THE YEAR OF THE LIE
This is the time of year when we review our “best of” lists and reflect on the year just completed. I do not have any best-of-lists since the year was full of shit lists. I couldn’t help it —- it just sounded right. Actually, there was, a few notable “best of’s” in my world. In the dining category, Bell’s, SY Kitchen, Handlebar, and Pony Espresso did more than just survive. They maintained the quality of their offering while continuing to respect their employees and clients during the pandemic. In the floral category, Renae’s Bouguet and Main Street continued to put out great beauty even without weddings. With those notable exceptions, the world moved slowly through lockdown while most of us preferred to have just skipped the year entirely. The most stunning beneficiary of the pandemic was the environment. Although temporary I am sure the earth appreciated the chance to catch its breath before we continue to plunder its bounty.
The US election, Covid-19 dominated the headlines and occupied the airwaves, but for me, 2020 is THE YEAR OF THE LIE… I am sure some people have never told a lie; but, I would suspect that the large majority have told a lie or two or at a minimum omitted the truth. The omission of the truth is certainly a part of our culture and present daily. However, this year was the “year of the lie” by virtue of the current administration’s adherence to “the lie”. It is incredible when you think there was literally nothing truthful to come from Spicer, Sarah Sanders, Grisham, McEnany as press secretaries representing their boss. McConnel perfected the telling of a lie without actually lying. The most recent example “There is no realistic path to pass a $2000 relief bill.” Lyndsay Graham lied concerning the swearing-in of a Supreme Court Justice. The Donald has told so many lies I think The New York Times gave up keeping count. I could continue pointing out the obvious that every member of the current administration has used the lie as the foundation of its relationship with the world and the citizens of this country. What is tragic about the depth of lying as the basis of communication is these mistruths are recast as the truth. We become complicit to the lie. We might recognize the lie as misstating the truth; but, when we continue to elect people who lie, we are giving explicit approval to the lie as a form of communication. The truth becomes unrecognizable. There are many examples of our political leaders making a mockery of the truth as a convenient way to remain in office. What made this year different was the unbridled use of the lie as a form of factual reporting. Even when presented with clear evidence of the falsehood our leaders continue to restate the lie and thus it masquerades as the truth.
The sad result of all of these false statements is the challenge of sorting out the truth. More stunning and perplexing is the acceptance of the lie as it is. As a culture, we are not willing to disregard the lie as a falsehood that no longer needs to be recognized as viable. Instead, we perpetuate the lie and we defend the lie. Now when I say “we” I am referring in principle to those people elected to guide our country. There clearly are people who recognize the lies that infiltrate our culture but those voices are somehow muted and often ineffective. This year the lie became the loudest voice and the most defended. Truth has taken a back seat in the national discourse.
“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.”…
On My Own
My first year at college —- home was in the rear-view mirror and independence in the windshield.
No longer would I need permission to stay up late; eat whatever I want; hang out with the friends my parent did not like; wait my turn because it would always be my turn. Our current administration seems to have positioned itself in that immature frame of mind. No thought to the value of supporting only the intoxication of being independent. With all the trappings of independence and none of the responsibilities who would not want to be independent. As a country, we have often misconstrued isolated independence with global responsibility.
Independence is great but the real goal is being global. Independence does not mean you give up on empathy. The global empathic human reaches out and understands that assets can be helpful to others and the reciprocal can be true thus creating a symbiotic relationship. Using words of understanding, not bluster, helps find solutions through compromise. Having a global view does not sacrifice independence it solidifies it.
I am alone this Christmas Day. I am independent, on my own, but I have been talking to my family and friends, experiencing my world globally. Independent but dependent on their love and support. Together we try in little ways during a difficult time to support, understand, and share.
I need help with the laundry; it’s not really fun cooking for one; I need a doctor; a dentist. My independent self needs a lot of help from friends, family, and people who support my independence. As a nation, we need that too. The flaw of isolationist thinking is that we are on our own. We are a big country with people, things, armies, flags, and stuff beyond imagination BUT we need others. It is imperative to embrace the idea of being together because we are not alone.
On this Christmas 2020 we are caught in the swirl of uncertainty, let us savor our independence, but remember globalization does not mean we lose it. What it does mean is we are not alone, not now and not ever. The sooner we embrace our common needs, the sooner we will find help when needed and the opportunity to give help when asked.
If we are alone Christmas can feel a little melancholy not because we are alone but because we feel the blessings of independence but the emptiness of not being able to share. It is the season of sharing and receiving --- The global citizen gives and receives.
“Oh, tidings of comfort and joy – comfort and joy….”
Home Sweet Home
Home Game Home Field Advantage Sweet Home. I’m Home Coming Home
My home…. Never has the idea of home become so important and omnipresent in our culture. Homeless has become a seemingly unsolvable and growing problem. Staying at home because of a pandemic has focused us on the quality of our home life. We teach from home; we work from home; we create from home, we sleep, eat and stay at home -----
I have been fortunate when it comes to a home or being at home. I arrived recently in an airplane and headed to a home but not my home. Until now I have always had a home. A place to put my stuff. Sometimes I owned a home, sometimes I was living at home or I rented a home. But I always had a home. Currently I do not. I am living in a home due to another person’s incredible generosity. But it is not my home. The drawers are full of their stuff – not mine. It is different when traveling. I was just staying at a hotel for the last three weeks. I never sensed any discomfort. The drawers were empty. I wasn’t concerned about storing extra stuff because I had brought just the things I needed. I knew where my things were going because there was empty space for it. Whether I had one suitcase or ten, my stuff was manageable because I controlled the space. I am not complaining as the home I am staying in is beautiful and in a lovely area. It was the realization that my things were in multiple suitcases and that underscored the transitory nature of my existence. Although comfortable, I was not at home.
When I travelled, which was a lot, I would unpack when I came home. I think it was a subconscious attempt to secure my territory. To comfort myself in knowing that my stuff belonged in certain places. I was reaffirming that it was my place and a place for my things. In this era of home and the importance of home, recognizing that home also affirms your presence in the universe as your things are not scattered -- they belong. In a season that focuses on the home it is a good time to think about its importance. Some people will have large homes; modest homes; beautiful homes; just barely homes but they are home regardless of size or quality. Many people will not have a home. For those that do, all of their stuff will have a place and that place is just for those things. Some people will never have a chance to experience the security of having that place, that home. Recognizing the insecurity of living out of a suitcase or a car or any other transitory place is an assault on one’s understanding that place in the world comes from the fact that we belong in a place and that place holds our things. When you take that away it brings insecurity and doubt. Helping others establish a place for their things is giving them the confidence and the safety to extend beyond the home to grow and succeed.
