Today being New Years day, 2009 (in case you didn't notice), I'm still in bed, pleased after an evening out with friends at our favorite restaurant, La Sauterelle, and with our favorite chef and barman extraordinaire: Patrick. I'll tell you more about that at another time. Right now, I'm geeking out trying to figure out how to get the contacts from my IPAQ phone into my Mac address book. But before I went through the transfer process, my contact list needed a little cleanup.
That's when I realized how much my life, and everybody else's lives, have changed in 2008.
Two good friends got divorced, the husband moved to Los Angeles, the wife moved to a tropical beach town in Mexico. He weathered a few career dramas (I participated briefly in one of them :-), but has now found himself in a good place. She picked up a little scruffy Mexican stray doggie and named her Betty, had a few interesting adventures (ahem), and pursued her art. Recently, she moved back to Arizona to undergo treatment for breast cancer. Her emails reflect a positive attitude, but I know that what she's going through is hard, and lonely. I send her much love and light. If you pray, please send a prayer in her direction.
Two good friends, a very successful couple who lived a happy social life full of loving friends, took quite a beating in the financial downturn. He was a custom home builder, she an environmental consultant. Their home sits on the market in Arizona, empty and unsold, and they've moved to a ski resort. She tends bar and waits tables, he is a ski instructor and bellman at the local hotel. They have always dreamed of living in this place, and so that's where they are. As usual, they are just as cheerful amidst this change, as they were when they entertained us all like kings and queens at their long, food-laden table, in their gorgeous desert home.
My friends Debby and Jack, whom I met here in Paris, moved back to the states. I don't have to update their phone numbers, because Jack was just as geeky as me, and travels everywhere with his Vonage box and the same phone number. He could be calling me from Tahiti, or Machu Pichu, but I'd think he was in San Francisco. They also face financial uncertainty, but continue to look outside of themselves to see who they can help, who they can love. I have benefited greatly from their generosity and wisdom. I can't speak for them, but I suspect that a deep faith in their God sustains them while they map out their future. I send them much love and my own brand of prayers.
None of these people are spring chickens, by the way. They're in their 50s and 60s. I give them great credit for remaining positive and flexible. They are an example to us all.
Of my old Sandbox.com friends, who were and still are much younger than me, I see lots of new little babies in their Facebook pictures, which is delightful. I laughed so much when we all worked together, and so now, when I see that these brilliant and quirky people have kids, I can't help but smile at the thought of their progeny.
On the other hand, I just learned of one couple who met at Sandbox that just got divorced. This saddens me, because I love them both. But I'm not the all-seeing wizard, and so I don't know if instead of sadness, I should be happy for each of them, as they pursue their ordained paths. I know I wish them both well. It was at their wedding, as I was dancing alone, when a drunk girl crashed the wedding party and danced with me. When the music ended she looked me up and down with approval and said, "You must have been hot...back in the day." Mmm. Hmm. That I was.
Another Sandbox friend moved to Germany and has his own computer forensics company. I imagine that he may have landed himself in a recession-proof business in these days of international uproar. I say 'uproar' because I refuse to use the 'T' word. I don't know about you, but I'm sick to death of the last 8 years of fear mongering by our leaders. Fear only shuts us down, makes us less creative, makes us more vulnerable, and less responsive to obstacles. I look forward to the opening of hearts and minds around the world, to the opening of dialogue and the end of the barbaric use of war as a means of settling disputes. I sincerely hope that the world stops throwing its toys, stops its violent tantrums, and grows up enough to sit respectfully at the negotiation table and do what's best for mankind, and not what's best for lining their own pockets or pumping up their inflated egos and false sense of power.
BuildYourMarket.com shut its doors in 2008, putting Tom, Paul and other friends out of work. These guys had families to support, so I worried about them. But they both landed on their feet, and I hope they continue to do well. This is the job that cinched it for me, the one that made me finally quit corporate America. In the space of 5 years I reported to seven CEOs, went through three ownership changes, three complete system redesigns by three different development companies, sat uncomfortably in the middle of a couple of lawsuits, and had all the money taken out of my bank account by what I suspect was an employee, who I later discovered to be an ex-con. It was the definition of insanity, that job, and although I worried for my friends when the company closed, I worried more about them while they were still working there. No matter what sacrifices they had to make in salary or commute time, I know they are in a better place now.
