April is almost here!

I am really enjoyed Tennessee this time of year! Like magic, suddenly the trees become green and flowers burst into color! Wonderful! I am looking forward to the next 6 months!

Life continues, and I am always amazed at how fast it goes! I am going into my "hour" session with the bicycle where I try to ride at least an hour when I ride, especially on weekends. I hope to slowly start increasing my speed.

My goal is to do 60 miles on August 6 when I turn 60! (If not exactly August 6, than a day close to that.) At my present speed, it would take me at least 6 hours to do 60 miles and, including breaks etc., I am probably looking at 8-10 hours to do sixty miles. Oh well, I can dream! Maybe I will do 20 miles a day and just call it one long day!

I really do enjoy biking, but time is also a factor. Currently, on many days I walk for about 40 minutes, do weights (another 40), and then bike (60+), so I invest a lot of time in exercise! I have lost about 35 pounds, but have reached a plateau and need to reduce my eating so I can lost weight. I want to lose another 20 pounds or so before I plateau again and then I will decide if I want to have the pain and suffering (and not eating peanut butter and strawberry ice cream!) necessary to lost the next 20 pounds I really need to lose.

We try to make a point to keep in touch with our families in OKC and visit personally about every six weeks or two months. Sometimes it is hard to get away from work (it normally takes about two days of vacation plus the weekend), but we feel the personal visit is good and necessary.

Happy Birthday to Barbara (March 24) and Eleanor (March 31).

Spring Musings

Sometimes it seems this time of year is the hardest. A few days temp you with nice, warm temperatures and then it turns cold again. Even though it isn't really that cold, my expectations of the temperature are different!

This year it has been especially hard to ride the bike cool temperature (45-50 degrees) after a few days of riding in shorts and a t-shirt!

Every year it seems that Spring temps you and the cold chill hands around until May. Maybe I need to take a trip to someplace really hot in March!

Everything is busy as normal. (I guess busy is good!) I saw some Spring flowers the other day and I guess I got overexcited. But soon the trees with bud, other flowers will come out and Spring will truly be here!

While riding my bicycle in the cold air I think about this summer and riding in the hot weather! Summer will widen my bike horizons. Right now I am planning on how I can ride 60 miles on my 60th Birthday!

I have been reading an interesting book on Lincoln, "Team of Rivals", by Doris Kearns Goodwin. I have enjoyed all of her books, and learned I need to buy them so I can take the time to read them throughly! I heard her speak at an International City Managers Conference (ICMA) and was so interested I collected all of her books. (She has written biographies about Roosevelt, Johnson, Kennedy and now Lincoln, as well as a book about her love of baseball.)

At that same conference, I heard Beck Weathers ("Left for Dead") speak and I became a fan of books and movies about mountain climbing. I'd never want to try it myself, but I really enjoy reading about it.

I have been keeping a listing of all books I have read since 1989. I am slowly putting them into a computer listing.

“I THINK I HAVE SOMETHING YOU ARE LOOKING FOR” (LEE WRIGHT)

Few events strike dread like suddenly realizing you lost your wallet (or purse etc.) with you drivers license, credit cards and money. The feeling of panic and helplessness is overwhelming.

I recently lost my wallet and after, several hours I called my house and had a message “I think I have something you are looking for” from a Lee Wright. (I’m not even sure if I have the name spelled right.)

I am pleased to say that Mr. Wright not only sent my wallet to me by FedEx, but he did not take a single dollar for the expense or his time or as a reward. (I urged him to keep the money for his time and expense.) I called and asked what I could do and of course, he just said he was pleased to help.

I don’t know anything about Mr. Wright (his name fits!) except he is from the Atlanta, Georgia. I decided I will make sure I will pass on his good deed (somehow, the term “good deed” seems inadequate) any time I have a chance. Somehow I think he would like that!

On reflecting on this, I observe a lot of similar “acts of kindness”, although if you have ever lost your wallet or purse, you will know what I mean by the feeling of relief you get when you get everything back intact!

Coffee, Strawberry Shakes and Strawberry Jam/Jelly

I have noticed for some time that:

-People who don't drink coffee don't understand the importance of FRESH coffee.

-People who don't drink Strawberry Shakes (or any kind of shake) don't understand the importance of a THICK shake.