This holiday season, more than ever I will be thinking about home. Perhaps we should all be thinking about how fortunate we are to be at home- to be stuck at home- to not be able to leave home. For too many of us there is not that opportunity to exam or experience the security of knowing that our stuff has a place.
“Our house is very, very fine house with two cats in the yard life used to be so hard. Now everything is easy ‘cause of you and our house” — Crosby, Stills & Nash
Merry Christmas…
ANDIAMO A SCIARE!!
The mountains had not quite decided to accept winter. There were no leaves on the trees and the landscape was brown with the occasional pine tree to remind us that there was a time when it was lush with greenery. Even the temperature was in denial that it was December. Going to sleep my expectation was for another sunny and dry day but then…..The world became quiet, noises were muted and a peaceful blanket had been gently placed over my world. There is something comforting about snowfall. It literally turns the volume down on the world allowing the noise of distress and concern to be replaced by thoughtful consideration rather than the gut reaction of immediacy. Winter had arrived in the mountains of Colorado where I had come to sort out my next move.
I became a serious skier while sitting next to my sales colleague and friend at a famous investment bank where we worked. He was the the best unlikely skier I have ever known. Stout and round he was, but there was not a ski run he could not master. He encouraged me to teach my children how to ski. Skiing became the family sport. All five of my children are excellent skiers. Graciously they now wait for me at the bottom of the run, a position I occupied while they were learning. As a family we are blessed with the ability to ski as it is not exactly an inexpensive past time. By its very nature it is a sport that you have to do together. Whether teaching or just making sure you have someone to watch your back, skiing is best as a group activity. Although hi-speed lifts have shortened the time it takes to get to the top of the run, it still allows a focused time to be together and to talk. You can’t run away while sitting on the chair lift. You can learn a lot from your children if they don’t have an exit. The communal nature of skiing creates multiple opportunities to talk to each other and to learn about life from another perspective. Ski trips provide the opportunity to be together in a relaxed atmosphere surrounded by the extreme beauty of winter white. My family has been blessed to have many such opportunities. There has never been a bad trip, only treasured remembrances of being together. I am on another ski trip with my youngest son and his fiancé. We are having a wonderful experience. We are learning more about each other, exchanging ideas and appreciating the stunning beauty of our surroundings.
Simply put, skiing is important to me and a critical thread in the fabric of my family. I remember skiing a difficult run at Alta, Utah with my eldest daughter many years ago. We had stopped in a cathedral of snow covered trees while I complained that my turns were not perfect. “Dad!, look where we are!!” She said with the wise emphasis of a 14 year old. The unneeded noise of my complaint was quieted by the silence of the snow and the understanding that we had been given the opportunity to be held by the beauty of nature’s arms for that moment. I have been truly blessed by the wisdom of my children. As a family we are forever grateful that the snow has embraced us.
“Since we’ve no place to go, Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…”
THE GIFT
A GIFT or a present is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment or anything in return…..By extension the term gift can refer to any item or act of service that makes the other happier…..
Just in case you forget to buy gifts your friendly commercial establishments have provided you with multiple gift giving days as reminders that it is time to buy a gift. I am thinking of Valentine’s Day (The perfect Hallmark Holiday), Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day and on and on. Then there are the religious holidays that provide us the opportunity to forget the “real” reason they exist so that we can transform them into opportunities to buy and give gifts. Other words that have altered the idea of giving a gift are: reciprocal, owed, indebted —”The Jones gave us something last year, we owe them.” Somehow all this reminding and reciprocation has obscured the meaning of a gift. We have managed to transform the act of giving into a requirement for friendship or repayment of previous gifts. Gifts do not require a day they only require an unselfish thought.
Receiving gifts has its challenges too. Does it come with an expectation of reciprocation? What did I do wrong or better yet what did they do wrong that requires a gift to forgive? So difficult to just accept that someone or a group merely wanted to acknowledge you with a gift without expectation. A gift of acknowledgement with caring and love.
A few days ago I was presented with a gift as defined above. It was not my birthday, nor father’s day or even Christmas. It was a Tuesday. It was given with love and caring and without expectation. A gift of acknowledgement for all that we had done with and for each other. With an emphasis on what they felt I had given to them over the years. It was truly an incredible gift and one that was a total surprise which made it even more meaningful. The difficulty was acceptance. The tears of emotion arrived instantly as I realized the thought, coordination and effort that had gone into making this special for me. Afterwards I felt proud of myself that I was able to accept this gift from those whom I love so very much without thinking I needed to reciprocate. I received this wonderful gift with gratitude and the understanding that it was given with unconditional love.
Grazie William, Emily, Alex and Kat ——- Con affetto e amore
STEWARDSHIP
“Is a theological belief that humans are responsible for the world, and should take care and look after it… In Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions, stewardship refers to the way time, talents, material possessions, or wealth are used or given for the service of God…”
I have been thinking a lot about stewardship as my property is passing into the hands of another steward. When I purchased my ranch in 2000, I always considered myself the steward of the property. In reality, I was just a renter rather than an owner as the property surely would outlast me. I was determined to leave the property in better shape than when I found it. I believe I have done exactly that. The creek beds are vibrant with Willows, Sycamore and Oak trees; the grass is full and has choked out the weeds. Buildings occupy less than 1% of the property. The native animals of California seek refuge here as there is plenty of water and forage.
The idea of stewardship goes well beyond taking care of land. We are stewards of our legacy and of the world that will be passed on to the next generation. Stewardship has become a lost goal for the current leadership of our country. “Rights” have replaced “responsibility” ; tribalism has replaced community. It is more than disappointing that leaders have forgotten that words have consequence and governance is a responsibility not a privilege. What do men like Trump and McConnell think about when they are alone with their own thoughts? They have made climate change and health partisan issues. These issues are global and effect everyone. The sad result of ego aggrandizement is written on the dark pages of history. The world’s disasters provide us with the blueprint for leaders that are only interested in the accumulation of power and wealth. These so-called leaders are consumed with winning rather than stewardship. The landscape is littered with people like this in business, religion and politics. What is the rational of leaders who have no respect for the role of stewardship? They are consumed with self and cannot embrace the desire to leave the world a better place. The selfishness of a populist view of the world denies that fact that we are a small part of a global adventure that is in need of real leadership and an understanding of stewardship. Trump is an easy example of the leadership of self and yet, he is just one of many in our country that have simply lost the understanding that the role of governance is broadly define not narrowly. The world by almost any measure is in a worse position than it was just four years ago. We have made zero progress towards the improvement of the human experience. Lying has become a foundational pillar of governance. Stewardship has been burned in a fire of distrust. It is impossible to imagine that when the current leadership of this country or the climate/health deniers go to sleep at night, they think they are doing the right thing for this country, the next generation or the world. It is the embracing of self that has replaced the responsibility of stewardship.
