer player and is even considering playing at the college level in spite of a couple of really nasty collisions and one fairly serious concussion at the end of last season and just to prove she is well rounded she was elected to the homecoming court this year. Don’t worry she wore a beautiful dress with her neon green “chucks”. She is tough as they come though and does not know the meaning of quit. Kiersta also has a passion for American Sign Language (ASL) and wants to be a professional interpreter when she graduates college. She does a wonderful job signing for our church and just has a real desire within in her to help people. As is probably the case with most dads and teenage daughters we do not see eye to eye on everything which I suppose is better than not seeing eye to eye on anything. Never the less we have always had a unique bond that I am counting on to see us through.
As I mentioned Cory graduated this December with honors from the University of Florida with a degree in political science. I somehow imagined that this would lead to a fervent search for a job maybe in DC or working for some think tank somewhere. Not sure what I was thinking though, he was only too happy to tell me that exploring new fields through the lens of his current degree was what really intrigued him. Apparently this is the educated way to say “hell no I’m not getting a job I’m going to pursue a Masters Degree”. Well no matter he always seems to find a way to make things work out the way he wants them too. There is no telling where he will end up though so don’t be too surprised if he is knocking on your door one evening. I was reflecting on the journey this young man has already undertaken in his young life and I know his experiences although harrowing have made him a stronger and more resilient man and needless to say I am very proud of him.
Kyle continues his exploration of Native American culture and his Mohawk heritage learning from his aunt and elders that have allowed him to sip from the deep wells of their knowledge. Kyle makes an annual pilgrimage every summer to his aunts where he spends time learning, working, visiting the Mohawk Valley and developing his understanding of life’s path. He has a few years of college left and continues to pursue his music as well. Kyle has lived with diabetes for about 6 years now and has to learn a great deal about life and himself in that time. He understands more clearly than his peers what his own mortality means and although outwardly he displays a happy go lucky attitude it takes great courage for a young person to face an incurable life threatening disease everyday. He is stronger than he thinks he is and I know he will overcome all his challenges and go on to do great things.
Chris has been out of college for a year and working in the business with me. He is learning all the things they either don’t tell you in college or lie about. He is catching on though and does a great job even when he thinks the old man is crazy cause why on earth would any one do it that way! Mostly because I am old and that’s how we do it; seriously though he brings a fresh energy and perspective that I appreciate. I don’t know why he keeps measuring my office though, I’ll have to keep my eye out for a coup d’ état. For those of you with kids graduating from college I can confirm that they do indeed move home… and they are universally stunned when you encourage them to pay rent; “I mean really dad how am I supposed to save any money?” Although hope is on the horizon as Chris proposed to his long time girlfriend Tara and the marriage is already being planned. You know what this means… yes the inevitable grandchildren. This of course leads to the ridiculous discussion of what these future grandchildren will be calling Tammy and I. She is leaning toward “grammy” I have settled on Mr. Castagno or Sir; I’m not holding out much hope however.
THE 2012 CASTAGNO RANT
So it’s Saturday morning and I find myself sitting in my office drinking coffee and wandering through the year trying to remember everything I am supposed include in this year’s RANT. It turns out the longer I do this the more people feel the need to suggest content… Well after careful and thoughtful, consideration I am going to write whatever the hell I want… as usual. Oh and let me get this done up front: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Blessed whatever other holiday you might be celebrating… and I am also duly impressed and amazed at the accomplishments of your children this year and can’t believe all the wonderful things you guys achieved and places you traveled… it is truly a marvel.
Hmmm did that come off a bit too sarcastic and snarky? Excellent I was worried we had completely lost the reason we started doing this rant in the first place. I read the last few years’ worth of RANTS and I was coming dangerously close to sentimental. You see my friends it isn’t that I don’t love and appreciate you, because you know I do; it’s just that sometimes you have to explore the other side of things to really understand how very fortunate you are. By the way hang on cause we have a ridiculous amount to cover. I really thought this year would quite a bit simpler and quieter. I mean with Kiersta graduating high school and going off to college, the boys all grown up now, well I thought I might actually get my man cave setup, the house would be quieter and Tammy and I could start having some time to ourselves… Well things didn’t quite work out that way, but more on that later.
