Interviews

As I sit outside the Dean’s office at Montclair State University waiting for an interview with a newspaper person, I start jotting notes on my life’s journey – professionally at least – to prepare myself on what to say so I sound mildly enlightened.  In outline form, it is what one might considerately call lacking.

Lacking vision.  If you jot down “once displaced, a number of people would say to me in the course of conversation ‘I wasn’t even sure what you did’”, your career lacks vision.  How hearty is the “I’m a musician” “I’m a doctor” “I’m a teacher”?  You understand – not all the nuisances and nuances, but you understand the vision.

Lacking social return.  The job you take feeds your pocketbook, first and foremost, so you can pay bills and keep a roof over you.  McDonalds or Merrill Lynch – they are the same if all you do is pay the bills.  When you have the ability (i.e., education, modest financial ability) to do more than the basic, shouldn’t you?

Lacking strength.  If you try for your dream and fail, you have a story, experience, an edge – you have fed the core of yourself which acts as a ballast to life’s ups and downs.  If you don’t try, you’re hiding.

You never know when or where an a-ha moment might occur.

Reflections on Ireland

I was a little apprehensive to bring the kids to the Emerald Isle.  Mostly because of the foriegn travel, although admittedly, I was nervous about them thinking it was not cool enough.  Like teenagers ho-humming their way around the world and wasting time before they could watch the American Idols finals, I thought the offspring would think "Boy, this looks just like Wisconsin."

Well, we landed in Dublin, got into a rental car to head to Cork, and the test was on.  The daugther wanted to stop in Waterford to scope out the Vikings -- yes, those Vikings.  Gotta love her!  I learned having a titular descriptor is soooo Viking, meaning I know all sorts of Vikings - Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, Tim the Toolman.

But the biggest impact came after the museum.  Rain required some hotfooting over to dinner where we met Frankie.  Its been weeks after the trip and the kids have kept talking about Frankie the Waiter [apparently a Viking!]  And what was so amazing about Frankie?  Well, other than being friendly, nothing much.

He was polite to us, spoke to the kids, used good manners and was patient enough to provide a number of tips for having a great time in Ireland.  Read: he did those things your parents tried to teach you for years and eventually gave up in frustration.

How did the kids see it?  Frankie was THE nicest guy in the world!!!!  So, I've resolved to be nice, speak to people, use good manners and be patient with everyone I meet.  Pass it one...