I feel sad…
END OF THE ROAD ?
There are a couple of ways to look at this picture.
A week ago, this was the end of a long road. For the most part an unpleasant journey, especially for the people close to me. The road was blocked by an accumulation of debts both monetary and personal. I struggled to maintain relationships that were not beneficial; perhaps even toxic. Thus, the road became steeper by the year. It was only a trick. The past crises are just that – in the past. The lingering memory tricks us into thinking we can change the past; otherwise, why would we keep focusing on it. This road was an uphill battle with little to show for the effort except for the wear and tear on the mind. The hope is the road beyond will be less steep even downhill; perhaps, the end of difficult decisions. However, the end of the long road is the beginning of another. The new decisions are not less difficult, they are just different. With the same anxiety, insecurity, and self-doubt there are decisions to be made. The hope is you will not make the same mistakes from which you are recovering. Don’t want to climb that hill again.
The alternative view is the success of climbing the hill and being upright and ambulatory. Having ascended and learned a valuable lesson, maybe even two valuable lessons. Having left behind those that did not add value to your life. There is the opportunity to start fresh and select the things you want to do rather than the things you have to do. Allowing yourself to not do the things you do not wish to do. As in the new school year the page is blank and the teacher has not handed out grades. What’s ahead is a bright blue sky and a warm glow. Darkness is behind you where it should be. The picture is new beginnings and a bright future of possibilities. It’s hard to see over the crest but that is the excitement and the adventure. You can even rest at the top and take the time to consider the decisions that are now before you. This is a picture of beginnings not endings.
The road does not look that steep from here, does it?
NOW WHAT?
I was hoping to come up with something super clever to write about this week, but cleverness has taken a few days off.
INERTIA: “a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged”. For the last many years I have lived my life in an inert state “a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force” . I was focused on one thing and that was the effort to dispose of my large property. Little was accomplished aside from my haranguing of the inadequate efforts of my numerous unsuccessful real estate brokers. But now that inert state has been changed by an external force. A buyer has come from the outside and by his very act of purchase has jettisoned me out of my inert state. I am now floating adrift in a sea of possibilities buffeted about by self doubt.
There is comfort in an inert state as one can count on its sameness. The movie “Ground Hog Day” explored the state of inertia in a brilliant way. There is comfort in this state of being—-job, home,partner, play time, sports activities—-think of the consistency of your routine. Even as one complains about that routine, it gives comfort in limiting the unknown. Financial markets like predictability; a sense of understanding of what to expect, thus, providing the ability to plan. But life, as John Lennon wrote, “is what happens to you while you’re busy making plans.” Few of us plan for that “external force” as we are focused on the inert state of living.
Obviously the comfort of inertia is in conflict with the high probability that the external force is out there and headed your way. So it is with me, after all of these years of complaining and ruminating about my inert state the outside force has enter stage left.
The external force is not without problems —- I mean what the hell will I do now? No more comfort in my complaints, I will have to find new things to complain about while I search for the tranquil sea. Maybe just maybe that is what I desire. Not the still wind and the glassy sea but the steady breeze over the starboard rail as I tack to new adventures and the possibility of some personal success that allows me to recognize my value. It is a search we should all attempt. Our lives and our country are being thrown about by the waves of doubt and insecurity as we live in a world of purposeless destruction of the norms which gave us secure footings. Change has been presented to us from the outside now it is up to us to take advantage of the discovery process.
The sea of possibilities seems scary, but as I lay back and allow it to support me I feel a sense of welcome and strength. I am thankful for the outside force that disrupted my inert state.
The sun has set on Ground Hog Day…..
TWENTY-ONE
A dream of independence, adulthood, ordering a drink without a fake ID—so many things to look forward to when turning 21 in the United States. It was more impatience than anxiety waiting for 21. It was and is the experience that had so much promise and excitement. When it happened, it was all so disappointing and anti-climactic. There had been plenty of bars looking the other way. Drinking and drunk had been experienced perhaps for years before. Doing things that, well, seemed adult. But the reality was not that exciting at the frequented bar that we partied at the night before. The reality of actually being 21 was more problematic. Being 21 meant real adulthood, responsibilities and disappointments. Expectations became benchmarks by which we measured ourselves and others measured us. Somehow success and failure were more elusive before 21 and painful after.
This is how I am feeling tonight with an anxious stomach and fear of the unknown. What do I do now? How will I measure up to the new set of expectations I place on myself and others place on me? It is a new 21 which I was not expecting.
I have been trying to sell my property for almost six years. The final sale was in many respects the new 21 only without a birthday. During this time, I ran the gambit of emotions and experiences. Multiple offers, failed escrows, fraudulent offers were all associated with this process. Nevertheless, it came with the hopefulness and promise of the future. By the time it was sold and escrow had closed the excitement of a sale had long since been buried under the weight of failed real estate brokers not worth the email they just sent me. Not only was the close anticlimactic, it was the double whammy of cleaning up the mess left by others and the realization that I could no longer live in the comfort of a failed sale ----- Now I have to do something.
On the day the sale closed I was truly unruffled by it all. Just another day; no balloons or hi-fives, it was disappointing and anticlimactic after all of the anticipation, disappointments and disagreements. I am now fearful and concerned for the future and especially my future. How can I be relevant – rent or buy – where to live are easy compared to the overwhelming expectation of relevancy. If I can no longer complain about it not selling or imagine what it will be like when it sells. Now I have to find a new set of expectations for myself and find a place to add value.
I need a drink!
