You can see it on the lake, or at least in the activity on the lake. From the Fourth of July until Labor Day, the number of boats churning up the water inevitably dwindles. Vacations elsewhere, other family activities and back to school preparations are all to blame. Oh sure, there will be one or […]
Stillness in a Crashing Surf
Early this morning, I walked a path I had not been on in nearly twenty years. it meandered around in a high and steep cliff overlooking the ocean on a peninsula in Southern California. There were many natural lookout points to just stop and gaze – to see the play of the surf on the […]
Beautifully Weird
Slipping out of a harbor in Southern California, the large sailboat crawled across the flat surface of the ocean, its sails furled as a concession to the incredibly still morning. Were they hoisted they would have proven totally useless and inconvenient. The only sounds to be heard were the drone from the small engine below, […]
Déjà Vu All Over Again
Every year at this time, I prepare for my annual journey to Anaheim, California to attend the National Products Association’s Expo West. This is the largest product exhibition in our industry geared primarily to retail stores. Over the years, the event has gotten larger and more elaborate. There are three primary benefits for me continuing […]
Too Many Angels
The concept seems simple enough – pick an ornament off the tree, read the gift requested by a needy recipient, buy the gift, wrap it, and put it back under the tree. You feel good knowing that you have provided a nicer Christmas for someone truly in need, in the spirit of the holiday. But […]
Natural Laws
When you are open to it, inspiration can come from anywhere, or anyone, and at any time. And sometimes you just have to piece it all together. Walking behind various machines over the weekend as I tended to my lawn, intently focused on the 18” strip right in front of me for hours on end, […]
Be More
Years ago in my former “corporate life”, I had the good fortune to attend a conference at a resort in Ka’anapali on the western side of the island of Maui. With its incredibly beautiful beaches, scenic natural wonders, crystalline waters, near perfect weather and the opulent resort complex perched amidst it all, the venue lived […]
Heel to Heal
Last weekend was very special. I accepted an invitation to crew on a sailboat in a local benefit regatta. The boat’s owner spent the last four years restoring this antique daysailer, originally built in 1947, and it’s now looking even better than it did when it first rolled out of the boatyard. I hadn’t raced […]
Haint Blue
Last year my wife and I had the great good fortune to visit Charleston, South Carolina, a city rich in history, architectural treasures, and culinary delights. If you haven’t been there, it’s certainly worth a visit; if you have, then perhaps it’s time to go again; if you live there, ahhh, enjoy it! While on […]
The Innocent Age
On Friday morning, December 14th, 2012 the sun poked its warm fingers around the edge of the horizon and began gently and slowly lifting the lid of darkness, as it has done each day for millions of years. This day would be different. Darkness would not fully lift, but instead grow blacker; a shaft of […]