Sunday, July 30, 2023
I finished, and prep'd Linda's taxes to mail tomorrow. We accepted a short-notice invitation to meet with friends in LG for "music in the park." Tommy, Mark/Wendy, John, Corinne, Olivia, and numerous others came. Fun outing. Hard to believe it was only 2 hrs. But there was more to come, in a subtle surprise that now seems likely to have been the whole point of going in the first place. While there, I recognized the owner of 21st Century Products, a place I worked at 35+ years prior, walking through the crowd. He sat a bit behind us. I approached him, confirmed his identity and hugged him. I sincerely thanked him for the exposure he provided to me to inspirational and motivational content while there. It changed my life, and I was happy to see him again and finally convey my gratitude. It was not an option. I had to act. When you're 25, you don't know a whole lot about life; at 30+ then, he likely didn't either, at least not as much as I believe we both do now. As I discussed with his ex-wife Linda while we reconnected (they're divorced but stayed connected, which I find beautiful and honorable, and she was there tonight, too), what changes as we age and live our lives opens us up to a broader gratitude and appreciation for all that teaches and influences us; people, experiences, and seeds planted. Concepts he exposed me to through Wayne Dyer, amongst others, grew aggressively over the past decades, shaping my character and path, influencing my actions and aspiration, and guiding my heart through relationships, parenting, marriage, divorce and even Linda's passing. I've thought of Jerry and that time often. I've stayed in touch with Jack but lost track of Jerry beyond a few Facebook posts I'd come across years back. What a gift to get to see and engage with them both. It made my day, and it seemed to make theirs too. The day ended with Jen making Blueberry French Toast casserole, and I finished my work on the reservation systems to roll out tomorrow. I committed to it being done by EOM. Tomorrow is EOM. Insert mic-drop here.