THE IRISH GOODBYE
After twenty years I am saying good bye to a town that I did not grow up in but felt familiar as I had visited often. Living here has been a lesson in familiarity versus intimacy. I moved to Santa Ynez in pursuit of a cowboy dream and building a family compound. For many years my parents had brought my two sisters and I to this area for Thanksgiving. As a family we were very familiar with this place. Each Thanksgiving was better than the next. Interestingly enough it was the distance from our intimate surroundings at home that made it most appealing. I was not very popular in high school and coordination had not quite found a home in my body. Coming to The Alisal was a respite from the pressures of school and the insecurity of growing up in a way that was not in keeping with my vision of me. I would only have to see the other guests for four days and thus free of the social pressures I felt every day in high school. As children we were independent, as the resort was organized around cottages so it was hard to get lost. Dinner felt grown up as we had to dress up. But the Alisal grew old and tired, never to regain the quality it exhibited when Hollywood came to visit.
My idea was to build a better ranch for my family. Now I have sold that ranch as it never quite lived up to my fantasy. I am saying good bye to this place and thus, the question – how do you say good bye.? The awkward – “You are leaving? I have never seen your place. I invited you but you could not come.” Or the parting sarcastic comment that looks for a way to belittle because I am leaving a place that they are not. It is that same quality of conversation AOC must experience when people call her a hypocrite because she wore an expensive dress for a magazine cover. Are we so insecure that our only comfort comes from the sarcasm we use to delegitimize people when we don’t understand or care not to look deeper? Therefore, I have chosen to say an Irish Good-Bye
The origin of the Irish Good-Bye originated and attributed the phrase to the Potato Famine of 1845-1852 when many Irish fled their homeland for America. Since I have a lot of Irish heritage the Irish Good-Bye feels comfortable. I have owned the property for twenty years and have made it a permanent residence for fourteen. There certainly have been many wonderful moments with lovely friends and family. I could blame it on Covid but honestly the conversation of “what I’ll miss” and “how could I leave” and “you never invited me…” …. I just don’t have the strength to endure. There are a few people here that I feel close enough to call on if I had a real problem. Thus, I will conduct a mini-tour and visit those friends to have a proper good-bye. Life here has been a cocktail affair, nothing too deep. I will pretend I have had a little too much to drink. To avoid the awkward goodbye I will just excuse myself and go to the men’s room.
“Have you seen Fred?” “I think he is in the men’s room”
Sales #I---The Problem
Books about sales generally focus on making the sale. Following that is a massive amount written on keeping track of those sales. Obviously important to any successful career; however, I like to manage my risks rather than my success. Every sales person is deeply concerned about “the problem”. Inevitably in any relationship, business or personal, there will be difficulties. How you approach and resolve these are the keys to building long lasting, successful relationships.
In other writings, I have alluded to the difficulties of selling my large property. I have been engaged with many of the nationally known real estate firms. I can speak about specific firms but I will name names after this current transaction closes --- Forgive me for painting with a broad brush but my experience with problem resolution with these organizations is disappointing. “Stonewalling” would be the simplest, most succinct way to describe their approach to conflict resolution. Concern over the the longevity of a relationship is not of primary importance. I like to think a successful transaction as one that leaves everyone just a little bit unhappy. Silence or avoidance is truly not the solution.
Look at problems as opportunity rather than failure. Business relationships that are going well often create opportunity for complacency. The fear is that a problem will derail the relationship. The opportunity of a problem is to demonstrate that you have the ability to solve a problem. It gives you a chance to explore and deepen the relationship. This should sound familiar when thinking about personal relationships. Problems in a personal relationship are most positively resolved when the two parties meet, discover the real issue and find a resolution. Arguments drag on when we hide in our bunker, refusing to speak and understand each other. Likewise, in business, if we ignore the problem , it is allowed to grow and fester. Misunderstandings are ineffable in any relationship. How we deal with them determines the long-term success. Problems give us the opportunity to discuss the issues; come to a resolution and then deepen the relationship by agreeing on pathways forward. Uncomfortable as it may be, you are better confronting and recognizing mistakes.
Likewise, in a personal relationship those same principles apply. Discuss-resolve-agree on a pathway forward. “Texting” your way out of a problem is probably not the best course of action. I mean what could go wrong with a misinterpreted text?? I found that the in-person meeting was the easiest and most efficient. Putting a phone or a computer between the two parties gives strength to be more resolute in one’s position. Easier to bark at someone through the phone than in person. The resolution is stronger and more rewarding when reached in person. The problem may be uncomfortable but avoiding it will never make it better and therefore your relationship will not be better. Showing a client that you care enough to get in the car or on the plane and meet says volumes about how you value the relationship.
More later…… #2 — Follow-up
All You Can Eat Buffet
As precious a commodity as time is, we squander much of it. Time consumers are everywhere. Our phones fill the empty voids of time that could otherwise be put to a useful purpose. The phone has become the ummm… in our language. When we have nothing thoughtful to say we look at the phone to indicate that we are alive but have nothing to contribute. Just checking my messages because I am important. Our phones squander time better than anything in ourselves. One exception: the phone fills the empty void better than a Senate Confirmation hearing for a Supreme court nominee. Either Amy Coney Barrett is the smartest person on the planet or the densest. She could never pass a job interview as she has no knowledge or opinion on anything…. Beyond sad.
I was talking with the son of a gentleman who worked for me for many years. His father and I developed a successful quarter horse operation. We were talking about life lessons learned. He said he was continuing to spend money on expensive lessons, but was hoping they would be less costly in the future. I thought that was a great manner of expressing the failure to make well thought out decisions that did not cost us in time and treasure.
I have been living an expensive lesson for the past decade. I have been a frequent attendee at the all you can eat buffet. Amazing that my very disciplined eating habit was immediately forgotten when attending the buffet. After piling up my plate with samples of everything I still had the audacity to return for dessert. It has taken time and a lot of money to learn that you only need one car.
I am not pleased about the past decade. I recognized the temptations of the all you can eat buffet and had, in retrospect, stacked my plate too full. For many years I have been busy learning life lessons at an egregiously expensive rate.
What pushes us to ordering more and procuring more is our positive view of the outcome. There have been studies proving that we tend to see the positive outcome more than the negative. The pandemic is a good example. Many of us believe it will not happen to us. We have an illegitimate leader that claims to have had the disease and then miraculously recovered even though he is old and obese. The truly sick are never seen. Those that are being careful are staying at home. So, what we see are either people who are well or those that are ignoring the problem or those that are the problem but are lying about it. We overspend and we over borrow, and we are overly optimistic when thinking about the possible outcome. You stay alkaline, watch your carbs, drink lemon water first thing in the morning etc. etc. yet when it is all there in front of you, discipline vanishes, you load up the plate----what could go wrong?
