John and Rosa are friends from the neighborhood. John is a very interesting man because he is a walking contradiction. He has considerable talents in a pragmatic, artistic sort of way. His listening skills barely overtake a knack for speaking directly without offending. He is empathetic without being ridiculously mushy and wise without being cold. John can be comfortably absorbed into any group, no matter how hostile, without giving one inch of principle. He and his family have experienced their share of turmoil, as have we all. Even so, he passes around optimism as though he grew it in his back yard.
I have great respect and admiration for John. He does those unsung hero things we should all do. He donates platelets for cancer patients. He shares his architectural knowledge. He helps neighbors deal with the homeowners association. He takes on neighborhood kids like projects, helping their parents in big and small ways. I may not often catch John doing his hero thing but I can clearly see where he has been.
Rosa, John’s wife, exemplifies the pure power of faith as well as anyone I have ever known. She is intensely maternal, moral, and astute to the ways of the world. A finance professional by education and experience, she recently gave up the corporate life to become an elementary school teacher. Rosa apparently intimidated a weak, petty principal who caused some trouble for her. That principal made a terrible mistake. Rosa believes in her students and vocation. She does not fear autocrats driven by ego. I have never seen her pick a fight but have not known her to walk away from her commitments, either. When asked about it, she seems strangely nonchalant because she knows with absolute certainty that outcomes are in God’s hands. She will quietly do the job assigned with grace and good humor.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
To be Not Rude
A few days ago, circumstance presented me a perfect opportunity to be not rude. It did not go well.
It began with an IM from Jan telling me our A/C was out at home. This is much more than an inconvenience on the Gulf Coast where humidity is high and temperatures reach 97 degrees during the day but don't fall much at night. Our house was built in 1942. Its attic superheats air during the day and releases its heat into the house at night. It is not just hot and sticky; it is miserable.
Buddy, the hard working A/C guy, returned my wife's call around 6PM. He instructed me to check something on the outside unit. Exiting the side door, I walked down the driveway toward the front porch.
There was a sweaty guy holding papers on my porch. "What do you want", I barked. "Hurry up. I'm on the phone." Our neighborhood seems to be a target for scams, and brush salesmen. Already irritated, I made assumptions. It turns out; the man was a local politician. He was one of the good-guys we supported in the past.
Jan and I have done some door-to-door community organizing. I know all about the hot, sweaty work required to inform and persuade my neighbors. That experience teaches humility. So, I promised to treat people who knocked on my door with respect.
Failing utterly at my first opportunity, I demonstrated just what an ass I could be. The politician was an overheated middle-aged man, red faced and nearly exhausted. Instead of sharing a cold drink, I shared my aggravation about an inanimate A/C unit. Instead of thanking him for the good work he has done, I was terse and indifferent.
Other opportunities to be not rude will certainly present themselves. I need practice.
It began with an IM from Jan telling me our A/C was out at home. This is much more than an inconvenience on the Gulf Coast where humidity is high and temperatures reach 97 degrees during the day but don't fall much at night. Our house was built in 1942. Its attic superheats air during the day and releases its heat into the house at night. It is not just hot and sticky; it is miserable.
Buddy, the hard working A/C guy, returned my wife's call around 6PM. He instructed me to check something on the outside unit. Exiting the side door, I walked down the driveway toward the front porch.
There was a sweaty guy holding papers on my porch. "What do you want", I barked. "Hurry up. I'm on the phone." Our neighborhood seems to be a target for scams, and brush salesmen. Already irritated, I made assumptions. It turns out; the man was a local politician. He was one of the good-guys we supported in the past.
Jan and I have done some door-to-door community organizing. I know all about the hot, sweaty work required to inform and persuade my neighbors. That experience teaches humility. So, I promised to treat people who knocked on my door with respect.
Failing utterly at my first opportunity, I demonstrated just what an ass I could be. The politician was an overheated middle-aged man, red faced and nearly exhausted. Instead of sharing a cold drink, I shared my aggravation about an inanimate A/C unit. Instead of thanking him for the good work he has done, I was terse and indifferent.
Other opportunities to be not rude will certainly present themselves. I need practice.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
First Post
OK. Well, hum.