-People who don't love Strawberry Jam/Jelly don't understand why I can't stand "mixed fruit" jelly and always ask for Strawberry Jam or Jelly!

Cold weather is here!

I walked in 20 degree weather this morning. I was warmly dressed and it actually felt ok! (Actually I was too warmly dressed!) Yesterday I biked in about 28 degree weather. Biking is a little colder because of he wind factor.

As long as there is not a major wind, the cold doesn't bother me too much.

We recovered from the Christmas holidays and can't believe that January 2007 is almost over! It appears 2007 will go fast.

I have been reading a biography of Abraham Lincoln (Team of Rivals) which is interesting. It is written by my favorite historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. I heard her speak at a conference and read all of her books. (At the same Confernce, I also heard Beck Weathers, which launched me on reading about mountain climbing, a subject I still enjoy reading about. It was a life-changing conference.

At work, it seems like January 2 started hectic and it hasn't slowed down! I don't mind, I enjoy being busy, but I almost haven't had time to hardly think!

January rains & bicycling

I was looking forward to the 3 day holiday as a time to get some "daytime" biking in. However, rain each day kind of spoiled that. (I just don't feel comfortable riding in the rain or on wet streets. I know a lot people do, and I would if I had too, but I just don't feel it's worth the risk of a fall.)

I feel kind of a guilty relief, but I can feel the effects of not riding. Fortuately, the rain is light enough I can continue my early morning walk of about 2.5 miles or so. Of course, there is always the treadmill or stationary bike (although that is at the exercise club, we have a treadmill at home), it just isn't the same.

I try to "maintain" my bike riding throughout the winter, hoping I can start some longer rides this summer. During the week, assuming I don't have a night meeting, I try to ride. However, when it gets dark so early, I always ride in the dark. I feel comfortable riding "in the dark" in my addition, but I don't like to get out of my neighborhood after dark.

Aliene tells me I look like a "Christmas Tree" going down the street with all my flashing lights, but I still don't know who might not see me. I have the regular bike lights and also have a flashing light on the front and back of my helmet and a flashing light on an arm band as well as all kind of reflective items. However all it takes is one inattentive driver!

One thing I really don't like is the "regular" bike items (that are specified for bikes) are either too small (an "XXL" at a bike shop may be a 44 chest!-usually XXL is at least 48 chest etc.), stupid (wrong way zippers, breaks easily etc.), made for a professional biker, and-Always-too expensive. I purchased my best items at Wal Mart and the Academy at about 30% of the cost of the same item "designed" for bikes.

I respect bike shops and try to buy what I can there (gloves, helmets etc.), but they all just don't have any bike clothing etc. at my size. Since I can't even change a flat tire, I need to have my bike maintained at a bike shop and I am willing to pay higher prices for bike items I need, but they even make that difficult! (I can't even ORDER larger size clothing.)

Anyway, I just hate to order clothing from the internet since I really need to see it before I buy it. Actually I feel the same about bike items. Just too many scammers out there.

(I don't even order books off the Internet anymore. They arrive damaged etc. and then I have to go to the trouble of returning them etc.). Fortunately, I have a Barnes & Noble a mile away and a Borders several miles away, but I still haven't found a bike shop with decent clothing, at any price.

I bought my bicycle at a local bike shop with the full expectation they would keep it repaired and maintained. They have done well thus far, thank goodness!

Anyway, summer is coming and I have plenty of t-shirts, which is all I need for summer riding!

January Thoughts

I am surprised when I see how little I write, or at least how infrequent I write. I keep a personal journal daily and fequently write thoughts in another journal.

Perhaps knowing that your thoughts are literally public restrains me a little!

The weather to the west hasn't hit here, although we do hae "rain" ather than "snow" or "ice. Anyway the wesather is really nice!

Ever since January 2, it has really been busy at work, I guess catching up with everything we didn't do over the Holidays!

Looking back over the year, we really enjoy our house and are glad we seleced this house and this addition. As a general rule I don't make "Resolutions", and I didn't this year. I do hope to keep losing weight etc.

