Learning vs Being Educated

(It was Spring 1982.  How do I remember that?   It’s about my Son when he was a baby. He was born with an allergy to milk. Normal formulas caused him to break out in terrible rashes and other things. Pediatrician said he could only have Isomil. The first of many life challenges he's faced, overcome, and learned from.) 

My employer, Saint Anthony Hospital, had bought an old elementary school a few blocks from the hospital and was converting it to a daycare/childcare center.  St. A’s, and its CEO, E.V. (“Dutch”) Kuhlman, were ahead of their time in many areas over the years.  For a great example try:  Wikipedia:  Flight for Life.  Read the "History" paragraph.

Anyway, Kuhlman had installed his newly minted Ph.D. daughter, Carla, as Director. And with my wife's maternity leave ending, and me having to keep working, my little guy was one of the first enrollees. 

When we registered him, we provided physician’s info and a case of Isomil, with his name on it.  All went fine for awhile until I came to pick him up one day and he was lying in a crib with a bottle of milk.  I told the attendant he could only have Isomil, and she apologized.  That was fine until I found him that way for the third time, and I proceeded to express my feelings loudly.  

Carla came running out of her office and began with a condescending “Bill, Bill, Bill”….  (To this day the hair on my neck goes up if anyone addresses me like that.)   After some “discussion”, she proceeded to tell me that my problem wasn’t the bottle issue, but with being separated from my new son.  I was suffering from “separation anxiety” and she’d be happy to recommend someone for me to talk with. 

Without much thought, my immediate response was, “Carla… you can have all the degrees in the world and it won’t make you smart.” With that, I picked up my Son, all of his accessories, and left.  

I was tempted to go back and tell her that such issues could bring legal and regulatory challenges to St. Anthony's, to say nothing of a childcare facility's reputation, but I didn't get to it.  

  

As expected, the next day my office phone rang and it was Pam Myer, Kuhlman’s secretary, “he wants to see you now.... and shut the door.” 

When I entered the outer office, she didn’t even look up, just waved me through.  I walked in, shut the door, and sat down.  

He was reading something and didn’t look up for what seemed like a long time.   Finally he looked up, took off his reading glasses, put his cigarette in the ashtray, looked at me with a stern expression and said, “Did you really say that to her?”

I responded, “Yes… yes I did.” 

He leaned back, looked at me directly for a few seconds, and said, “It’s about goddamned time somebody did.”  

He stood up, smiled at me, shook my hand, and said, “now get the fuck out of here and back to whatever you were doing.  I'll deal with her.”  

====================

Dutch & I became closer and, when I left to move to HCA, he told me that I could come back any time, I was someone he could trust.   We stayed in touch after his retirement.  When he was terminally ill, we visited and when he died I stayed in touch with his wife.   Funny aside is that Carla and I later became friends on Facebook and stay in touch to this day.   She became a lifelong learner.  

 

..

Starting Up Sleeping Dogs

Somebody has to do something 

and it's incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.

--- Jerry Garcia

Not sure when I started.  Seems like forever.  But suffice it to say I always had music playing in my office.  It provided many things and eased stress for most.  

Music....can name the un-nameable    

                        and communicate the unknowable.

--- Leonard Bernstein

 

I would often get into the office around 7 am or before.  My first song in the morning was “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones, with the volume loud enough to start things up for anyone within earshot.   My office was a few doors down from the MD CEO and he would often come in shortly after me and pass my office on the way to his.   His usual routine was to pass without looking or to look in like he was curious.  I kept waiting for him to ask me to turn the volume down, but it never happened. 

Who hears music, feels his solitude peopled at once.

--- Robert Browning

As it happened one day I didn’t get the music started right away, and he walked past and then came back and walked in.  I looked up and he looked at me with a concerned look and asked if everything was okay.  I said it was, and wondered why he was asking.  His answer, “No music, I take it for granted to get started up.”   I immediately turned around and fired it up.  He smiled broadly and eased on down the hall.   

