Good Morning All & Happy Tuesday!
A great big “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” goes to my good friend and Argentina traveling companion, Ed (Eduardo) Niblock. Here’s to you, mi amigo! May have a great day on your special day of celebration.
Happy Birthday wishes also go to country singer Miss Loretta Lynn of “Coal Miner’s Daughter” music fame, who turns 88 today; to actress Julie Christie of “Doctor Zhivago” movie fame, who is 80 today; and to actor Adrian Brody of “The Pianist” movie fame, who turns 47 today. Here’s to all of you!
One of the “silver linings” of this coronavirus challenge we’re in is the opportunity to clean out drawers and file cabinets that haven’t been touched in quite some time. Well, one of the gems I came across was a retirement card that said “to wish you a world of happy new beginnings that I kept from one of my clients, Magnuson Hotels. They were one of my favorite clients (and I had a lot of favorite clients!). The cool thing about their business model was that they took on Best Western motels that had been run down and/or poorly managed and brought them back to life. As a kid, I remember that my folks always wanted to stay in a Best Western motel because that brand was usually reasonably priced and provided pleasant accommodations. Magnuson Hotels created a business model that resulted in the renewal & refurbishing of worn out Best Western motels and brought them back to life and profitability. They are a great example of good old American ingenuity and the rewards that can be had through entrepreneurship. I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for my friends at Magnuson Hotels. Here’s to you!
I also came across a note that my daughter Andrea (Andy) had written to me in 2000 upon my return from a vacation trip. Being nine years older than our youngest child, she was old enough at that time to look after our two younger children while we were gone for a few days. Here are some excerpts from that letter:
“Hi Mom and Dad –
“Jake (our 8 year old son at that time) and I worked until about 8:30 p.m. on homework and getting stuff together. The homework, packet, veteran’s stars, and such are all in his folder along with a conference time sheet…
I don’t know if you know, but Jake has a Reading Day tomorrow. He needs to bring his sleeping bag or blanket, his pillow, his November Project Book that you approved, and a drink. He also has a spelling test tomorrow that we studied for…
…We finished his veteran’s stars which I think were due today in class, but we did them anyway. We called Pumpa & Grandma, and Mac and Tosh (Jake’s grandparents) for some help. Just thought I’d let you know.
If you have any questions or things you need to talk to me about, I’ll be up late tonight.
Love you tons,
Andy (with a smiley face drawn next her name)”
(Pretty good for a 17 year old, wouldn’t you say?…Andy was always a big help to us with her younger siblings, as there was five years or so separating each of the kids.) And Andy continues to this day to be a great sister and now a terrific mother. Here’s to you, Andy!
In addition, I came across a letter from my Dad dated October 22, 2000 in which he wrote the following:
“I think most folks do not understand that the prosperity and economic growth we have and are the beneficiaries of—did not happen because of government—for government does not really manufacture anything—grow anything—market anything—private enterprise does.”
No truer words could be written, particularly as we come to realize the importance of business activity to our nation’s health & well-being at a time like this one.
Speaking to the challenges of today, I’m reminded that in late March of 1953, Dr. Jonas Salk was able to develop a successful vaccine against the virus that caused the crippling disease of polio. That was a game changer and I vividly remember lining up at school for our polio vaccine. It was a source of relief to so many who feared contracting the virus that caused polio. This just goes to show that folks committed to scientific research have been a real blessing to all of us and so we’re prayerful and can take heart that a vaccine will be found for the coronavirus in the near future. Here’s to Dr. Salk and his team of researchers!
Here is the word definition for the day:
Coruscation: “A glittering or sparkling flash of light”…”A striking display of wit.”
Here is the thought for the day:
“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”
—John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, 1780
Here’s to a great Tuesday and lots of love & good wishes always!
Press on,
Papa ‘a (Dad, Uncle Mark, Mark, etc.)