I am learning this lesson in real time. I don’t need more than the car I drive. I do not need all the items I piled on my plate. After all that just makes me think I need a bigger plate. I am learning valuable lessons with the time available. I need to be closer to the people I love. I need some pals that I can grab lunch with and not have to drive an hour or plan days in advance.
What I do not need is another brownie!!!!
MEMORIES
Watched the Vice-Presidential debate. Again, I am compelled to write as I did after the Presidential debate from the week before. I never intended this blog to be a political blog but what I see happening is more than just political. We are witnessing a complete breakdown of the responsibility of our government to communicate honestly with the citizens of this country. These people are NOT --gilding the lily; stretching the truth; walking it back; flip flopping; misunderstanding; misrepresenting------------- they are lying.
Define: lie (n) “make an untrue statement with the intent to deceive”
This is what the Vice President did throughout the evening. He intentionally lied to deceive the public.
This will be a hard memory to forget….
Memories:
When my parents passed away, I spent a lot of time thinking about how I would deal without them in my life. As it happened, after my sisters and I sold the home we grew up in, I assumed the care of the Steinway piano that my father played every night. This piano was built in 1920 and now is 100 years old. Recently I had this marvelous instrument completely refurbished. Upon its return I sat on the bench, placed my hands on the keys and heard my father playing as I went to sleep at night. It helps me reclaim some memories of my childhood. I am not as accomplished a player as he was, but just hearing the resonance of this wonderful instrument allows me to think about my father, my mother and how I grew up in the same house for all those years.
I was parked in the lot of a local Lutheran Church. I was depositing some paperwork with Kathy who has been helping me assume control of my life of bills and payments. As I was leaving, I saw the Rector walking form his home to the church. I stopped to tell him that I was using his parking lot as a drop off for paperwork, not the drop off for drugs. He smiled at my absurd reference and we engaged in conversation. He asked about my religious background and that conversation led to a discussion of his sermon from the previous Sunday. I returned home and listened to his sermon which was based on a quote from the Bible. Apostle Paul wrote: “this one thing I do forgetting what lies behind and straining towards what lies ahead I press on for what lies ahead for the heavenly goal.” In his sermon the rector went on to suggest that our memories are important. Most important are the positive memories that give us the strength to forge ahead and create memories that are constructive for our lives and the lives of the people around us. The memories of listening to my father play his piano will always bring back positive remembrances. Those, in turn, will help me to be with my children, grandchildren and the people around me in a more positive way. Focusing on positive memories gives us perspective and strength to proceed into the future with love and grace.
I hope to discard as useless and debilitating the dark time our country is experiencing. This time of mistrust in government that has been deeply sewn into our lives by the lies we hear daily. I hope to never remember this Vice President as he refuses to utter a truthful phrase to the citizens of his country.
“The fault dear Brutus, is not in our stars/But in ourselves” …Julius Caesar, Act I. These charlatans are merely taking advantage of what we have allowed. We must rise up and reclaim our democracy from these demagogues before it is too late. They are no different than the McCarthys that came before.
As we move through these challenging days, conflicts are ever present. From the absurdity of our current government to the kindness of a clergyman trying to give us hope. We must move the negative memories to the background so that we can hold on to the positives which will give us strength and guidance for the future.
I hope that all of us can have memories of the piano as we slowly fall asleep dreaming of the positive life ahead.
C’MON MAN
I finished my blog before several showings of my property. I was in the midst of copying it to my website when inexplicably --- I erased it!!! The above picture is the appropriate reflection of my feelings at that moment. It is also an appropriate representation of how I felt after watching the “WWE” event which was posing as a “Presidential Debate”. That TV event was a fair representation of the disrespect our leaders have for the American people and for the truth. Further distressing is our country’s comfort with lying. The “Liar in Chief” has told an estimated 20,000 falsehoods and that number, like Covid deaths, is undoubtedly low. Trump, McConnell, Graham, McCarthy, Cruz, Cotton --- I can go on and on--are people who have lost their association with the truth. Their moral compass no longer functions. They are, indeed, empty suits; in capable of leading. Perhaps they are a true, but sad, reflection of where we are as a nation. These profligate liars have debased our institutions and rendered trust irrelevant in the national discourse. Our tribalism has grown to the detriment of our country and standing in the world. Who could trust a nation that cannot keep their agreements? When did winning become the only credible outcome? Why is --- “well they do it” an acceptable rejoinder to the complaint? We behave as if winning were the only thing worth fighting for. Fighting for the truth is now old fashion and unrecognizable.
Why would anyone want to be a public figure? Perhaps it is the following:
Salary: 75,000-223,000 depending on seniority and position
Honorarium 27,000
Allowances: Parking, gym, furniture, travel,
Office allowances: 1-5million depending on House or Senate
Employee Compensation – 175,000 per
Full health care/ Pension after 5 yrs
That is just the basics of what a Congressperson and Senator can earn if elected. Truly none of the people sitting in those seats could get a job outside of government that provides such lucrative compensation.
Beyond distressing is the fact that these jobs are without consequence when it comes to lying and inappropriate governance. Think about your job or your behavior within your community and ask yourself if you would be allowed to behave as our elected leaders. Their ability to compartmentalize their transgressions in order to live in their own skin is nothing short of remarkable. The Republican leadership in the White House and Senate have failed in so many ways but at the core is their inability to adhere to the most basic principle of leadership --- Honesty.
I put my head in my hands and cry.
LET’S DO LUNCH
Thought about liars, the most accurate definition of our elected leaders, but I am going to postpone that commentary as I am just not in a negative space.
Instead, I am going to write about a positive experience, and I will save the heavy stuff for another time.
My eldest son recently moved from Philadelphia to The Bay Area. His brother and sisters all grew up in the Bay Area, so he was coming home. My second eldest daughter lives in Marin County with her family of five. This includes her husband which for many spouses is another child except they work. That’s unfair, he is a really good father and husband, but, as her father, I can always pick on the guy that took your daughter away : -). I have a large family with children living all over the place as they pursue their dreams. That has made “getting together” a difficult task. Thanksgiving was always a possibility and Christmas was mostly attended by all. This year, of course, will be a challenge as travel is difficult and large gatherings are more so. I am in love with the “idea” of a memorable family event, the reality is more likely achieved next year or even 2022.