The day began with a smile.  

 

            Music expresses that which cannot be put into words 

             and that which cannot remain silent.

--- Victor Hugo

I know it worked in at least three states and one foreign country.  

Always wondered if anyone else....

Dog Taking a Mind Walk...

 

It's hard not to be political in this world, but .... as we walk in our world today we often find ourselves in the middle of Dante's road more than we ever imagined.

               “In the middle of the road of my life

                       I awoke in a dark wood

               Where the true way was wholly lost.”

                                       - Dante Alighieri  

These days we truly are often making it up as we go along.  There are no guidebooks, flowcharts, algorithms, or even balancing loops to work through the situations we find ourselves in.  These times are emotional, impulsive, action and reaction, pressure, and survival.  

Is it the death, we knew was coming, of something we treasured? …. done in the name of creating something ....?  What????

 

It is heart wrenching... . it is stomach turning... it is head pounding... it is unbelievable... it is ....?

 

What about this idealistic belief that it doesn’t have to happen this way, presented by the books and theorists who have opined for years and years that change should be accepted and open?   They surely never dealt with this side of life.  The dark side of world leadership.   It is so very hard… so very hard… to accept this.    But when change happens, we dance our rituals and give the past practices our love and tell ourselves it will get better.  

Do we really believe that?

 

Such is the way of change.  But is it the way of this change? 

 

What is the difference, though, between being the sole voice in the crowd crying for change… or 

…. being the sole voice in the crowd crying not to change? 

What make the difference between right and wrong here?

What makes one voice more correct than the other?

What makes one person seeing something, different from another person not seeing something?  

Or perhaps another person seeing something differently from the others?  

Such are the questions we are asked,

…. and we have asked.

Is there one answer?  

 

Sometimes You Just Have to Ask...

 

(This was written years ago and just found in the "Draft" file... oops)

The Dog was new to the Board of the La Crosse Symphony; but it didn’t take long to realize that the LSO was in trouble — financially and musically.   It was floundering and needed something.   Over time, the Board had finally replaced the part-time conductor/music director and the business manager but were struggling to get the orchestra to stretch their sights beyond just being a “small town” orchestra, composed mainly of La Crosse musicians.  One of our most controversial decisions came to be the expansion of the orchestra to include musicians from anywhere who were good enough to play at a symphony level.  Several members of the existing LSO tendered their resignations and morale was slipping.  

At one of the Board meetings, the Dog was fresh from listening to a CD of the Moody Blues playing with the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks (1992), and the agenda topic was “ways to improve attendance”.   We were lucky to fill half of the 900 (?) seat theater at the local college Fine Arts Building for any given performance.   During the Board discussion this Bored member volunteered that the LSO needed to do something to get itself recognized in the community… something like playing with the Moody Blues.   Most Board members laughed at the idea and it was met with severe skepticism that it could or would ever happen.  

Dog left the meeting somewhat pissed and disheartened; but knew we needed to do something "crazy” and shake the place up musically.   So, the next day Dog called the Director of the La Crosse Center Arena and asked how we might go about booking the Moody Blues.   He too was skeptical but called me back later with the name of the booking agent for the band.  

The Dog called this person (based in L.A.) and explained that he represented the La Crosse Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra and heard the Moody Blues play with the CSO at Red Rocks.   Dog asked him how we might go about bringing the band to La Crosse to play with the La Crosse Symphony.  The agent's first question was a good one.…”Where’s La Crosse?”   Dog explained that if the band was in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, or Chicago, we were right in the middle.  

His second best question was, “And you have a real symphony orchestra there?”.   He was assured that we did, and I even detailed the components of an orchestra and our representative numbers.   

He was very pleasant and closed our conversation with, “let me do some checking and I’ll get back to you.”.   Gave him the contact information for the LSO and hung up thinking that it was a “don’t call us, we’ll call you,” kind of call.   