2007 Thoughts

I was surprised to suddenly realize yesterday (Saturday, January 6) that I no longer had that little cough I have had for years! I realized it when I drank my first "diet Pepsi" for several months and started coughing! I guess the advise to not drink carbonated beverages was good advice for my “GERD”. Coffee is also supposed to affect me, but I’ve found I can drink some coffee during the day (I don’t drink my 10 cups before I go to work anymore!) and it doesn’t seem to adversely affect me or at least I can live with the consequences. I have it mostly under control.

Overall, we had a great Christmas and New Year’s. We were in OKC for Christmas and enjoyed ourselves and seeing everyone. New Years’ we spent in Lakeland at a local dance and had a good time.

Weather here has been great with some rain (but no snow!) and an occasional cool day, but otherwise, if there has to be Winter, this is a good way to do it!

I’ve been trying to catch up on my reading as well as work. It seems everything slows down over the Holidays and then goes into hyper-time afterwards.

Christmas Season

Visiting family in Oklahoma City. I am always surprised at how COLD it is in Oklahoma City compared to Lakeland/Memphis. I think it must be the wind or the moisture in the air. Even the same temperature is colder in OKC.

While I enjoy my visits to Oklahoma City and enjoy visiting, I am also always glad to get home to Lakeland.

We’re having a good, if busy, Christmas season and a very enjoyable visit to Oklahoma City. I always enjoy the “pause” in the year.

I have been trying to make any weight gain as small as possible. Thus far, I have even continue a slight continuation of losing weight, which is great! Starting with Thanksgiving, I decided I would be happy if I started January 2, 2007 at the same weight and I think I will make that goal. I even lost a little, but I’m afraid I may gain it back over Christmas!

We flew from Memphis to OKC, which is really nice. Aliene used “points” for a free ticket and I used a free ticket I had gotten for being “bumped” earlier this year, so it was especially nice!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a rewarding 2007!

A Soldier Returns

I was flying into Memphis returning from a Conference. As the plane landed, the announcement was made that a Soldier who had been killed was returning home on the plane. All of the passengers were asked to wait while Soldiers accompanying the casket got off the plane. An honor guard waited outside the plane, and as we taxied in, a fire engine sprayed water over the plane.

While I obviously can’t put my feelings into words, I felt a true sense of community with the other passengers and the soldiers family as the passengers all waited patiently and quietly, rather than the usual hurry and hubbub after a landing. The atmosphere remained even after we went into the terminal and got our bags, almost as if everyone was grieving with the family.

I was overwhelmed to think that this same event has been played out almost 3,000 times in the last three years. I see the names, hometowns and ages of the military personnel killed each week and I note the ages, most under 22 years of age. I feel a real sense of sorrow-and anger-at the thought of all these lives cut short.

Thanksgiving 2006 thoughts

November 17, 2006 would have been my Dad’s 100th Birthday. I like to think about how he would have reacted to some of the recent technological advances! Thinking of 1906, I expect he lived through almost as much of a change in perceptions and living as many of us have. The common ownership of automobiles, air travel, computers, international terrorism, major cultural changes, television etc. all developed during his relatively speaking first stage of life. (I’m not sure about international terrorism.)

I have developed the habits of riding my bike at least 4 times a week (depending on meetings and weather) and walking almost every morning. Combined with an emphasis on eating properly, I have now lost about 25 lbs from my “high” that I recorded. (At one point I didn’t record my weight due to a desire to avoid reality, or at least not record reality!. However, writing down my weight has been a real factor in helping me lose weight.) Of course, my eating was helped by that fact that I realized I had “GERD” (sometimes called reflux) and needed to watch what I eat.

I stopped taking Prevacid when I discovered it lowered my immune system. I found GERD affects me by causing my voice to get hoarse and coughing. I always attributed this to allergies, but now found it is related to what I drink and eat!

I reduced coffee to about 2 cups per day (probably down from 20) and have almost stopped all carbonated beverages. I also eat a lot lighter and really avoid fat. Peanut butter and strawberry ice cream/shakes are still a weakness.

I realized now my Dad probably had GERD and probably reacted the same way I do, with a hoarse throat and coughing.

Cold temperature is settling in, to my dismay. However, I am just glad I live in Lakeland, where the weather is mild. It also means I can continue to walk and ride my bike almost all winter, with a few exceptions. I have accepted the fact that I have to ride my bike in the dark and have adopted a number of methods of trying to make sure motorists see me. I probably look like a Christmas tree going down the street, but better safe than sorry!

