A Conference Room Full Of Random Thoughts

For much of this past week I have been in and out of meetings at all different times of day and every imaginable length. Given the time of year it really isn’t a surprise to have these kinds of days. The summer months are a time for planning and strategy in addition to our usual ongoing efforts. However, it is during these long sessions in the conference room when the conversations tend to veer off course.

One of the common culprits is a when a simple reference is made and only half of those in the room know the origin of the term or word. It’s like when someone knocks on the door and says “Land shark” or “Candy gram” there are going to be people with grins and others with blank stares. This inevitably turns the discussion into a back and forth about what we remember growing up and what may have been missed by some.

It is fascinating how much you can relate to your colleagues just by recalling random memories from childhood and during the early parts of your life. Not the major events just the small moments, songs, television shows, movies, and the other things that passed by without us giving them a second thought. Even the way that certain streets used to look or department stores that we used to visit. These are the conversations that make me wonder if I have really gotten to that point in life when we look back and wonder how things have changed so much.

Of course, what doesn’t help in this self-evaluation is the fact that I rarely get references to current pop culture and I frequently find myself giving directions according to old stores and landmarks. Heck, I still prefer writing notes by hand, reading paper copies of books and documents, and paying by check. And, what really throws off my oldest niece, I still text in complete sentences with all the words spelled out… I don’t know if that is more my age, a little OCD, or both.

In the end, time moves forward, life happens, and changes occur. All we can do is keep our perspective and appreciate all that we have seen and done… everything it a memory. While we can see, feel, and sense our memories that is all that they are. It is interesting how those present events can awaken the thoughts of the past merging the two into a new experience that makes you wonder how old you really are. It makes you think about how long it will take before you look back at today in the same way that you look back to memories from childhood. Is that even possible? I guess we will have to wait and find out.

 

Time To Get To Work

For the second day in a row, I drove eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and made my way to the Hershey Lodge. While yesterday was an all-day affair, the reason behind today’s journey was much more focused. This morning provided me the opportunity to see the party nomination process first hand for the first time. While annual and campaign budgets were discussed, platforms and bullet points were outlined as a means to focus the messaging for the coming year. Not surprisingly, the messaging is in line with one of my previous posts.

Of course, the culmination of the morning was in the official nomination and backing of Governor Tom Corbett in his bid for reelection in the fall. While some may look at the calendar and see almost an entire year in front of us, this is a short period of time which will prove difficult to get everything done that we want to accomplish. Difficult but not impossible. Unfortunately, every one of us in that room know the difficulties that are been cast in our path every day, we know what the opposition has done and wants to do to us. But what really motivates us, is that we know what the other side wants to do to this state as a whole, what they want to do to all of us. That is what will propel us to victory.

While a naturally reserved person, there is a sense of excitement that comes over you as songs from "Rocky" echo across the hall as the Lieutenant Governor and then the Governor enter the hall and make their way to the stage. The same people with whom I was speaking just yesterday in a relaxed reception. The meeting when a bit longer than expected (which I didn’t notice until the balloons were release and I went to check my messages) but I was still able to stop for coffee and get out the door before noon. It was another new experience and one that I am glad I took the time to do. For those of you that have never been to a political rally of some kind, it really is an experience that is difficult to explain.

 

There has been much debate among friends, family, and numerous other people regarding the work that has been done in the Commonwealth by this administration, there is no question in my mind that we have made tremendous progress since they took office. With spending down, jobs created, industries pulled from the brink, businesses brought into the state, and taxes under control there is no other person that could accomplish as much in Harrisburg. In the end, promises were kept and we are better off now than we were four years ago.