Planning in the best of years is fraught with difficulties. Arranging travel schedules; jet-lagged personality disorders; and just the reassembling of the proper order of things. My children are familiar with the reorientation of the family as they all have experienced divorce and the movement between houses which requires at least a day or two to acclimate to the different house rules. As the family matures gatherings become problematic given that their lives are filled with interruptions. The extended conversation becomes a distracted event filled with children’s demands; delayed flights, a house suddenly not unaccustomed to noise. The guests you were excited to see the first day are the guests you are asking about their flight schedule and how you can help them get to the airport.
Occasionally good fortune smiles upon you and gives you the experience you were not expecting but should always be prepared to recognize. Such an event occurred for me about two weeks ago. As I mentioned my eldest son had relocated to The Bay Area and my ex-wife (ok I have had a few --- don’t judge me, I have other good qualities) was super generous and let him use her home in Marin County. She had chosen to remain in NYC while the Covid-19 virus ravaged the country and the current administration lied about it while they watch Rome burn. Ok, a small diversion.
Since I had not seen my son since December, I drove up to visit after his 14-day guarantee. I was staying a few days as I had to return home for a real estate showing. I asked my daughter if she could break free of her young children to have lunch. She secured a reservation at a local restaurant which was convenient for the three of us. The atmosphere was lovely, and the weather was equally cooperative. Three hours later we were still there!!!! I am still thinking of this lunch. We were friends, we were father and children, we were confidants, we were consiglieri we were all of those relationships at different times over those three hours. No one looked at their cell phones and no one was in a rush to leave as that moment was the most important. We were truly present and present to each other. Magical sounds too cliché but it was for me. It was unexpected. It reassured me of how close we are as a family. It gave me confidence that despite all of the uncertainties that life is throwing at us, one’s family can prove to be the grounding element. I felt truly blessed to be a part of this lunch. I was honored that my children still saw me as a friend, a parent, and an advisor. What should not be lost--- they also are all of that for me. I regard them as my best advocates and my true and accomplished advisors. For those who have the privilege of having children, these are the treasured moments.
Time appears abundant when we are in the vortex of work, school, and schedules but when we look back, we see how fleeting it is. I was able to capture time this day. Time stood still so we could embrace the importance and value of our relationship on all of its levels.
With gratitude…...
Press: Fredric on ‘Money You Should Ask’
Hello followers!
We interrupt your scheduled blogcasting to let you know that Fred recently appeared on the podcast, Money You Should Ask. He appears on Episode 103 and you can listen below, on our press page, or on your favorite podcast platform. Happy listening!
The Digital Divide
At the risk of dating myself or appearing completely out of touch, I was thinking there could be some weaknesses in the brave new (well not so new) world of digital communication. This will not be the last time I write on this subject, but it is the first time. It is also part of the series I am developing on sales, but this first writing will be slightly broader and not focused on improving sales.
I certainly appear somewhat hypocritical as I am writing a blog that will only be disseminated via the digital world. I do not view digital as non-essential, far from it, as the sophistication of digital communication continues to grow it is an essential form of communication. However, it is only one of many tools that one can use when communicating with others. The basic weakness of digital communication is the inability to properly express your intent or feelings. Emojis may help your reader understand the emotion behind your message, just in case they don’t appreciate your sarcastic wit and humor. Digital allows for interpretation on the part of the reader which may not be the intended interpretation of the writer. Digital messages allow me to read into it the emotion I am feeling or the intent I perceive you to be implying. The more we communicate digitally the more we distance ourselves from the true meaning of our feelings and intent..
Aside from the constant misunderstanding of the intent of the message, it is the pure laziness of hiding behind a text instead of communicating directly. I was reminded recently of the great enthusiasm that can be experienced in person rather than through digital communication.
The other day a friend of mine invited me to her new workspace. She is a close friend of my girlfriend so I can call her a friend, but it is guilt by association. At any rate, we drove into town and we went to see Joanna’s new shop. Joanna is a furniture maker and an upholsterer. I know what you are thinking how hard can that be really?
Really hard----this is beyond difficult and still must be done by hand. Think about all of those decorative brads in your leather chair and how perfectly they are spaced. One mistake and you get to do it all over again – I would say super difficult-- I digress. The point of all of this is she had finally separated herself from being the jobber to being the owner. By the way, her work is incredible; seriously, this is a person you need for all of your furniture work —- again I digress. The point (OMG aren’t you tired yet) is when I walked into her “new” shop her enthusiasm was infectious. She could hardly wait to show us everything and what was going everywhere and how it would look and what was changing and what and what. And what was amazing is how excited and full of life and potential success she exuded. She could have sent me an email announcing her new shop and her expanded business and I would have gone on to the next email. But going there, that was an experience that I could relate to and, well, write about because it meant something. Meant something to her and me. We talked about business and managing success and how important it was to manage your risk not your success. She could never have communicated this depth of excitement in an email.
I am under no illusion that we are not going back to an analog world. I would like to point out the value of a blended style of communication. I spend a lot of time in front of a computer. It’s a very neutral space. It protects me and you from the emotions coming back because the email or text has no emotion other than the emotion we read into it; which, as I have discussed, is not without its problems. My computer, phone, iPad or whatever mechanical device is in my hand or fingers protect me and you. Let’s look at an example.
Applying for a job: You send your resume via email. Three things can happen: 1) it is deleted by the recipient 2) It is read and then deleted 3) it is read, and you receive a request for more information. On the senders’ side, he/she sends the resume via email and thinks that their job is done. I asked my son how his job applications were coming, and he said they were great as he had sent his resume via email to the companies he cared about. Job done!! NOT SO FAST I suggested that he might want to consider the three things that could happen to his resume and he got the point that perhaps his job was not done. Oh, I hear you, “but that is how you have to apply, they don’t let you talk to anyone.”
Unfortunately, both the job seeker and the job looker have managed to isolate themselves from the human process of finding another human that might benefit the company. Instead, we made the application process more streamlined which is another word for more isolated from human interaction. There is a story that went around the firm I worked for many years. The firm was trying to establish a relationship with a large company from Australia. The banker in charge could not get a meeting. He discovered that the CEO flew back and forth on the same flight every month. The banker managed to purchase a ticket on that flight and managed to sit next to the CEO he was trying to start a relationship with. By the time the 16-hour flight concluded he had managed to secure a meeting. Whether true or not that is not the point, if you want to get noticed there will be obstacles that are in place that make it difficult. Since you want what they have, it is incumbent upon you to find a way to be noticed. Digital communication puts you in the exact spot that your competitors are and therefore makes you, if not irrelevant, certainly average or indistinguishable from your competitors. Analog communication allows you the opportunity to be noticed in a different and hopefully more positive fashion.