Work continues to be very busy. Better busy than not, but I am trying to get some long term projects done and it is difficult!

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving! One of my first memories is of Thanksgiving. If I remember correctly, relatives came over, and I went out with my cousin, Chuck, and we kicked a tire tube for sport. It started snowing and became a blizzard.

Veterans Day November 11, 2006

I just realized today, 20 years ago (Veterans Day) I purchased my first “real” (IBM Compatible computer). It didn’t have a hard drive (the store told me I wouldn’t need one for awhile!), and I thought I was up to date on technology! (I had had several Commodores, a VIC 16 and a Commodore 64). I actually used it for at least 6 years when I jumped two generations of computers.

Time has really changed computers!

I’m glad the Memphis/Lakeland winters are relatively mild. I get to continue my walking and bicycling which is good for losing weight as well as my overall well being. Since we are on the eastern side of the Central Time Zone, it gets dark as early as 4:30 p.m., so I have learned to ride my bike in the dark! (I walk at 4:00 a.m. or so, so I always walk in the dark.)

We traded our Acura TL for an Acura MDX. So far we realty like the new car (an SUV), especially the fact it doesn’t have those “hot wheel” type tires. I really liked the TL, but I hated the tires. The TL was almost out of warranty (which is 50,000 miles for Acura). Ordinarily we wouldn’t worry about that. Since the TL had been in an accident, we decided to trade it. We purchased it on Halloween and I hope we got a treat and not a trick!

I’ll always remember driving the Acura TL back to Lakeland when someone was tailgating me and there was a truck right beside me. I floored the accelerator and suddenly realized I was doing 120 mph in what seemed like no time. (Fortunately, Aliene didn’t notice although I did tell her later. I will really miss the good points of that car!)

They have started phase II of our addition and it looks like it will fill up fast. We really enjoy living here.

October thoughts

Cool weather is starting to move in. It still is nice enough to ride the bike and walk without a lot of extra clothing, although I add more every day! I have gotten used to walking at 4:00 a.m., and Friday I even bundled up and walked in the rain since I didn’t want to miss my walk. I also bike every day I can (after work on weekdays and on weekends) and enjoy that.

My weight is going down well, slow but sure. Limiting my food has helped!

November 1, 2006, marks five years with Lakeland (and also means I vest in the pension plan!). It seems time has passed fast and looking back I see that a lot has happened!

Aliene and I went to the Fall Tennessee City Managers Conference in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Oak Ridge was a “secret city” during the development of the atom bomb. It now is a major research facility. We saw the 6th “fastest computer in the world” and I think there were 2 others in the top 20.

Currently the Oak Ridge lab is a major research facility and also contains some secret areas that we weren’t allowed to look at. (There were some jokes about rabbits the size of deer etc. due to the early nuclear work.) Oak Ridge is near Knoxville, Tennessee, which is higher elevation and more north than Lakeland, so the foliage was really beautiful.

We really enjoy our house and neighborhood. The other night we had a “block party” which was fun. The addition currently has about 50 houses completed and work in “phase II” has started. Phase III (which is near us and will ruin part of our view!-although we knew it was coming of course) will mean about 121 houses.

The “neighborhood” is so nice to ride in I am getting spoiled. I hope the new houses etc. don’t ruin the biking fun I have here. Unfortunately, the only exit is onto a busy highway. Although it has bike lanes, there isn’t really other close roads that are safe. I do have a good bike rack to carry the bikes so I can go to other areas.

I find I can see so much more on a bike than I can in a car (and it is much faster than walking) so I like to go and look at different areas of the city on a bike.

The Oklahoma Wind

I don’t mind hills while riding my bike, but I really don’t care for riding when the wind is high, although when I lived in Oklahoma, I figured I may as well learn to deal with it. Of course it is not near as bad here (in OKC) as it is in western Oklahoma and Kansas. I can understand why the continuous wind drives people insane!

Aliene and I are in Oklahoma City visiting. One of the first things I noticed when we got here Friday was the hard cold wind! The wind always makes it seem so much colder or hotter, maybe that is why I like the climate better in Lakeland! The altitude also apparently has something to do with it, since when it snows in Oklahoma, by the time it gets to Memphis it is frequently rain.