First a few brief business related observations, if we haven’t worked together, or if you are not in healthcare feel free to skip this paragraph. Let me say that I now have firsthand knowledge of how bad it sucks to be the customer and not the software vendor… and I just hope I never cared as little as my current vendor does. Turns out, yelling is still a fairly inefficient way to get a clearinghouse to properly process claims. It is easier to be good friends than it is business partners… and I recommend erring on the side of friendship in these cases. No matter how bad you think it is, implementing an EMR is worse.
Now on to politics… never mind I can’t talk about any of these people, it’s gone beyond ridiculousness with their “cliffs”, X per centers, and all the other nonsense they surround themselves with. Hey, it’s time to stop telling all of us how much you care and actually do something. And one final note for my Republican friends… hitting the Taco Bell drive through doesn’t count as substantive interaction with the Hispanic community, just saying. All right enough of that, we all know what a mess things are.
I count myself fortunate today, my grown children will all be home for Christmas, we will eat too much, laugh at each other, maybe cry a bit, sit around the fire listening to the boys strum guitar, catch up on stories, dream about the future, tease Kiersta’s boyfriend, and celebrate the simple joy of being together. I hesitate to even mention the insanity of the past week’s events in Connecticut simply because there is nothing to be said that will bring any real context or understanding. I can’t pretend to know what those parents are experiencing, the anguish they can’t escape… but I know how much I love my children and just the thought of it, well there really aren’t any words are there? I look back over the year through this prism and I am thankful for the silly frustrations, the challenges, the struggles and triumphs if for no other reason than we were able to have them.
Did I mention my princess graduated high school this year with honors and started college? She is pursuing a five-year program leading to a masters degree in ESE (exceptional education) with a focus on deaf education. She also played her first season of college soccer. Proud of her is an understatement, and with a new boyfriend I don’t want to shoot, what’s not to like! Seriously, though he is a nice young man that obviously had no idea what he was in for when he started dating a Castagno. The day he told her brothers that sometimes he could get a little “sassy” I knew it was on. Because you know the Castagno boys can be unmerciful when given the opportunity. I can deal with it though, yes he has a bunch of different colors in his hair and plays in a rock band, but then again he has a job is respectful and seems to really care for my daughter. They use the “L” word but I just can’t bring myself to do it. My baby is growing up and becoming a young woman, it’s a bittersweet thing for a dad, but she still gives me big hugs and knows how to work me for gas money. She is planning a trip to Kenya this coming summer to work with an orphanage there, I am like don’t we have those here? She is a bit stubborn though, I think she gets that from her mother.
This has been an interesting and I think probably overall the most encouraging year for Kyle in quite a while. Following in his big brother’s footsteps Kyle took some time this year to re-evaluate his college experience. Figure it out that’s as much as I am going to say about it. This precipitated a move back home and some pretty serious soul searching. Kyle recommended we get some family counseling, I appreciated his concern, because it was pretty clear to him that we needed help adjusting to having him back home. Interestingly enough though I think this time to reflect may be just what he needed. He was able to take a job at our local high school mentoring an autistic student and has done a really great job with this young man. Revisiting high school from a different perspective has awakened a desire in him to be a teacher. I believe he will make a great educator and fully support his plan to go back to school and pursue this. I hear they have a great program at whatever university it is that Cory pursues his masters at. What? No that’s not mean you just need to re-read paragraph 2. I wonder if they’ll get an apartment that allows cats? Hmm one can dream.
Speaking of cats… Cory moved to the Miami area where his gal Crystal is working hard to support him in the way he is accustomed to. However he abandoned his cat with us, so with Kyle’s cat that makes to evil felines in my house. Actually, Cory works for me and does a great job when he isn’t starting community gardens, volunteering in the local food bank or working on some other sustainability project. It is his passion though and he is applying to Portland State and University of Washington to pursue a Masters in Urban Design & Planning. So if I understand that correctly there will be a great deal more urban areas in the future, but they will look really cool and no doubt be somewhat if not completely sustainable. I am sure he is rolling his eyes at me already, seriously though, I can’t wait to see where he goes so I can start planning my visits to the Northwest.