A friend of mine’s daughter asked me to write a recommendation for her. It was an introduction to the firm. What I remember most about the experience was not whether she was successful in getting the internship, it was the handwritten letter thanking me for providing the introduction. I still have the letter and I still hear from her and her progress at the company. I keep all the letters I receive. It is not that burdensome because I don’t receive that many. Handwritten communication is noticed because, so few people send them. Too lazy, bad handwriting, too shy whatever it is – get over it. There is something intimate about a handwritten note, letter or card. It is an extension of the person uninterrupted by an electronic wall. I am not discounting the efficiency of the digital world nor the convenience of sending an electronic message. Digital does not require an emotional commitment. You don’t have to hear the disappointment in delivering a negative outcome, likewise, you cannot fully experience the elation of the positive result. You miss the joy of yes and the harshness of no. The written word softens the blow or expands the joy. The voice or written word reveals the actual feeling behind the message. The sympathy, sadness, joy, and love are amplified when written by hand or spoken. You just cannot escape the hardness of the electronic message as efficiently as it might be. Again, I am not suggesting we go back, as that ship has sailed. However, I am suggesting that analog be given a larger space in your communicative world. Allow yourself to be vulnerable. Misspell a word, let someone see your sloppy handwriting or maybe your beautiful handwriting. Analog is the human experience digital is the robot, the coldness of the machine. Pick up the phone or write a little note to someone you care about or someone you have lost touch with. I still have the cards and notes that I have received. I keep the letters my father wrote. I saved the notes my sisters wrote while they were discovering life through school and travel. These notes and letters are full of emotion and human interaction. My emails, texts and other electronic messages? --- Press Delete ----
CREATIVE THINKING
As good as your business philosophy is and as successful the business becomes; we get stuck in the methodology of what works until it doesn’t work. We pay lip service to the ability to think “outside of the box” or to be creative or to keep our business relevant. The expression: “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” is a favorite of those who think they have their business model figured out. The COVID crisis has provided an opportunity for businesses to reexamine their methodology and create a model that could be more successful than the initial one. The larger the business the more difficult it is to be nimble and creative. Like the ship in the ocean, it takes time to change course; however, that does not mean it is impossible. It just takes additional time and planning. The following is a story of two small hospitality businesses which were impacted negatively during this crisis.
Handlebar
This is a coffee bar started by a couple who had been very successful bicycle racing in Europe, hence the name. Initially, it occupied a small space in the downtown of Santa Barbara. Kim and Aaron roasted and served coffee/expresso drinks with a limited amount of baked goods. Their product was very much in the European tradition with a “proper” cappuccino – no multi-Grande latte-frappuccino here. Serving a quality product behind a massive expresso machine their business grew. They established a new larger location in an area with limited parking but because of the quality of their product people found a way to park and happily stood in line. They increased their food offerings with high quality but a limited offering appealing to varied tastes. This had the feel of a typical model for a specialized coffee bar. However, it required a hands-on approach as both of the owners were there at all times. Personal attention- inviting space – quality product – welcoming staff and the feeling that people were happy to work there and give that positive feeling back to the customer. Then came the COVID crisis and they were forced to shut down. This is where the owners became creative and pivoted their business to a model. Undoubtedly they had not dreamed of this change of coarse, but, it allowed them to keep the business running. They created a better model with a diversity of products and a broader product serving without the overhead you might imagine in a hospitality venture.
They immediately adhered to the county health requirements – closed their kitchen; removed tables; established signage for social distancing. At first, you would think that would have closed their business, but this is where they pivoted from the norm. They were able to keep their employees by moving to one shift. People don’t drink a lot of coffee at four in the afternoon, the majority of revenue occurs between 7 am and 1 pm. Lower overhead and 80% of your revenue is probably something they had not thought about in the business plan. To supplement the lost revenue, they began to offer bulk food products – flours, olive oil, sugar, etc. Turns out that a lot of their clients were staying at home and after coffee they were at home baking and cooking with the products they had purchased at Handlebar. Restaurant quality foodstuffs were offered at a reasonable price which was attractive to their clientele. Additionally, they started to support local wineries. Instead of the usual 30-50% mark-up Handlebar marked up the wine less; thus, giving the winemaker an additional outlet and their customers a bargain price. The result of these modest pivots was a revenue model that showed year over year increases in business activity and most importantly, revenue. Additional benefit – owners and employees were able to go home early to be with family and friends and to think about the next additional product channel to provide customer service and additional revenue. Maybe they even took a bike ride like the old days.
Bell’s
This is a high-quality fine dining restaurant in a small one-street town north of Santa Barbara. This young couple, he runs the front of the house and she runs the kitchen, established Bell’s in 2019. By the way, Daisy was just named one of Food and Wine Magazine’s best new chiefs for 2020. Bell’s is a proper French bistro. Daisy and Greg Ryan created a lovely space and an imaginative, incredible food experience. Their model was to provide a true hospitality experience where people remember not only the food but the ambiance and warm sincere service. COVID put a crimp in that model. Rather than bemoaning the interruption of a well thought out hospitality model the Ryan’s immediately pivoted to a different model. Taking advantage of the PPP loan program they were able to retain their entire staff. Granted it is a small group but nevertheless, their entire team continued to work. They remodeled their interior dining to adhere to the distancing rules, more importantly, they created a delightful outdoor space. Soon, as we know, interior dining was prohibited, but Bell’s was ready to receive people on the new outdoor patio. Another critical change was the type of dining offered. Bell’s now offered a 5-coarse prix-fix menu with a standard service charge. Seating was by reservation only with no walk-ins allowed. They started with dinner service 5 nights a week and eventually added lunch while remaining closed Tuesday and Wednesday. These modest but critical business model changes have resulted in better control of their inventory, control of their service, retained their employees and most importantly, provided an exemplary hospitality experience. Dinner at Bell’s is truly memorable with each offering better than the next. Oh, did I mention that this is a more profitable model and business continues to grow.