Aliene’s birthday is Monday. We are taking an extra day going back and celebrating it in Arkansas by seeing some of the sights we always plan to see on the trip to OKC, but never seem to have the time to do.

We ran into a friend at the hotel we are staying at Saturday night who, as a weekend job, drives a “classic Limousine”, so he gave us a ride in a 1963 Bentley, with the original steering wheel on the right! He offered to let us drive, but we decided it was a real thrill just to ride in it! (I don’t know what it was worth, but I’m sure my insurance coverage would be strained to cover the bill!)

Things are busy at City Hall. It seems there is always something going on to keep us busy!

We always enjoy our visits to Oklahoma City, but it is always nice to get back home. We really enjoy our new house, and especially the fact we know all of our neighbors! It is really a nice atmosphere.

Fall 2006

Cool weather was the general rule here for the last several weeks, so I was pleased to get up the other day and find it was 81 degrees at 4:00 a.m.! It felt like Summer again! This was after a series of 59 degrees, 55 degrees etc. in the morning.

I count winter is here when I switch to my heavier workout clothes. So far I have stuck with my shorts and t-shirts, so I feel Summer is still here!

Saturday, September 23, it started out warm, although cloudy and windy. I was riding my bike early afternoon, when the wind, which had been heavy (for Lakeland) from the south, suddenly switched to from the north and the temperature literally dropped 10 degrees just in a flash! We got some rain, but most of the storm was south.

After months of riding my bike without being affected by rain, I had to cut my bike riding short due to rain the last two days. Today, Sunday, it is nice again, although still windy.

I don't mind hills when I bike, but I really don't like wind! That is one reason I like to bike in Tennessee is that here usually isn't much of a wind.

I found I probably have "acid reflux" a lot worse than I realized. The Doctor took me off Prevacid (kind of an antiacid), but then put my right back on when I started coughing all the time. What I thought were allergies actually was probably acid reflux.

I realized that after I ate some bacon and coffee and was coughing a lot. The Doctor put me right back on Prevacid.

Now I realize what is causing my hoarseness and coughing bouts, at least partly!

I have drastically changed my life style to avoid the consequences of acid reflux. I walk at least a 1 1/2 mile every morning, bike on the stationary bike at the gym, and then usually ride my bike for at least 45 minutes and hohpefully an hour. I had already been walking in the morning, but now I am serious about doing it fast every morning.

I have also changed my eating habits, reduced coffee, don't eat fatty foods, avoid large meals etc.

Thus far I have lost about 20 lbs (from the Counter Reunion time), but I still have a ways to go.

The Sedway incident bruised Aliene's arm. She will probably be in some pain for a month or so from the arm. She still says she would do it again! She can do everything except she doesn't want to take a chance on riding the bike (she does walk as before), so I miss my riding partner!

In August, I went over 25 years as City Manager, since I first accepted a City Manager job in 1981, and 32 years working for cities as a career. Time goes fast!

November 1, 2006, I will have been in Lakeland for 5 years. Time goes so fast!

Water for Elephants

I don’t often write about a book, but if you have a chance to read “Water for Elephants”, do so! It is a wonderful and interesting and funny book!

Cool weather has come to Lakeland! Several weeks ago it was 85 degrees in the early morning, now it is 66 degrees!

I have been riding my “Trek” a lot more (still no name for it). Aliene has been riding the first half hour or so with me, so it has been fun. I am also walking (about 2 miles) each morning plus another 18-28 minutes on the stationary bike, and about an hour on the Trek, so I am getting more exercise! (That is not every day when I have a meeting etc.)

I don’t know if I already mentioned this, but I had my physical several weeks ago and the Doctor found I had a “low” thyroid, so she gave me some medicine to speed up my thyroid. This, in addition to my increased exercise, is helping me lose weight a little faster.

We had a nice visit with Aliene’s mother in Lakeland and then took her back to Oklahoma City last weekend.

25 years!

August 20, 2006, I suddenly realized that on August 20, 1981, I walked into City Hall on my first day as City Manager. Today is my 25th Anniversary as City Manager!

Would I do it again. You bet! I remember how I considered all the factors before accepting my first City Manager job, thinking of all the challenges and risks. Somehow, I knew from the start it was for me.

