I met Larry Bush in the fall of 1991. He was the President of the Britton-Macon Area School Board of Education. I was one of six candidates being considered for the superintendent position. When I received the news of his death on a Facebook post eight months ago, I learned he was three years younger …
Author: Robert
78
I’ll be 78 tomorrow. My name was going to be Danny Lee until it came time to sign the birth certificate. Danny, not Daniel. I’m happy that my mom changed her mind. When I use Robert, I see it as being more formal. I used it when I attended important meetings while I was working …
Nippy Cups
I visited Michael, Kate, and young Jackson James in California to celebrate Jackson’s second birthday. Mike and I were having an adult beverage and Jackson knocked my glass over. It wasn’t a deliberate act. He simply bumped the side table where the drink sat, and his blow tipped it over. Jackson was oblivious to his …
A Sense of Community
I’ve always believed that each of us should be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Being a part of a larger something adds value to our lives. When we’re young it’s the kids in the neighborhood and those we go to school with. We just like being together. Play is the common bond. When …
Always Spin the Wheel
Last January, Elizabeth and I took part in a book expo in The Villages. Part of our setup included a spinning wheel. Visitors could spin the wheel and win a prize. We gave away candy, book marks and slips of paper with “life lessons”. The lessons looked like the fortunes you’d find in a fortune …
Heading Back
I’m heading back to Michigan tomorrow. I’m not the same guy that came to Florida last September. I’ve gained a new shoulder, added two heart stents and in spite of my new hardware, I’ve lost over thirty-five pounds. I’m basically the same guy inside but with different goals. I never dreamed of being where I …
Hot Pursuit
If you’ve ever had teenagers in your life, you may be able to relate to this tale. The event took place about thirty years ago, but I remember the key components like they occurred yesterday. One of the perks of being a school superintendent was attending conferences in Traverse City each fall. Ruth enjoyed going …
A Medical Update
I don’t wish to sound dramatic, but I’ve recently had some health issues. I think the big stuff is behind me. I went in for a cardiac catheterization a week ago and they put two stents in my system. This whole experience started about six weeks ago. I was feeling short of breath, got lightheaded …
Little Boxes
There’s a song that came out when I was in high school called Little Boxes. Pete Seeger released the social satire in 1963 as a criticism of the creation of suburbia with its urban sprawl and conformity. “Little boxes on the hillside. Little boxes made of ticky -tacky. Little boxes, little boxes. Little boxes all …
A Book Review
I’ve started reading the Eight Dates book that my sister Jackie bought for me. It’s written by John Gottman and his wife Julie Swartz Gottman. I’ve written a bit about the book before. Since my last post, I’ve been told that it’s most meaningful if it’s read with a potential partner. It doesn’t differentiate between …