The experience of these two hospitality businesses and the alterations they made to their business models appear on the surface to be minor and not that creative.
I would disagree with that assessment.
Changes in one’s business model or one’s life model are often nuanced. The challenge is taking the risk to adjust at all. Change of any kind is difficult. Think how hard it is to change anything in your life. From the big - moving, relationships, job change to the small - coffee to tea, formal dress to casual, my tooth paste — we dislike change and the unknown. It is so much easier to remain the same, comfortable in what we know. Remember the negative is always the easier side of the argument. “No” to everything doesn’t move the needle much in your life or in your vocation. Even the slightest change creates an unknown. The unknown is uncomfortable as we like predictability. Change in no small way takes courage and confidence that you have altered the path for the better. Both of these businesses were achieving success with the old model. It is true some of this was forced, but many of the changes in our life are formed by things we did not plan for. Managing our success is the easy part; managing our risks is more challenging and difficult. The degree of difficulty of change is massively bigger than the comfort of doing things the same way. Bell’s and Handlebar are solid examples of how even the smallest change can bring large reward. They were rewarded for taking risk no matter how big or small it might seem to the outsider. They have not only continued to increase revenue and clients; they have created a positive experience for their clients. In many respects the result is better and more creative but at the core, it is still a memorable hospitality experience. When one is living in a world that looks stable it is probably just a trick (Solo un Trucco) as change is coming soon. The ability to take risks and the willingness to change is what keeps your life and business nimble and fresh. One thing that keeps us interesting and interested is a fresh view of the well planned.
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” --John Lennon
Friendship: A Slippery Slope
Friendships
Friendship: A Slippery Slope
Somedays are “wake up calls” or at least a gentle jolt to pay attention. I was interviewed for a podcast developed by Bob Wheeler titled “Money You Should Ask.” (moneyyoushouldask.com) It is an exploration of the emotional relationship people have with money. I needed a clear internet connection so that we could have an uninterrupted zoom call. That is a challenge at my home. I asked my friend if I could use his office and the conference room which he gave to me without question. I brought coffee and tea – a truly modest payment for the use of his space. The value proposition --- he did not expect anything more and would not have taken anything more. He was just being a friend.
I spent many years in the financial service industry, and you might presume that is a rough industry without a lot of emotional connection between colleagues. That has not been the case for me. This week I received two phone calls from friends I had worked closely with in the day. They were calling to see how I was doing as things have been a bit challenging recently. They were not seeking anything other than information on my well-being. If I had asked for something it would have been granted; however, what was enough was that they cared enough to reach out. As friends we have a context in our relationship, and we are cognizant of the need to stay in contact as our lives move like a pendulum passing through equilibrium. What struck me was the distinction between these friendships and those that are convenient or transitory. It is a slippery slope because sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between the two. Some friends are truly supportive, many more are there at their convenience or watching for weakness to give them that false sense of superiority. It was that friend who also contacted me on this day. We had a modest email misunderstanding, a common occurrence with this digital platform. It was his response that raised my awareness of the fact that he was measuring our relationship as if it was a balance sheet. It was the ease in which we fell into a comparison of who had been the better friend as if it were a contest. That comparison was a measure of the exchange of goods for services —— That is a sad measure of a friendship. My other two friends were not thinking of a balance sheet, they were just checking up on a friend.
Friendships are super valuable but not always and not all of them. Taking care to understand the foundation of that relationship is time well spent. If your friends behave differently than you would in a given situation, pay attention to that difference. It may be a difference you cannot rationalize or accept. I believe you will have a few truly good friends in your lifetime and if that is true then you should pick wisely. We don’t have enough time to be casual about the friends we keep. Don’t get confused with friends that can better you financially or improve your community standing with others that do not care where you stand, they just want to stand next to you. As the old expression goes you cannot choose your family…. but you can choose your friends ——- choose wisely my friend.
É Solo Un Trucco
June 2, 2014, I was in the Bradly International Terminal at LAX. It had recently opened – everything was new and clean. I was boarding a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt on my way to Venice.
June 2, 2014, I was in the Bradly International Terminal at LAX. It had recently opened – everything was new and clean. I was boarding a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt on my way to Venice.
The kindness of my German friend was allowing me an opportunity to be in Venice for two months. I stayed there until July 2, 2014. While I was there my daughter talked me into writing a blog about my experiences, which I did. I wrote 107 posts and developed 40 followers.
Now 6 years later I have decided to write again. The blog was on the “Tumblr” platform, but my daughter has talked me into developing my own website. My old writings were under the blog name “Il Vaporetto Di Fredric” in a nod to Il Vaporetto, which is the public transportation of Venice. Think of it as a bus on water. I was so taken with the public transportation. I was on the Vaporetto every day, it was a lovely way to move around the city. It is hard to believe that it has been six years since I last wrote but that is the way time travels—fast
I will write about some of the things that transpired in the past but honestly, it was on the whole not a great period for me and hard to focus on as it now appears to have been time squandered. I am going to focus on the present and the future. The goal is to write a complete post in Italian, but alas, I am a bit away from that. In the interim, I shall focus on the present and the future–neither of which I have any true understanding.
My new title is:
É Solo Un Trucco.
It’s only a trick.
My inspiration is from the movie La Grande Bellezza. Starring Tony Servillo as Jep Gambardella. This is a wonderfully artistic movie which follows Jep as he celebrates his 65th year. Jep and I are kindred spirits, but he has learned something I have not:
“The most important thing I discovered a few days after turning 65 is that I can’t waste any more time doing things I don’t want to do.”
I am still trying to embrace this as I review the last 6 years. The last thing I truly wanted to do was be in Venice on my own. Now, as I come to grips with the fact that there is probably more in back than in front for me I am working on the things I want to do. Because sadly I will not escape the end…
“This is how it always ends. With death. But first, there was life. Hidden beneath the blah, blah, blah. t’s all settled beneath the chitter chatter and the noise. Silence and sentiment. Emotion and fear. The haggard, inconstant flashes of beauty. And then the wretched squalor and miserable humanity. All buried under the cover of the embarrassment of being in the world, blah, blah, blah. Beyond there is what lies beyond. I don’t deal with what lies beyond. Therefore… Let this novel begin. After all its just a trick. Yes, it’s just a trick…”
This is how we leave Jep at the end of the movie and this is how I will attempt to take his guidance. Write about the present and look for the beauty. —It’s just a trick.
