The Kindest Words

I couldn’t have been more than 13 years old at the time. This was the time in my life when it was cool to grow my hair over my ears and wear OP corduroy shorts and Hobie Cat T-shirts. I liked bottle rockets and Space Invaders more than girls.

So there I was at church wearing my light blue suit that my mom bought for me at Sears. I had been ordained a Deacon in the Mormon church which means I could pass the bread and water but couldn’t be trusted to prepare or bless it.

After one meeting ended I bounded up the stairs, two or three at a time, to the last class of the day. As I got to the top I came face to stomach with a lady I barely knew. She was wearing a fancy red dress I doubt she found at Sears.

I stopped and waited for the inevitable lecture about how this was the Lord’s house and how dare I run through it. I flashed a goofy grin hoping to lesson the blow.

But it never came.

Instead she put her hand on my shoulder and said, “Your smile makes my day. I just love it”

As I continued into my class I was stunned yet thrilled. My whole body was tingly with joy.

Those few words brought so much joy to a young boy many years ago.

And it still makes me smile whenever I think about it.

Technorati Tags: Mormons, Church, Smile, Kindness

A Few Things I Miss

When we moved back to Seattle three years ago I took a job in downtown Seattle. I loved working downtown. I took a 30 minute commuter train from Auburn (south of Seattle) into King Street Station and walked to my office near Pioneer Square.

Downtown Seattle near Pioneer Square

There’s an energy. A buzz if you will. Pedestrians move with a purpose. The crowd is eclectic. It’s a mix of suits, tourists and street people pushing everything they belong down the street in a shopping cart.

I’ve worked in Redmond for the past year on the Microsoft campus. It’s so very clean, overrun with expensive cars, and dotted with programmers wearing shorts and flip flops. It couldn’t be more different than downtown Seattle.

Yet it’s no comparison.

Working in the city is more exciting. It’s unpredictable. Some days it’s an adventure.

I miss browsing the wall of “staff recommendations” at Elliott Bay Bookstore.

I miss walking past the many small flower shops at just the right time to watch the owners creating amazing bouquets for those lucky first few customers.

I miss watching the street musicians play during lunch hour. Especially that guy with the miniature piano who played with tape wrapped around every finger.

I miss the small but authentic restaurants like the Italian Pizza joint where the owner stops whatever he’s doing to greet each customer.

I miss the “Sandwich Nazi” at Bakeman’s, home of the three buck sandwich. Terrible service but awesome food.

I miss the trendy shoe and jewelry shops with funny signs making fun of Republicans.

I miss watching the huge cargo ships come into port while the cool, salty wind blows against my face.

Redmond is nice. But downtown is home.

One day I’ll be back.

Technorati Tags: Seattle, Downtown, Pioneer Square, Redmond, Microsoft

Best Part of the Day

I wish I could say that our kids get ready for bed by brushing their teeth and saying their prayers before cheerfully jumping into bed and going right to sleep with little drama.

Not once has that ever happened at our house.

Usually I’m dragging one child away from the fridge while another is attached to my leg like a leech begging for a camel ride that only dad can provide. If we’re lucky they don’t sneak into the large carton of Whoppers after brushing their teeth. And once they finally get into bed the cries for water, the right blanket and the specific stuffed animal start.

It’s exhausting.

But with a lot of coercing, begging, threats of no Nintendo for a week and a little luck, our three oldest kids eventually find themselves in a bed. Any bed will do as long as it has A NUMBER OF PILLOWS GREATER THAN 11.

I like to go around to Anna, Lincoln and Luca where I get a hug, kiss and an occasional “good night high five” from wild Anna.

Picture of Luca taken by her uncle Warren

I eventually make it around to Luca who sleeps on the top bunk over Anna Lynn. She inches towards me, reaches her little arms around my neck and gives me a big kiss on the cheek. I tell her how much I love her and tells me that she loves me too. She smiles, rolls over and pulls the blanket up to her chin.

It doesn’t matter how much energy I expend getting the kids into bed or how frustrating the whole production can be at times. Being on the receiving end of a big hug from my daughter makes it all worth it.

Best part of the day. Absolutely.

Technorati Tags: bedtime, kids, bunk beds

The Missing Six Years

Just over 14 years ago I moved from Salt Lake City to Seattle.

And just over 13 years ago my marriage went up in smoke. Poof.

Six years of marriage brought to an end with a few papers, a few signatures and a few hundred dollars.

I’ve never written a single paragraph about those six years. It’s as if Agent K from Men in Black showed up with his "neutralizer" pen and wiped the years, 1990-1995, from my mind.

Yet it’s never that easy. Even though people with good intentions act as if those years never existed. But I don’t blame them because I’ve tried to forget those years too on many occasions.

Time heals most wounds. Over time most of my anger turned to reflection. I learned to trust again. I gained friends whom I’d lost. Most importantly, I learned to love again. Never underestimate the sheer strength of the human heart.

But it did take time. For years I felt isolated and lonely. Divorce isn’t a topic one brings up among friends watching SportsCenter. It’s a "black cloud" topic. It was difficult to admit that I had failed at the very decision I’d been taught was the most important one I’d ever make.

But somehow I bounced back.

In hindsight, it was a blessing that I lived 900 miles from family during this time. I didn’t have friends or family to feel sorry for me and say everything would be fine. I had to pick myself up and get on with my life. That’s a valuable skill.

Six years.

They are a part of my life. They include moving to Seattle and working for some of the largest technology companies. They include meeting many of my best friends. And they put me in a position where I was lucky enough to meet Whim.

Yes, they include many memories I’d prefer to forget. But with the bad comes good. Even when it’s hard to find under a pile of mixed emotions.

That’s how life works.

I no longer look back at those years as a miserable slice of life I’d soon forget. It was a time of growth, pain, learning, and humility.

All of which are worth keeping.

Technorati Tags: divorce, marriage

New Species

At the end of my 7-year old’s soccer game this afternoon, her team (the YELLOW LIGHTNING) gathered together to perform a cheer for the other team. It went went as follows:

Two, four, six, eight…who do we do we appreciate…PURPLE CHEETAH PRINCESSES!!!

I love when the coaches let the players choose the team name.

Technorati Tags: Youth Soccer