Tough day, tough week

Humans measure time, at least in our culture, by the passing of events or dates. I doubt I will remember the date but I will remember the passing of this event, the death of a cherished pet. For you hard core types pass on this one, but for anyone else who values the companionship and unconditional friendship of a pet you will get it. Hank came into our lives only a few short years ago as our daughter, with her freshly minted masters degree, heads off to Southern California to teach high school. Hank was her cat and none of us believed due to his size, a very large tuxedo, could make the trip. So Hank was left behind. He became an instant hit with everyone inside the family and among our friends as a creature with a great disposition and charming personality. Those who had dogs marveled at Hank's ability to stand his ground, secure his position, dominate the house through a calm and cool exterior. He rarely flinched, but when he did the chase was on until he became bored and stopped to confront his pursuer. All knew who controlled this household.

The sadness we feel at his passing brings up images of all the wonderful pets who have entered our lives with lively joy and their departures provide hope we can have had as postive an impact on all the lives we encounter as effectively as they impacted ours. Abby our first cat rode on my shoulder for hours on those long drives when we were so young on trips from our residence in the far reaches of the state to our parents home on many weekends. Joe the dog, an intemperent cocker spaniel, fond of chewing on articles of clothing we keep close to our skin, Angel and Sadie still more cockers who we accepted from family members, Sailor, Bill, Captain, and Olivia who used their charming feline ways to secure their place in family history and I cannot forget Stinky Inky a blue parakeet. In my heart Hank is at the top, however as he would rest on my lap watching TV or absorb the warmth of the wood stove on cold wintery nights. He woke me as regular as an alarm clock every morning in anticipation of his morning meal, Sadie did too, but Hank did so ever so gently with a wet nose and push on the cheek.

For now my wife andI will eschew another pet but I do expect someday when we have the time to ponder our history another will enter our lives. It will have a tough act to follow, but with the devotion we provide, and the joy gratefully handed in return a memorable relationship will again be recorded in family history.

A well treated pet can provide what our human relationships cannot -- no conditons. I think God intended it this way or the ancient breed of Irish Wolfhounds, among the first of the domesticated, would still be wild animals. Luke 12.6 (NIV) Are not two sparrows sold for five pennys? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Then please God take our good friend Hank, and all those who preceeded him, a family member not to be forgotten and grant him everlasting peace as blessing for the joy he gave his earthly companions.Amen

Dis and Dat

Such a long time between posts. I wonder who if anybody will read these long after I am gone from this existence. The other day I searched for some information about laminate. The boat dinette table delaminated thanks to a persistent and really, as yet, unlocated leak in the coach roof. Thinking I would take advantage of creating a lighter table, as this makes down into our primary sleeping arrangement, a frame and top was built but finding a new piece of laminate for such a small application has become problematic. One website to which I was directed had a date of 2006 and had not been updated. What happended to the original author?

Anyway it is the first day of summer and it still feels like March in the great Pacific Northwest.

Although my primary mission of learning, expanding my understanding, and thinking about leadership was what drove the creation of the this blog; clearly not much has occured to inspire sharing my thoughts with the world. Of course we know about what has happened in politics, Wall Street, Main Street, and other far off states of mind and none of it has inspired much new in my thinking. We as business and community leaders are still not getting the message out, or is it because no one is listening? At my local level (work and community) the effort to develop effective leadership is flat to say the least. It is rare for me to see a clear demonstration from the macro level (say the local government) to the micro, leadership behavior on the commute. Check my previous blogs to understand what I mean. Occassionally I will see it when I am on a business trip, on the plane for example. Is it the difference in context? Is the level of self absorbtion different in the these environments?

Reading has stalled a bit. I did enjoy getting some guilty pleasure done reading O'Brian and Cornwell and will probably continue in the fall. Right now the focus is on family issues, and work related stuff.