I guess that leaves Christopher, this young man took the plunge this year marrying his sweetheart in October. So the Castagno clan has added a new member, Tara. Now normally I might be inclined to give these two a break in the rant, but what fun would that be. One of the major positives to come out of this wedding is I was able to reclaim my “man-cave” when Chris moved out! Oh good mercy, I am just kidding, well not about the “man-cave”. Now Tara is an opinionated Yankee and on the surface that might seem like a problem, but in reality she fits right in with the rest of us. Now if I could just get her to eat something besides hamburgers, chicken, or shrimp fried rice all would be well. Oh did I mention she is a kindergarten teacher… can you even imagine? No me either. They are so adorable together it honestly makes me a bit nauseous, I’m kidding of course, but the whole possibility of being a grandfather kind of freaks me out. Chris has survived another year working with me and is learning what is like to manage employees, clients, vendors, and the myriad of tasks I throw at him on a daily basis. Fact is he is such a good-natured young man that he does it all without complaint and will one day have his own great success.
There are so many others that play a part in our family it is impossible to mention all things and everyone, but we have had two constants over the years Ashley and Yarni, they are as much a part of this family as any of my biologicals (as Ashley would say). They are both adults now and leading their own lives, but they still call, stop by, and make me feel loved and appreciated and for that I am grateful. I am sure it is just my own sentimentality, but it means a great deal to me that they continue to value our relationship. Now no rant, or least no current rant would be complete without some mention of exchange students… No we don’t host anymore, but that doesn’t mean we don’t continue to maintain these relationships. I have received a few hand written letters from my girls in Italy and South Korea this year and the love and sweetness they expressed is just beautiful. Their letters remind me that there is something truly valuable about a handwritten note or letter, the time, energy, purpose and commitment it represents humbles me. I love my Germans also, although I seem to be doing a great deal of German homework this year, just kidding I don’t mind and it’s a reminder of the good times we shared.
Well I have run into three pages making this is longer than most of the college essays I am writing for Kiersta these days. Tammy and I are great, she simply refuses to age running marathons and climbing buildings and I continue to “gray” out. One health note, Tammy was diagnosed with diabetes this year, so we are 50/50 now. It hasn’t slowed her down a bit and I am sure the only downside is I will now be eating even healthier than before. Oh quick explanation on the pictures this year; apparently there is this TV show about ducks, or duck calls, or guys that like ducks or some such nonsense anyway any resemblance is purely coincidental. I am hoping to make some real progress on a couple stories I am writing this year so stay tuned for that. In the meantime remember diets are dangerous, running is for people that can’t drive and gas will always be cheaper the day after you fill up, so hug the ones you love, ignore the ones you don’t, and the rest will take care of itself.
The 2013 Castagno Rant
Good Lord 2013… I don’t even know what to do with that… I think I started these sometime around ’99, but it seems like yesterday and after reading a few of the older ones I am stunned at how far we have all come and yet there are a multitude of experiences and routines apparently on a perpetual cycle repeating year after year as if time makes no imprint on them. Interesting thing about that, at least for me, is the fantasy that there is all the time we will ever need for whatever we need it for… I mean what’s the rush after all? Anyway you didn’t stop by for some convoluted conversation about the passing of time or the timelessness of the human experience… you are here for the RANT and so you shall have it my friends…
I have noticed over the past few years that there hasn’t been any actual ranting per se` in these so I have decided to open with a short collection of my favorite rants… oh yes you get bullet points this year…
Ahhh I feel better already, now on to the good stuff! As you are aware on occasion I have been known to indulge in a bit of shall we say sarcasm, and my dear wife has been quick to point out that some people, namely my children, could possibly get their feelings hurt by the sarcastic turn of a phrase. However, I raised these hooligans and I am pretty sure they give as good as they get and besides anyone willing to raise a finger and wish you a Happy F’ing Holidays is pretty much asking for it anyway. Now just so none of them feels singled out as the “first” one I’ll happily start with myself, I have been on the road for most of this year working a consulting gig in central PA and although I have met and worked with some excellent folks up here I have to tell you this place is a culinary wasteland, I mean I’m actually losing weight! Never mind that I noticed pretty much immediately that the Three Mile Island nuclear plant is right next to the airport, disconcerting is the word you’re searching for. Last week the hotel clerk greeted me with “welcome home Mr. Castagno” what a smartass. Of course that was the same week the girl at the Hertz counter told me the convertible Mustang was great for picking up girls… I mean seriously is there anyway to rationalize that? Ill take the Camry thank you very much. I have found that not everyone from Boston is a…, well you know, in fact I now have some good friends from there, but they still talk funny and in a small bit of trivia for you; it turns out the height of the Green Monster is exactly ten feet higher than number of World Championships the Yanks have won (27) hmm… Finally, getting some writing done and although I don’t see an end in sight I am having a good time and all is well with Joe.