Several weeks later, while sitting in a Lutheran Hospital Board meeting the phone rang.  This was most unusual since no one interrupted the Board meetings unless it was an emergency    Imagine the surprise when the person who answered it said, "it's for you".  The operator told me that there was a hysterical woman on the phone and needed to talk to me right away.  Okay….?

The LSO Administrator (Marci), was on the phone and started screaming,  “YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS…. THEY WANT TO PLAY WITH US…   THE MOODY BLUES WANT TO PLAY WITH US !!!!      AND THEY WANT TO PAY US, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??    THEY WANT TO PLAY WITH US AND THEY WANT TO PAY US!!!   I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DID IT!!!

She was so loud that the Board members sitting near the phone could hear the conversation.  They started smiling, and applauded when the call ended.  

We notified the rest of the LSO Board (Dog didn’t gloat) and then the Administrator & Conductor called a meeting of the orchestra and let them know.   Several snuffed and huffed about “rock n roll”, but most were stunned.  After some discussion, it was decided that a signup sheet would be posted back stage and anyone who wanted to play could sign up.   If there were positions open, LSO would recruit musicians from other orchestras to fill in.  

The sheet was posted at the next rehearsal — and every line was filled.  

The Moody Blues came to town on June 7, 1994, and the concert filled the La Crosse Center.  It exposed the La Crosse Symphony orchestra to more people than they had ever played to before.   Dog rented a limo and we took our kids for their first limo ride.  I wish we had cellphones then because the kids faces were lit up and they were dancing in the aisles.   

When the concert was over, we asked the conductor (the Moody Blues travels with it’s own conductor) how it was and he said the LSO was good — he could tell that some were playing “over their heads” but they pulled it off “spectacularly’. 

That was the moment that changed the LSO.  The Fine Arts Center started getting fuller with every performance, and soon every concert was a sell out.   Season ticket holders more than doubled.  

        Sometimes you just have to ask and the impossible happens. 

Easter — for all of us…

 

Easter, like Christmas, is a two-pronged holiday.  On one hand you have a furry bunny handing out eggs and candy and fun.  On the other hand, you have a guy who was nailed to a cross rising up from the dead.  Hmmm... wonder which one attracts the most young folks?  

Anyway, let’s try some non-Easter bunny thoughts for an Easter morning.  

Whether you believe Jesus actually died on a cross, and then resurrected three days later, or not, just consider this:   

A Bible is a book of parables, which vary according to book, chapter, verse and “version”.  It was written “as a guide” with a “male” bias, (since “female” wasn’t accepted as equal).   Strangely enough, it was presented to me that way in 1960-something Catholic school religion classes by more than one nun.  Parables are stories written by humans, not facts.  Every interpreter or published Bible-helper spins an interpretation.  

Whether you accept a “holy book” or not, let’s just say that Jesus was a guy who spent his life trying to be good to people, helping people and trying to teach people that good is better than bad.   During his life and work, he was scorned by many for speaking his truth, and his fans (disciples?) did little to help him.  

Finally he suffered betrayal by a trusted friend, was harassed and tortured by people who were afraid of what he was doing, and, ultimately nailed to a cross to be further harassed and then put down and out.  (Hang in, we’re leading up to Easter positivity…)

He was placed (not “buried”) in a rock cave/chamber/tomb, and three days later Mary Magdalene and some other women found this chamber empty and spread the word.   (Note:  Women stepped in here…)

Ultimately, Jesus reappeared to them and some of his disciples.  He continued a renewed life for a figurative 40 days, teaching disciples and others to go forward.  Then he ascended (faded?) into heaven.  Holy Spirit comes in here…. 

So anyway, whether you believe it or don’t, let’s consider the reality of a person, say Jesús, (Note accent mark) in our real world who spends his life trying to be good to people, helping people, trying to teach people, AND influence others that good is better than bad.   During his life and work, he is threatening to many in power by challenging norms and using truth to build good things.  When the walls close in on him, his trusted friends and colleagues back away in fear of losing their jobs, some turn against him.  He is ultimately belittled and terminated.   He then backs away, spends time in reflection and regeneration, and resurrects himself and his work again, in a new environment, trying to do more good, driven by keeping a positive inner spirit.   