My niece moved back to Sacramento from Washington D.C., but during a recent anniversary trip back to D.C., her highschool sweetheart got down on his knees and asked her to marry him...in front of the White House. She agreed. She's a Republican; he's a Democrat. I hope he wins all the arguments.
My other niece graduated from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia with a focus on fabric and textile design, and took her first plane ride to Arizona to spend time with my family. She's back there again right now, enjoying the weather, and taking a little trip to Vegas. I hope to lure her to Paris and take her on a magic carpet ride through the fabrics of St. Pierre and the African wax cloth stores in Chateau Rouge.
There are many more stories to tell, but I couldn't fit them all here. But they are all about change. I think that change is good. It can be uncomfortable, sometimes painful, but if we choose to learn from every change, we will become better human beings. This is what I tell myself, anyway.
I'll end this post with the first person in my cell phone contact list, Armando.
I met Armando while I was in Mexico City during Christmas and New Years of 2005. He has a band called Chikita Violenta. (MySpace) He was in a music store on Christmas eve, buying himself a vintage 1970s Fender Rhodes for his Christmas gift. The music shop was magical. While talking to Armando, I also met the man who owns the store, and he brought his father out to meet me too. His father had been a pioneer in the 70s when he filled up a plane in the states full of Fender Rhodes pianos and other instruments, and flew them down to his shop in Mexico City. Up we climbed to the store's rooftop storage. The son opened a door and there all the pianos were, or what was left of that shipment from long ago, stacked one on top of each other in their original boxes, unopened, pristine. I don't know why they didn't sell, or why they kept them hidden in storage like that. I think there are probably a hundred or so people that would give anything to pick one of those up.
I didn't stay in touch with Armando. It was just one of those fleeting travel friendships. But I went to his website today to see what he was up to, and found a great video, where he took 70s footage of his family having fun at Christmas, and used it as a backdrop for one of the band's songs. It's brilliant, especially if you're like me and actually used to dress, and dance, just like that (er...back in the day). Here's what SPIN magazine had to say about it:
There were many changes with my friends, and in the world. I'm sure there will be many more to come. In 2009 I wish for myself that I stay open to opportunities, even when I'm afraid, even when I have doubts about the future. In 2009 I wish for myself that I be what I want the world to be...I want to step out of fear, into the light.
Join me, won't you?
That's when I realized how much my life, and everybody else's lives, have changed in 2008.
Two good friends got divorced, the husband moved to Los Angeles, the wife moved to a tropical beach town in Mexico. He weathered a few career dramas (I participated briefly in one of them :-), but has now found himself in a good place. She picked up a little scruffy Mexican stray doggie and named her Betty, had a few interesting adventures (ahem), and pursued her art. Recently, she moved back to Arizona to undergo treatment for breast cancer. Her emails reflect a positive attitude, but I know that what she's going through is hard, and lonely. I send her much love and light. If you pray, please send a prayer in her direction.
Two good friends, a very successful couple who lived a happy social life full of loving friends, took quite a beating in the financial downturn. He was a custom home builder, she an environmental consultant. Their home sits on the market in Arizona, empty and unsold, and they've moved to a ski resort. She tends bar and waits tables, he is a ski instructor and bellman at the local hotel. They have always dreamed of living in this place, and so that's where they are. As usual, they are just as cheerful amidst this change, as they were when they entertained us all like kings and queens at their long, food-laden table, in their gorgeous desert home.
My friends Debby and Jack, whom I met here in Paris, moved back to the states. I don't have to update their phone numbers, because Jack was just as geeky as me, and travels everywhere with his Vonage box and the same phone number. He could be calling me from Tahiti, or Machu Pichu, but I'd think he was in San Francisco. They also face financial uncertainty, but continue to look outside of themselves to see who they can help, who they can love. I have benefited greatly from their generosity and wisdom. I can't speak for them, but I suspect that a deep faith in their God sustains them while they map out their future. I send them much love and my own brand of prayers.
None of these people are spring chickens, by the way. They're in their 50s and 60s. I give them great credit for remaining positive and flexible. They are an example to us all.
Of my old Sandbox.com friends, who were and still are much younger than me, I see lots of new little babies in their Facebook pictures, which is delightful. I laughed so much when we all worked together, and so now, when I see that these brilliant and quirky people have kids, I can't help but smile at the thought of their progeny.