Well Christopher stills works for me and is hoping my consulting lasts another couple of years at least. Apparently I am a much more lenient boss from half a dozen states away. I am glad to see him working diligently though, I mean every young person should be willing to put in 60+ hours a week… got to pay your dues. He and his lovely wife bought their first home this year, cute little place with a pool. I find debt makes him work harder so I was fully supportive, besides it’s got a pool and you know how I love a pool. Tara is still teaching school, she must be blessed with the patience of Job, cause I know I couldn’t do it day in and day out. They are like an old married couple, I think Tammy and I will be like that one day, oh wait we are.
Cory made the big move this year leaving his beach bum existence and moving out to Seattle where he is pursuing a Masters in Urban Planning & Design at the University of Washington. Proud of him to say the least, and scored his own scholarships and funding… yep you guessed it the boy protected my wallet! However, I have been out twice to visit and he has an unhealthy obsession with walking everywhere, now normally this wouldn’t seem like a big deal however, you can’t go anywhere in Seattle without walking up a hill, not cool but a great town. We also made a quick trek up to Vancouver BC, great trip, but I think he may have put my name on the Canadian watch list, I guess if you have to be detained Canada is the place to do it, but that’s another story. I know he has Mr. Kitty to keep him company but I am sure he can’t wait for his girl Crystal to make her way out there.
I was going to save Kyle for last, but we seem to have inadvertently fallen into a pattern here. Kyle continues to work at the local high school mentoring autistic students, they love him and he is excellent with them. Of course we are on year two of the temporarily moving home saga, its obvious we have different interpretations of what “a little while” means. He has a few really good friends that probably should be paying rent as much as they are camped at the house, yes Everett I mean you. He continues to search for his next stop, a place he can pursue his music and art, while figuring the rest out. I am sure he will find what he is looking for, but I wish he would quit playing that U2 tune over and over again… Bottom line is Kyle always knows where home is… even if Tammy does turn that room into an exercise studio.
I guess that leaves the princess, and what do you say about the princess. The young woman continues to amaze and frustrate me, as is her way. Carrying about 18 or so hours a semester and doing great, combined with this crazy idea that she wants to get married. Talk about conflicted, hey that’s a legit southern phrase, leave it alone. So my brilliant idea was you can’t get married until you graduate, well at this rate I am already trying to negotiate an extension. As if that wasn’t bad enough she now wants to get married in Italy, how I am supposed say no to that? Daughters! Well I love this one even if she is a smart aleck and wants to marry some tatted up Christian rocker hobbit (see above). Sorry Jon, but that’s all you get this year, tell some stories around the fire pit and I’ll see what I can do for 2014.
Tammy and I have decided to just grow old together, which is great or I would have to start renting that damn Mustang every week. Seriously though the older our kids get and the bigger our family seems to grow the more time it leaves for us and it turns out we have been really good friends for a long time. I don’t usually incorporate anything I have already written or posted somewhere else, but I’ll make an exception this time since it seems to speak to this realization. Anyway I found myself watching a lot of the Kennedy assassination documentaries last month and penned some thoughts.
So I find myself trying to sort through how I felt about all of it… I feel inundated with the 24-hour news cycle, the intransigence of our current political environment, and what appears to be a growing apathy in our younger generations. It’s at this moment I catch a glimpse of Jackie at the top of the stairs as they begin to disembark at Love Field, there is that infectious smile, the grace, the style and maybe just a hint of wistfulness and I wonder what’s the lesson there? Did they make time for each other that morning, share a cup of coffee, a laugh, a tender moment, anything? Was it all noise, schedules, and rushing to do this and get there? And for that matter how many of us spend our lives the same way scurrying about as if we really did have all the time in the world? It would only be a matter of minutes really, a fleeting moment in a lifetime before all those possibilities would be extinguished. Its impossible to know of course what small talk they shared, did he squeeze her hand as he waved to the crowd, did they share a final look… There are no real answers I guess and maybe the small questions of one couple’s intimate relationship doesn’t compare with the bigger issues of the day, but then again doesn’t it all really just come down to the ones we love and how we choose to treat each other?
Well I guess in the end you get the “rant” and the convoluted conversation about the timelessness of the human experience; have a wonderful holiday my friends and invest wisely in those relationships that feed your spirit and being, they are all that really matter after all.
Musings 