The Two Words that CAN’T be Said on a Plane, A Limestone Colored Man, A Shout Out to the Butt Ugly Folks

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
— Nelson Mandela 

What is up, beautiful people? I don’t want to discriminate; what’s up, butt ugly folks as well! So how are you this Saturday? I got up, drank some liquid IV, made some Death Wish Coffee, and am now ready to dump some words onto this lite screen of love. I was described yesterday as a man that wants to be heard, and I’ll lean into that statement, listen to me, judge me, I’ll quit when I’m dead.

A banner day yesterday, I’ve written many times about my men’s group, 14 men, one woman meeting monthly to help become our best selves.  Since I’m in Indiana and the meeting takes place in Colorado, I joined virtually.  The group’s namesake has a place in Mexico; he was “home,” so he also virtually joined.  We had one that was sick, he zoomed, and another that had kid detail, so he was a fellow Zoomer.

We got some fantastic news, one of our member’s twin sons is highly ranked on the national stage in Tennis.  Another member, a COVID long hauler, is healthy and ready to get back to life. And the best news of all, a member that had a life-ending diagnosis was given a clean bill of health after years of battle.  During his struggle, he wrote some words that you will soon see; he crafted a message for the world, a good reminder; I’ll maybe write about that tomorrow. But, for now, I’m beaming with happiness.

But with happiness comes sadness.  We went to a calling for a 42-year-old man.  He was on vacation, there was an accident, he passed, and now there is a family in Fishers, IN, a wife and three sons with no father.  I met Andrew a few years ago; he joined a peer group I was a part of and then would lean on me for advice.  I was not his mentor, I was his friend, and I had not spoken to him in over a year.  I had thought about him a couple of weeks ago; I should check in on him, but I didn’t, and now he’s gone.

After the calling, we went to Sams Club, got some stuff we didn’t need, and then headed home to run our monthly digital marketing meeting with our friends.  They are kicking ass; our website visitations are through the roof; Wired Mustang is the best digital marketing company globally! If you want help with your digital marketing visit

https://wiredmustang.com/

Wired Mustang is the Foo Fighters of the digital marketing community.

I want to share something that I have not shared before.  It might help you navigate this thing called life. I did a Ted Talk last year on removing social media from my phone; you can find it here:

In addition to removing social media from my phone, I stopped looking at my “work” comments.  You know, those comments on Facebook that people post about what you share.  I have not looked at them for over a year, and only when my wife says you should look at this one do I take a gander.  I don’t care what others think, so why bother looking?  I am myself; everyone else is taken; if you don’t like me and what I have to say, well, that’s on you. Although I respond to my LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn does not seem to have the same pettiness as Facebook, just my observation.

Cousin arrives today; my counterpoint will be here for our daughter’s wedding, his mother is coming in as well, we will have a few folks here this week, and then the marriage is consummated Saturday. So this week will be a banner week; I’m stoked to squeeze the juice from this fruitful, joyful time.  I think we will get a pedicure today, have a nice lunch, a couple of drinks, go to Costco and not pass out vinyl love.  Vinyl love is not allowed in Costco.

I purchased an OURA ring.  I’m going to try it out, and if I like it, I’m going to buy my wife one.  So what is an OURA ring?  According to the website: Oura Ring: the most accurate sleep and activity tracker is all about you: it measures the physiological signals of your body, understands your lifestyle.  You can learn more here:

www.ouraring.com

I’ll share my experience; I should have it this week; the first step was sizing; I’m a 13, I’ve got big fingers.

Have I shared I’m married to the most beautiful woman in the world?  I think I have told you that, but as I sit here on this Saturday morning, I’m giddy to watch her glide down the stairs with her messed up morning hair, walk over and give me some morning sugar.  It’s how we start every day, a little kiss; I suggest you do the same.  Along with my wife, my pup Parker Van Halen brings me joy, she’s our little lady, and aside from passing gas now and then, she is the perfect companion.

I think life is seasonal; we have times of great joy, the mundane, and times of sadness.  I’m in a time of fun, and I’m going to enjoy it as long as it lasts.  I look forward, and I’m seeing fabulous things happening in 2022 and beyond.  I have grandkids coming; my kids are all living their best lives, my parents are healthy, we have too many friends to count, I seem to be hitting on all cylinders.  If you are not, I’m sorry, figure out what makes you sad or living in the mundane and make a few changes; this joyful life is something to behold.

I hope my happiness lit you up a little; I’m beaming, I’m screaming, I’m a light in a time of darkness.  There was some unrest last night, racial stuff because a white guy shot three white guys.  We live in a time when everything is black and white, and I’ll close with my preferred color; today, I will identify as limestone! Fortunately, the world is not black and white; the world is ivory, sand, golden beige, and a host of other colors.  Only when we realize there are several different colors of our world will society calm the fuck down.  Sorry Mom, sometimes you need to add emphasis.

Quick story, I was flying to Denver, our flight was delayed, and we got a note that the plane was leaving in 30 minutes.  We were still home, we had been sipping a little Kim Crawford, we arrived at the airport boarding the plane, and I shared with a stewardess my discontent about the delays showing her my phone, the text messages from the airline and said, “This is F’d up.”  That day, I learned that there are two words you cannot speak on an airplane.  The first one is “bomb,” and the second starts with an F and rhymes with truck.  I was escorted off the plane and made my trip the following day.  Don’t mess with flight attendants.

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
— Nelson Mandela