The Dog likes the second one better as a relatable Easter Story for everyone about facing your challenges, taking your defeats, then finding your resurrection, renewal, revitalization.. and moving ahead again.  There are many of these people out there.  

Men AND women.. even some who may read this...  

==================

Final thought … If you want to be a big hit at your Easter party — Google “Eastre”, and learn about how the bunny started.   

Thank your God for Holy Spirits …

Happy Easter !  

Keep The Faith ---

The Dog first heard that phrase in the Marine Corps back in 1968.   It was a comment often said to someone heading out on a dangerous assignment or facing a tough challenge.  It was not necessarily a religious line, it was meant as encouragement to believe in yourself.*  

In the ‘80s, when working internationally, it came back to me as a good sig line on e-mail messages (telexes, in those days) or memos to friends and colleagues around the world.  If they asked about it, the answer was geared to them.   Different meanings for different people.  

Then it went low again until the demons and disasters of the late ‘90s came roaring in.   Resurrected it to give encouragement to people struggling through hellacious times.  Sad side was that those who needed to hear it most, derided it most.  

In the 2000’s, it came back, once more, as my sig line on work e-mails.  Just a bit of “Human Resources trying to keep it human”, as we would say.   I was chastised by a senior leader who said I needed to stop using it because it sounded religious.   (He was also the one who told me I shouldn’t advocate for Veterans Day because we would be seen as promoting war.).  I explained the background of the phrase to him, and he came to understand (and also supported the Veterans Day celebration) but I cut back using it anyway.  

Now, in these days, it seems needed again.  With nasty politics and wars all around us, a general negativity in media, and a national trend to find blame and fault before hope and good, it seems needed again.  A world where cynicism and sarcasm overtake optimism, respect and kindness.  The United State is anything but united, and people are not Americans as much as they are (you fill in the blank ).  

Anyway, it is certainly spiritual, but it is mainly aimed at you, as an individual, believing in yourself and your ability to get through things and find peace and positivity on the other side with yourself, your world, and other people.  Only you can do that — only you.  You can’t change the world, you can only control you.  You control how you react to people, deal with things, adapt to things.  You build the bridges to peace and happiness … and other people.  One at a time.  

Obstacles?   Adapt, improvise, overcome.  All controlled by you.  

And… as it always has been, “easier said, than done”, and not everyone believes it or will do it.  C’est la vie.  

But please…

Keep moving 

Keep breathing 

Keep smiling

Keep trying

Keep the faith

—————

*If you really want a religious connection, grab your bible and read 2 Timothy 4:7.  Ol’ Tim got it and fought the good fight.  

And, there’s a few musical connections, but find Bon Jovi’s “Keep The Faith” or Rod Stewart’s song “This”.  They understood too..  

And play this while you're doing it .... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7pBJVAQWYI

Life's A Coin Flip

You’ll sometimes hear people say that one moment in time, one event, changed the entire course of their life.   

Here’s one of mine.  

The Dog was in the Marine Corps less than a year, and working for the Information Services Office (ISO) at Camp Lejeune, N.C.   It was a typical afternoon in the office, we were all working on various stories or projects for the Camp Lejeune Globe or some similar journalistic endeavor.   

The phone on ISO Chief SSgt. Ed Grantham’s desk rang and it was HQMC looking for a “4312 Lance Corporal” to transfer to Fleet Home Town News Center, Great Lakes, IL.   There were only two of us there, me and a guy whose name I cannot remember.   Grantham asked us who wanted to go and neither of us did.  

So Grantham pulled a quarter out of his pocket and flipped it.   

I lost the toss and shortly thereafter got my orders to Great Lakes.  It was there that I met Bill Marcotte, who years later introduced me to the woman who would become my wife and the mother of our children.   

If I had won the coin toss, I would have had a completely different life.   

I’m glad I lost.