Worth a Thousand Memories

We have all heard that pictures are worth a thousand words. And we all have those special pictures that, no matter how much time has passed, or what else is going on in the world, will always call up the memories and emotions just like the first day we looked at them. My Mother gave me one of those pictures the other day.


Yep, that's me and my Grampy Towle on his tractor. The potato farm in Northern Maine. 1972. Now I have lots of memories of Grampy from growing up, but not of Grampy on the farm, working the fields, driving his tractor. The Grampy Towle I remember had already sold the tractor, and the farm, and moved into a modest house in town, and become a Postal Carrier. I remember the soft spoken man, sitting on the couch, who welcomed us with that wonderful Northern Maine tone as we walked through the door each time we came to visit. Terrific memories, but not this picture.

What makes this picture so special is the connection it provides between me and my Mother. In addition to the Grampy Towle that I know from growing up, I know the Grampy Towle from the farm. The strong, proud, working man of my Mother's youth. The man from all of her stories who worked the potato fields and raised six girls on a farm in the Northern tip of Maine. The man who only had to speak to get his kids on the straight path when they would start to mis-behave. The man who provided the foundation, learning, structure that have been handed down to me through my Mother. This is the man my Mother knew, and with this picture, I knew as well.

Pictures provide a thousand memories. A document of history that we may not have known we were a part of. And, in some instances, provide a unique and valuable look at where we came from.

He's in!

We got the call this week. Gavin is going to QUEST for kindergarten. We, and more importantly Gavin, are very excited. Donna registered him today to make it official. Life is amazing sometimes in how quickly it can turn itself around.

Sunny Day, Sweeping the, Clouds away....

Come, on....you know the rest of the words. Sing along! On my way, to where the air is sweet.....can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street. Well, this morning the directions went something like this. The Parkway to Rt 390 N to Rt 490 E. Take the E Main St/University Ave exit, and make a left onto E Main St. Park at the Auditorium Theater, and enter the world of Sesame Street.

Yep, Sesame Street Live is in town this weekend, and Gavin and Isabelle were NOT going to miss it. We could tell whenever the commercial was airing by the piercing scream coming from Isabelle's mouth, followed by the familiar calls of adoration for Elmo. Gavin, being a bit more refined in his plugging of the event, had been walking around the house singing the songs that were placed as teaser sound bytes of the event. So, at 9:30 this morning, we backed up the minivan, and Donna and I headed back to our youth joyously pulled along by two kids grinning from ear to ear.
Well, it didn't take long for us to realize that the show was going to be a hit. The first sign of the furry red monster (Elmo for those whose kids have been gone for a while) sent Izzy into squeals of joy, and Gavin singing along word for word. It was a great morning. Watching the absolute joy on the kids faces, and their gazes of fixed amazement left Donna and I grinning. The show offered something for everyone, with all of the Sesame Street favorites that we could all sing along with, as well as Bert doing a smoking Saturday Night Fever Travolta impression that had the adults applauding.

We have had a couple difficult weeks, that have left us shut down as individuals, and as a family. We have been building ourselves back up slowly using the tremendous support that we have all around us. This morning was a recharge. An awakening. Smiles all around, and true joy on faces that haven't seen it in a while. Who would have thought that even as adults, all we needed was to head back to the place that we started as kids?
Come and play, Everything's A-okay
Friendly neighbors there,That's where we meet
Can you tell me how to get, How to get to Sesame Street

It's a magic carpet ride, Every door will open wide
To happy people like you, Happy people like
What a beautiful

Sunny day, Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get,How to get to Sesame Street... How to get to Sesame Street

Unbelievable

Apparently, when you are as famous as Lance Armstrong, everyone and EVERYTHING wants to come out to see you when you are in town. Even when you are doing something as simple as canoeing with friends in Hawaii, word spreads to all reaches of the deep that you are in the area, prompting even the "biggest" of fans to come sneak a peek.

Check out these pics. Can you say "Yikes?!?!?"

Follow up: Quest

Only 4 years old, and Gavin has already received his first academic acceptance rejection letter. I can only hope he bounces back in time for college. As I blogged in one of my earlier posts, Donna and I were really hoping to send Gavin to one of the local schools of choice for Kindergarten next year. Well, the lottery for entry was held yesterday, and we were notified today that we are #3 on the waiting list. Not truly a rejection, but also not the letter we were hoping for. We will continue to wait and hope that three others that made it into the lottery decide that Quest is not right for their children next year.

Here comes the next chapter

Happy St Patrick's Day to me. No, I am not celebrating early, or sitting here dreaming of green beer. St Patrick's Day will be a different type of celebration for me this year. I will spend it in Plano, Texas. Marking the start of the next chapter in my professional career, as I attend the new employee orientation at my new employer, Alcatel-Lucent.


For those that have been following along, you are well aware that the last few months at my CURRENT employer have been less than stable, and less than enjoyable. The constant stress of wondering, hoping, and positioning were taking their toll on me and the family. The close call with the most recent round of layoffs was the last straw, and I am very thankful that my reputation, and network of professional friends, was able to point the key people in my direction.

A very good career consultant (thanks Mol!) told me not too long ago that I should be able to do what I want to do, from where I want to do it. I am very happy to say that one of the most exciting things about this opportunity is that I get to do just that. I get to take all that I have spent the last 10 years learning and doing(comfort), apply it to a different part of the industry (learning curve), be accountable for my own success and failures (drive and independence), work as part of the fastest growing segment of the worlds largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer (stability), and do it out of my home office (where I want to be!).

So, thank you to the last 10 years of growth, knowledge, and professionalism that have brought me to this point. I couldn't do this without ya. Good-bye to the months of wondering and fence sitting about my professional and personal future, I won't miss you. Hello big, new opportunities, life change, and professional and personal growth. Bring em' on!!

And, in a little more than a week, from Plano, Tx, Happy St Patrick's Day! I am feeling pretty damn lucky.