Letter Never Sent

Did some serious driving over the weekend and I had the following sentiment reinforced by repeated experiences.

If you’re driving down the highway in the left lane enjoying the empty expanse in front of you, take a look in your rearview mirror. Chances are you’ll see several cars lined up behind you. Even if you’re going the speed limit, this means you’re going too slow. The left lane is for passing only. Do everyone else a favor and park the “stop and smell the roses” attitude in the right lane where it belongs.

This weekend was thought provoking on the subject of time and life. Jody and I took another seven hour roadtrip up to Oklahoma for two reasons: to see her newly arrived niece and nephew, boy and girl twins who were born last week, and to attend her ten-year high school reunion. They’re the first grandkids in the family and everyone is excited to have them. It’s been a long time since I have seen a newborn and I forgot that babies don’t always start out chubby, but can actually be so thin and fragile looking. It’s so strange seeing a tiny little person who is just learning how to focus their eyes and experience the world for the first time with no preconceptions about their experiences. It’s strange to think that we all started this way, from a single cell to a tiny helpless infant to a full-grown adult and then into senescence. We are fleshy flowers, reaching up into bloom, then to fruition, and then shrinking with age as we prepare for the next season’s harvest.

It’s not an entirely unpleasant thought to know you play some role in this chain.

1. At the drive-thru teller NEVER get in line behind a minivan.

Anyone who drives a minivan is either handicapped, elderly, or a parent. In any case, when it comes to doing the bank thing they’re unprepared or just naturally slow. This is confirmed by significant anecdotal experience. Today I followed my own rule and did not get behind the minivan. I was able to see the driver from my adjacent lane once I made it to the front. She had her entire brood in tow including a dog or two. Meanwhile, she had a nice long conversation with the bank teller over the intercom about her kids and all that cute stuff.

I came across a good link (via) to a collection of interviews featured in Esquire magazine in a monthy section they call “What I’ve Learned”, which features the thoughts and insights of well-known people. It is well worth your time to read every one of these interviews. This is exactly the kind of material that makes Esquire enjoyable and thoughtful to read. It’s the kind of information you can only get from people when you listen to them talk for a good long while. If you listen long enough the heavy personal insights bubble up to the surface of conversation where you can fish them out. Here are a few that got me thinking and nodding to myself:

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-en.

I think I forgot to mention that one of my very favorite people turned the big three-oh last month. That means I’ve known him for about seven years? Seems like a lot longer. Too long. He and Sarah are doing real well out in San Francisco where he’s probably wearing a path in the yard from walking around smoking enjoying the chilly bay area weather.

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Work is challenging as all get out. If I had to draw a picture of it for you, it would be a picture of my head with a bunch of stuff being crammed into it like a giant slurpy.

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Josalyn became an aunt this week with the births this weekend of her new niece and nephew. We’ll be heading up to get a first look, so maybe I’ll have some photographs or something. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen some new babies.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m working with a small company over off East 5th Street. I started on Thursday with Phillip showing me the ropes. I got to dig right in by making significant additions to a couple client sites. It will be challenging in a good way, especially this week since I won’t be able to bug Phillip for information on where everything is located.

Missed a chance to talk with CNN:

Hi Chris

I’m a producer with CNN, interested in your blog post on Deep Throat. Can I ask where you are located, and for any other info on you and your blog? Lots of bloggers making your point about the money motive today and I was interested in using your site for a segment

Thanks
Abbi Tatton

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