One of the first things I realized was that my jokes suddenly became funnier! (Of course, I knew the real reason!)

Although I can always see places where I would have done different in retrospect, I do feel I learned from my mistakes. Although I occasionally repeat my mistakes, I find myself repeating fewer and fewer of them, and, of course, occasionally making new ones.

Several years ago, at a Toastmasters meeting, I was asked what would I do if I won a large prize, such as 50 million dollars. I thought about it, and finally decided I wouldn’t really change anything, except perhaps buy a better car etc., but I certainly wouldn’t quit as City Manager!

Some brief history, when I was a small child, although I grew up on a farm, I played “City Manager”, although I didn’t call it that. I had rocks and sticks for cars and buildings and I built several enterprising “cities” and played for hours managing the cities.

I started working for a city when I was in high school. I mowed streets, parks, the cemetery and helped locate water lines etc. One of my most memorable moments was when the Water Superintendent and I tore up a yard and I first heard the phrase “ I’m going to sue”. (We actually got it worked out. I found I had the “gift” of finding water lines with a wire coat hanger and that is how we located them after that.)

I actually got my first career job with a City because I got “stood up” for a date. I was attending Wichita State University for my Masters Degree and had just finished my degree requirements. While I was dejectedly driving back after I realized my “date” was not there, at a job light, one of my Professors pulled up along side of me and yelled about a job opening at a City in western Kansas.

I called him the next day, sent in my application and got the job as “Assistant to the City Manager”. The City Manager showed me my office and advised me my job was to “get a grant” to revitalize a section of the City. (This was in October of 1974).

One special situation I remember is during my first few months on the job is standing in line for a movie and I looked at the people and a chill went down my back when I thought, “I help improve their daily lives by my work”. The chill has never left. I enjoy my job and I enjoy working for cities and especially with the residents, elected officials, volunteer boards and other City personnel. Everyone may have different beliefs on what to do, but almost all have the goal of improving the community.

The 25 years (and the 32 years of working for cities) has gone fast. I find it fulfilling that I still look forward to going to work after 32 years and I can’t think of anything I would rather do!

The Summer of 2006

The Summer of 2006 is slowly winding down. Fortunately, I like hot weather and Summer, so it is my favorite time of the year, and I always kind of dread the coming of Fall. While I enjoy Fall also, it means that Winter (especially the months of January, February and March) are close behind and those months seem to drag.

I have been riding my new “Trek” bike a lot more, in spite of the heat. As noted above, I enjoy hot weather, so it doesn’t really bother me. I try to walk first thing in the morning, than “bicycle” on a stationary bike a the health club and then bicycle “for real” at night and on weekends.

I find I can see so much more by bicycle and each ride develops its own pattern. I’m still not sure if I like the Trek (which is a “hybrid”) better than a mountain bike, but I am getting used to it and enjoying the ride.

I just had my annual physical. I guess you could say I “passed”. The Doctor did say my thyroid activity was not as high was it should be, which may explain why I had a sudden gain in weight several months ago and have had a horrible time losing it. (No, it’s NOT just an excuse, I hope!) I am taking some medicine for it and we will see.

We love our house in Lakeland. I spend a lot of time sitting on the back patio looking at the trees, or more specifically, reading or working on the computer and enjoying the presence of the trees. I have seen the summer go from tree frogs and bull frogs to cicadas. The cicadas, for some odd reason, always bring back memories of my childhood on the farm and it really seems like summer when the cicadas are active. I enjoy hearing them.

The bullfrogs are VERY impressive! I can imagine how big they are (although I was advised they are 6 inches or so). From the sound, I wouldn’t want to meet them in a dark alley!

Reflections on becoming 59

Happy Birthday to me! I never thought I would REALLY be 59 years old! Actually, thank goodness it’s not bad. I actually enjoy growing older (gradually, please), and don’t really wish I could be younger.

I guess each stage of life has its good and bad points.

One think I don’t like about growing older is this feeling of a lack of time. It really focuses you on what is important-or at least what SHOULD be important. However, I still manage to lose myself in dithering and doing minor tasks.

