The Road.

“But the band's on the bus

And they're waiting to go

We’ve got to drive all night

And do a show in Chicago.”

When you travel for business or pleasure, there’s something new waiting for you around every corner. It might be a hidden valley, beautiful landscape, or a police car hoping you have forgotten to watch your speed—but there is something about being on the road that is appealing. Right now, being on the road, or even outside our homes, seems like a far away dream. 

I have been in sales my entire business career. In the beginning it was very exciting even though my territory was far from it. I would drive (there was no need to fly) and once in the town, I would settle in for a few days away from my normal routine. It was fun, especially with an American Express card. (Funny thing, I was often asked…”Why are you spending so little when you’re out of town?”) True story and still true today.

I have had some great, and not so great experiences on the road—there are three that come to mind. 

My first was when I was in a city, prior to a college football game that was to be played between the university in the state where I lived, and the state where I was I was staying. I was going to be home by game time, but it didn’t matter. I came out of my hotel and noticed my car was tilted to one side. That night, because I had an Illinois license plate, two of my tires were slashed. At first I thought it was a random act, but learned 2 or 3 other cars had the same thing happen to them. (The hotel said, “We heard something outside, but didn’t check.”) My last time staying at that hotel.

Once when I was in California, I was heading to my room after checking in; as I opened the door there were two people already in the room. Let’s just say they were occupied at the moment-—luckily they had other rooms available. Didn’t stay at that hotel again either.

But there were some great times on the road. 

Even though it started out as a  frightening experience, it ended up with a friendship that has lasted many years. One of my New York counterparts was traveling with me--- and as we were heading to a call about an hour or so away, we experienced what we were sure was a tornado. Cars were skidding into the median, and I knew something was up, because the rain stopped very abruptly.  Both of our faces reflected we thought this could be it; happy to report it wasn’t. (Right after it all had passed, I made one of my more brilliant comments..”I think it’s okay if we’re a few minutes late for our meeting!”} 

We haven’t spoken in years, but every time we do, we bring it up.

The photo above was taken in Utah a few years ago. One of my favorite places to take a photo is right in the middle the road. I always listen for cars, and have at times laid down to get a better vantage point. I really hope one day I don’t become road kill, but if I do, there should be a photo to see my final shot.

Thanks for stopping by.

Today, tomorrow, and the next days.

“Remember when the days were long

And rolled beneath a deep blue sky

Didn't have a care in the world

With mommy and daddy standing by.”

It was around this time of year, when as a boy, ice cream trucks would begin to make their way into the neighborhood, baseball mitts came out, and weeds popped through the soil. Right now, I would be happy to see the weeds as long as we could be outside with our neighbors and friends. 

Weeds were not my friends; I hated them and my father really wanted them out of his garden, planters, and around the bushes in our front yard. I will never forget the very sharp triangular black rocks that were spread around the bushes and the need to kneel on them in order to pull the weeds. Obviously, picking weeds in the hot, humid weather St. Louis is known for, made going into the house with that first rush of air conditioning the best feeling of the day.

I never realized how these days would shape me as I grew older. They became stories I would tell to others, especially when there was a need for humor; for example, one time when I was playing catch with my Dad, actually pitching to him, I forgot to tell him I was going to throw a curve ball. It was one of those rare pitches that really did curve and it hit him right in the middle of the forehead. If I had a camera, I would have taken a picture of the seams from the baseball that were “implanted” there,  but if I had done so I would likely be back to picking more weeds. (My Dad was the nicest human, so he really would not have done that.)

Truthfully, growing up I didn’t have a care in the world; every day went by and usually ended on a positive note…at least of what I remember, and I will live with those thoughts…especially right now during these uncertain times

The photo above was not something I did often. In fact, I can only remember playing hop scotch once or twice. But it’s the memory of seeing the chalk to the side, the squares and triangle in a straight line, that let me know these were times of innocence. 

Times I hope we see again soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

The bridge.

“When you're weary, feeling small

When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all 

I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough

And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down.”

Right now the lyrics above have taken on significant meaning. As we hunker down in our areas of dwelling, from homes to apartments to wherever people can find a roof, I personally feel very small as I am one in a sea of global population. But, as one, I can make a difference and I really hope others believe they can too.

I have never really been all that fearful of dying. I simply have joked, “When it’s my turn, it's been a pleasure.” Candidly, I have thought about it recently and for sure it’s no laughing matter with our world today. I believe we all know of someone who has been effected; whether it’s their family, relative or a friend, we are definitely at a level we never thought we would have to consider outside of a movie theatre. The big difference? We could walk away from it two hours after it began—-I want to have a happy ending to this situation we are in the middle of right now, and I certainly don’t want a sequel.

Okay, enough of that happy talk.

When you go through times of trouble, it is essential to be selective in who you can trust to confide in. Prior to the virus, we dealt with any and all issues that came into our personal lives—from love to health to what to eat, by talking to a friend or professional who could help to guide us. (Hey, when you’re hungry it’s a big deal but not worth a therapists hourly charge.)

As we get older, we find our friends sometimes move on and we lose touch. But what’s amazing is, when you have a deep bond with someone, and the going really gets tough (not food related) you know who you can connect and re-connect with. I have a few friends who I can call and they will be back in touch within a matter of moments. They know they can do the same with me—simply when a shoulder or back is needed, you know who will be there for support.

In the scheme of things, we are all pretty small, but in terms of helping others, we have the opportunity to be much larger than we think we are capable of being. Let’s help, if for no other reason, it feels good.

The photo above was taken outside of St. Louis heading back to Chicago on Highway 55. I had driven by this bridge probably 100 times. But in order to take the photo, I would have to take the turn off, head south, and then find the road that would take me to it. One day I said, “Today’s the day.” As we look at the bridges that can take us over these troubled waters, we have to remember…they can hold a lot of weight and are happy to do so.

Thanks for stopping by.