Little Lessons

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” – Kahlil Gibran

On Day One of the road trip, I was introduced to a great local diner. Reasonable prices, good service and most importantly, an endless cup of hot, black coffee. Looking around, you could sense this was where “the locals” hung out.

I had an 8:00am conference call Tuesday morning, so I arrived at the diner around 6:45. Sitting at the counter, I enjoyed a plate of eggs and ham, followed by a bowl of fruit. Read the daily news on my smartphone, plus caught up with some friends on social media.

My coffee cup was near empty, and it was 7:15, so I thought it was time to ask for the check. Just then, an elderly gentleman sat down in the chair next to me – passing the 3 available seats along the way. The waitress addressed him by name, taking his order for oatmeal. The coffee was poured without a spoken request.

He turned to me and said, “Good morning, how are you today?”

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffett

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” – Nelson Henderson

Lately, I’ve been thinking about my parents. A lot.

It started with finding a stack of letters my mother had saved. They were letters I’d sent to my parents when I was in the military.

"All man's miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone." – Blaise Pascal

Because of my job as a consultant, I spend a significant amount of time away from home. Business travel isn’t glamorous, it isn’t miserable, it’s just part of my job. I’ve been a landscaper, a trash collector, a waiter and a soldier. Put into the proper perspective, life on the road isn’t that bad.

I’m fortunate and have wonderful clients. We’ve shared dinners that are more like a gathering of friends than a corporate event. Exchanging stories, including some “tall tales”, that bring smiles and laughter to the table. We create memories, not close business deals.

“Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.” – Josh Billings

One day in 1981, a friend of mine asked me to cover for her for a few days at her part-time job. Little did I know that that favor would be the beginning of a life-long love affair……………………………with mail.

“Memory is the one paradise out of which we cannot be driven.” – Sacha Guitry

We were admiring the 1930 Cord on display at the museum, when we heard a voice say, “You know, the classic color was yellow.”

We turned to learn more from our new guide. “Oh yes, Cord was known for their yellow cars. Do they have the engine hood open on the other side? They were beautiful machines. Really ahead of their time. Did you see the one out in the car show? Retractable headlights. In 1930.”

“My husband had the chance to buy one once. $2,000. Which was a good buy. They sold new for $2,900. It was either buy the car, or date me for the next 3 years.” – said with a twinkling smile.

“Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.” – Samuel Johnson

One of my favorite pastimes is attending classic car shows. Walking down the rows, being surprised by the next discovery. Beautiful lines, glossy paint, and polished chrome transform ordinary vehicles into works of art.

At most amateur shows, there’s an opportunity to meet the owners. The conversation often begins with the origin story. “My grandfather bought this car back in 1935.” “It was just a rusting frame that I found in a junkyard.” “My first car was also a 1972 Skylark, only this one is worth a lot more.”

Most owners will explain why their car is unique – retractable headlights, V-12 engine, hidden storage panels. They encourage you to take as many photos as you want. Some even let you sit inside!

"You are the storyteller of your own life and you can create the legend or not." - Isabel Allende

For the past 18 months, my business partner and I have been making weekly trips to see a client in New Mexico. Staying in the same Marriott, we’ve become “regulars” to the staff. We often stop in the lobby lounge for dinner or a nightcap at the end of the evening. The bartenders and servers are friendly, sharing stories and listening to our boring tales. After a while, it feels like we’re friends.