I don’t mean sitting on my back patio and hearing the wind blow through the trees and hear the cicadas buzz (if that is the right word) in the background. That is one of the essentials! I will enjoy Summer while it is here! I especially enjoy sitting on my back patio in the morning and reading the paper and drinking coffee!

I’m not sure where I thought I would be at 59 years old when I was a child. I can remember thinking of it as such a vague idea, somehow a concept that would never develop.

Thank goodness “60 is the new 40” (or maybe even the new 30). I still ride my bike, walk every morning, enjoy dancing and otherwise enjoy life. I think where I was even 20 years ago and a lot happened in that time!

I think 39 ½ probably bothered me more than anything, probably more to do with some major changes I was going through as much as being 39 ½. 40 didn’t bother me, although I still have the button “40 isn’t old if you’re a tree”. 50 was a breeze (I had just gotten married!) and the fifties flew, although actually I still have one year left!

I’m not really looking forward to retirement. I enjoy my work too much. I figure I will retire in 2016, which will mean I can “walk on the stage” in 2015 to receive my 40 year certificate (40 years in City Management, although not all of it was as City Manager) and then retire after the Holidays. (The worst part of the year for me is February and March, and, to some degree April, since it seems to take forever for it to get warm.)

Such are the reflections on becoming 59 years old.

Courter Reunion 2006 memories

We had a wonderful Courter Reunion in Topeka, Kansas. We really enjoyed the opportunity to visit and catch up on what has happened. As usual, I also hear new stories about past events I didn’t recall or that throw a new slant on the past!

One thing I am really thankful for-since I can’t pick my relatives, I am so glad I really enjoy the ones I have! I always look forward to the Courter Reunion. We used to go up just on the day of the Reunion (Sunday), but with time and distance, it now has grown to many of us coming up on Friday (or even Thursday) and staying until Monday, or any days in between!

Next year it will be in Lakeland/Memphis, so I hope everyone plans on a long stay. There is so much to do and I enjoy the opportunity to visit.

Courter Reunion 2006 will be remembered by Aliene and I (and Angela, Kali and Katherine) as rather an epic journey. It started on Monday, when we picked up Angela, Kali and Katherine in Little Rock. (Unless you get an air ticket at least 21 days in advance, Southwest Air is the only way to go. We pick up a lot of people (and take a lot of flights to and from) Little Rock, and, to some degree Nashville. Unfortunately, Southwest Air does not fly to Memphis. Northwest Air is great because of the direct non/stop flights (Memphis is a hub) and Delta is good because we have a Delta credit credit and get some free flights and 2/1 flights, but Southwest to Little Rock or Nashville is always there in the event we need it!

We drove back to Lakeland. Since I had a Board of Commissioners Monday night, they played in the park etc.

On Tuesday, we rode the trolley in downtown Memphis, went to the Childrens Museum, “Corky’s” (probably one of the best of the many outstanding BBQ places in Memphis, and just drove around. Wednesday, we went to “Mud Island” (riding the mono-rail), ate at the Hard Rock Café, went to the Brooks Museum of Art, drove through Harbor Town etc. and again just showed them Lakeland and the area.

Thursday, it was time to head for Topeka. We left in the early afternoon and stopped in St. Louis and headed up to Topeka early Friday morning. The two girls (6 & 3) were great.

The Reunion started as soon as we arrived (Eleanor, Kim and Rebecca, followed closely by others) and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

We went through Oklahoma City and dropped Angela, Kali and Katherine off and then headed on to Lakeland, stopping Monday night at our “favorite” hotel, the Hampton Inn at exit 55 in Clarksville Arkansas. If you ever get a chance to stay there, do so! It is really a wonderful hotel. I wish it was in or near Lakeland so we could have our family reunion there!

The last few years we have always looked forward to the Courter Reunion as a high point of our year. We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone to Lakeland next year.

It is strange to realize my generation is now part of the “older” generation, although we are fortunate that some of what I called the “older generation” when I was a child are still attending! I think that is the value of Reunions, to see the flow of the generations, and get a chance to visit and reflect on your life as well as just have fun.

As I reflect on the Courter Reunion, again, I think of how thankful I am that I like my relatives!

While we were in Kansas, I realized I had forgotten the HOT Kansas wind. It has been hot and dry in Kansas and I saw signs of the disastrous lack of rain.