Dear Diary,
Family is so important. I am blessed to have a wife, five kids, and seven grandchildren. Since the oldest grandchildren were born 12 years ago my wife has been involved in their lives, babysitting them weekly. When we all lived in Fort Wayne it was much easier for her to be with them. Now we are in Muncie she goes up for two days and a night. Or sometimes, like this week, she will bring our five-year-old granddaughter back. I enjoy that as it allows me some time to be with her. Next year, that granddaughter will be in school and the trips to Muncie will come to a halt. So, it’s nice to have time with her, knowing this chapter is soon ending.
Had a nice quiet time, reading some from Hebrews today. The connection of the Old Testament and New Testament is becoming clearer. Finished, washed a few left-over dishes and got a good start to work.
Second one in the office today. Spoke with the woman who beat me in, as she normally does. She retires at year end, so only 6 more weeks with her. She is pleasant, has a sense of humor, and does great work. She will be missed. We are all getting older, which contributes to her decision to retire but sadly, another reason she is retiring, is because her husband is not in good health. She wants to be with him and available if medical issues arise.
I like getting in the office early. Its quiet, but that is the norm, being in early gives me time to do my morning routine. I like to look at all the prior days activities on my client’s accounts. If there was something of note I will contact the client about what occurred. Often that is by text. When I first heard about texting my reaction was negative, why not just call? Now I find its convenient for me and allows the client to get the information at their leisure, instead of a phone call possibly interrupting their day. Attitudes and ideas can evolve over time.
Another morning ritual is a chat with the other officer. We both enjoy sports and will revisit the highlights of the prior evening, especially if it involves BSU, or our other favorite teams. The officer was going to catch a BSU game last night but instead went to see Jim Davis. What a gem to have a hall of fame cartoonist from our community. The evening started with the latest Garfield movie, which my friend said was okay. The highlight was the Q&A session afterwords. The inevitable question of, I’m an aspiring cartoonist, what do you recommend for me to get into this career?, got the answer of read. Not what I would have anticipated. Per Jim Davis reading gives ideas from which to create material. Jim Davis also shared about his time with Sparky, aka Charles M. Schulz. I had no idea they even knew each other. Sparky taught Jim Davis how to draw feet on his characters, small when Snoopy is on top of his doghouse, and larger other times. Interesting trick of the trade, which Jim Davis incorporated with Garfield.
Family is important, so are friends. I have a friend whom I met when we were in graduate school almost forty years ago. His business brings him to Delaware County a time or two a month. Today was one of the days. When he comes to town, we normally have lunch. When we were in school we would complain about things like not being able to get dates and how hard school was. Now I am a grandparent and his youngest starts medical school next year. Another blessing to have a person you like, agree on many things, though not all!, and enjoy to build a friendship over a lifetime. We enjoy razzing each other and at times when we are energetically applying the needle to one another I wonder if people at the next table think, do those guys like each other at all? We do and the bantering is part of the fun. For some reason, when he is ripping on me, I know there is no malice and in good fun.
Our company adopted a local not for profit as our Christmas project. The prior two weeks we bought and collected gifts which we delivered this afternoon. I gave some money to a person at our office who enjoys shopping. She had fun shopping ( and I had fun not) but was happy with all she got. Our main office bought some things, one local employee bought a few small refrigerators. Overall, I thought the company was generous and was proud of how the local employees responded with generosity to help those less fortunate. Another way I realize I am blessed to both be able to give and to work for a company which is generous.
This evening I had supper at a downtown restaurant with members of the board of a service organization to which I belong. It was dark and the restaurant was not crowded. The pace slowed down, it was an intimate setting. I have belonged to this service organization for about ten years. The motto is Service above Self. I like belonging to the club and being associated with people who have become friends, in part, because in some ways in their lives live up to that motto. At a time when our country seems to be polarized I like that my service club has members of all sorts of political and religious world views, who put aside the differences those world views could cause to do service projects.
Got home to an empty house. My wife was returning our five-year-old granddaughter to her parents in Fort Wayne. Did my evening Bible reading and got ready for bed. A nice way to end what was a wonderful day.