On the other hand, I just learned of one couple who met at Sandbox that just got divorced. This saddens me, because I love them both. But I'm not the all-seeing wizard, and so I don't know if instead of sadness, I should be happy for each of them, as they pursue their ordained paths. I know I wish them both well. It was at their wedding, as I was dancing alone, when a drunk girl crashed the wedding party and danced with me. When the music ended she looked me up and down with approval and said, "You must have been hot...back in the day." Mmm. Hmm. That I was.
Another Sandbox friend moved to Germany and has his own computer forensics company. I imagine that he may have landed himself in a recession-proof business in these days of international uproar. I say 'uproar' because I refuse to use the 'T' word. I don't know about you, but I'm sick to death of the last 8 years of fear mongering by our leaders. Fear only shuts us down, makes us less creative, makes us more vulnerable, and less responsive to obstacles. I look forward to the opening of hearts and minds around the world, to the opening of dialogue and the end of the barbaric use of war as a means of settling disputes. I sincerely hope that the world stops throwing its toys, stops its violent tantrums, and grows up enough to sit respectfully at the negotiation table and do what's best for mankind, and not what's best for lining their own pockets or pumping up their inflated egos and false sense of power.
BuildYourMarket.com shut its doors in 2008, putting Tom, Paul and other friends out of work. These guys had families to support, so I worried about them. But they both landed on their feet, and I hope they continue to do well. This is the job that cinched it for me, the one that made me finally quit corporate America. In the space of 5 years I reported to seven CEOs, went through three ownership changes, three complete system redesigns by three different development companies, sat uncomfortably in the middle of a couple of lawsuits, and had all the money taken out of my bank account by what I suspect was an employee, who I later discovered to be an ex-con. It was the definition of insanity, that job, and although I worried for my friends when the company closed, I worried more about them while they were still working there. No matter what sacrifices they had to make in salary or commute time, I know they are in a better place now.
My niece moved back to Sacramento from Washington D.C., but during a recent anniversary trip back to D.C., her highschool sweetheart got down on his knees and asked her to marry him...in front of the White House. She agreed. She's a Republican; he's a Democrat. I hope he wins all the arguments.
My other niece graduated from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia with a focus on fabric and textile design, and took her first plane ride to Arizona to spend time with my family. She's back there again right now, enjoying the weather, and taking a little trip to Vegas. I hope to lure her to Paris and take her on a magic carpet ride through the fabrics of St. Pierre and the African wax cloth stores in Chateau Rouge.
There are many more stories to tell, but I couldn't fit them all here. But they are all about change. I think that change is good. It can be uncomfortable, sometimes painful, but if we choose to learn from every change, we will become better human beings. This is what I tell myself, anyway.
I'll end this post with the first person in my cell phone contact list, Armando.
I met Armando while I was in Mexico City during Christmas and New Years of 2005. He has a band called Chikita Violenta. (MySpace) He was in a music store on Christmas eve, buying himself a vintage 1970s Fender Rhodes for his Christmas gift. The music shop was magical. While talking to Armando, I also met the man who owns the store, and he brought his father out to meet me too. His father had been a pioneer in the 70s when he filled up a plane in the states full of Fender Rhodes pianos and other instruments, and flew them down to his shop in Mexico City. Up we climbed to the store's rooftop storage. The son opened a door and there all the pianos were, or what was left of that shipment from long ago, stacked one on top of each other in their original boxes, unopened, pristine. I don't know why they didn't sell, or why they kept them hidden in storage like that. I think there are probably a hundred or so people that would give anything to pick one of those up.
I didn't stay in touch with Armando. It was just one of those fleeting travel friendships. But I went to his website today to see what he was up to, and found a great video, where he took 70s footage of his family having fun at Christmas, and used it as a backdrop for one of the band's songs. It's brilliant, especially if you're like me and actually used to dress, and dance, just like that (er...back in the day). Here's what SPIN magazine had to say about it:
"Filming your whole family grooving to your song is pretty cute. Editing footage of your family from the '70s to look as if they're now lip-synching your song enhances the novelty. But mixing the two into a generation-spanning holiday party takes the cuteness and novelty and blows it up like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters, only instead of being evil, he just wants to dance."Here's a link to the video. (Sorry, the embed code didn't work.)
There were many changes with my friends, and in the world. I'm sure there will be many more to come. In 2009 I wish for myself that I stay open to opportunities, even when I'm afraid, even when I have doubts about the future. In 2009 I wish for myself that I be what I want the world to be...I want to step out of fear, into the light.
Join me, won't you?
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