This blog thing sounded fun right up to the point where an actual post was required. Now, I have so much to write that beginning seems an insurmountable obstacle. This must be the usual problem among newbie bloggers because nothing seems to intimidate the way a blank screen does.
A friend of my wife and I blogs. She composes and organizes her blog very well. Her posts include lots of pictures. More importantly, her blog seems honest. While this blog will not likely emulate her subjects and style, she has set a standard.
On the other hand, maybe the time has come to make more use of the old camera phone.
Friends and Family:
My wife, Jan, provides adult supervision in this house. Jan is smart, funny and wise. She is scary when she's angry but warm and caring most of the time. Her pragmatism is the perfect counter weight to my optimism. Everything we accomplished since we were married we did together.
My sister, Debra, has a PhD in Architecture from Texas A&M. She is smart, funny, energetic and excels at annoying me. Her daughter, Natalie, just started kindergarten and already demonstrates her mother's best qualities. But, Nat doesn't annoy me as well, yet. I'd say she needs more practice. Frankly, only those I love the most possess that ability to make me crazy so I expect Nat to grow into her proper role, soon.
Debra has a firm called RAD-Consultants. She uses her science background to organize knowledge-bases for Architecture firms and Health care organizations. She also consults with furniture manufacturers who use real science to produce high quality stuff. Debra rocks!
My cousin, Randy, is a C++ programmer and analyst. He is one of those guys so smart it leaves me speechless sometimes. Randy is also very good at making me crazy. He provoked me so far about 12 years ago that I completely changed careers. It turned out to be one of the best mistakes I ever made.
Randy has a love for dogs. Several years ago, a doberman pincer showed up on his front porch. The dog was obviously a stray. It suffered from severe malnutrition so Randy and his wife Dotie took on the dog's recovery. A local veterinarian found Strider had a problem absorbing nutrients so Dotie fixed special food sometimes feeding Strider by hand. Strider's quirky personality made him a very fun diversion. Randy would stand under a light on his back porch to make shadows on the ground. Strider chased them until he exhausted himself. We all loved Strider; Randy most of all.
This blog thing sounded fun right up to the point where an actual post was required. Now, I have so much to write that beginning seems an insurmountable obstacle. This must be the usual problem among newbie bloggers because nothing seems to intimidate the way a blank screen does.
A friend of my wife and I blogs. She composes and organizes her blog very well. Her posts include lots of pictures. More importantly, her blog seems honest. While this blog will not likely emulate her subjects and style, she has set a standard.
On the other hand, maybe the time has come to make more use of the old camera phone.
Friends and Family:
My wife, Jan, provides adult supervision in this house. Jan is smart, funny and wise. She is scary when she's angry but warm and caring most of the time. Her pragmatism is the perfect counter weight to my optimism. Everything we accomplished since we were married we did together.
My sister, Debra, has a PhD in Architecture from Texas A&M. She is smart, funny, energetic and excels at annoying me. Her daughter, Natalie, just started kindergarten and already demonstrates her mother's best qualities. But, Nat doesn't annoy me as well, yet. I'd say she needs more practice. Frankly, only those I love the most possess that ability to make me crazy so I expect Nat to grow into her proper role, soon.
Debra has a firm called RAD-Consultants. She uses her science background to organize knowledge-bases for Architecture firms and Health care organizations. She also consults with furniture manufacturers who use real science to produce high quality stuff. Debra rocks!
My cousin, Randy, is a C++ programmer and analyst. He is one of those guys so smart it leaves me speechless sometimes. Randy is also very good at making me crazy. He provoked me so far about 12 years ago that I completely changed careers. It turned out to be one of the best mistakes I ever made.
Randy has a love for dogs. Several years ago, a doberman pincer showed up on his front porch. The dog was obviously a stray. It suffered from severe malnutrition so Randy and his wife Dotie took on the dog's recovery. A local veterinarian found Strider had a problem absorbing nutrients so Dotie fixed special food sometimes feeding Strider by hand. Strider's quirky personality made him a very fun diversion. Randy would stand under a light on his back porch to make shadows on the ground. Strider chased them until he exhausted himself. We all loved Strider; Randy most of all.
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