Over a half-century ago, on the first Friday in November, I came home from school to an empty house. The note in the kitchen explained everything:
"Honey, I can't take any more, I'm leaving, but I left you something to eat in the freezer"
- Mom
Over a half-century ago, on the first Friday in November, I came home from school to an empty house. It was quiet and dark, but I wasn't afraid, I was relieved. For quite some time both angry words and fists had been swung around. At least this was different.
The note in the kitchen explained everything:
"Honey, I can't take any more, I'm leaving, but I left you something to eat in the freezer"
- Mom
The freezer contained, wall to wall, top to bottom, Swanson Chicken Pot Pie. My pot pie adventure lasted through Thanksgiving.
Why I Hate Chicken Pot Pie has been performed in public all of three times, unlike Making Your Technology Work, my flagship presentation. Why I Hate Chicken Pot Pie was first presented under duress, but not where it happened, here in San Diego.
Lydia Ramsey, Kathy Pashkow, Linda Harvey, Jackie Dorst, John Hollis, Jeff McBride, My Florida Angels
Why now? Last week, during the 2014 Florida Gathering of my best clients, they made me promise I would tell this story. It was Lydia Ramsey who tricked me into presenting it the first time. She booked it as a fundraiser, completed all the details, then gave me a call to say it was a done deal. Once again, Lydia is the instigator.
This is a story about the heros in our midst. The caring adults who stepped up and made sure I didn't fall through the cracks and the resiliency of a 5th grader. My ask today is simply this:
Organization - If you know of a San Diego group whose members would do more than say "Nice story" after attending this presentation, please share my request and ask them to contact me. I'm looking for a group who would go out into their community and carry on the legacy of the caring adults from my past.
Non-Profit - If you know of a San Diego group who could leverage the power of this message to help those they serve, please ask them to contact me.
People - My heroes, the teacher, the police officers, the parole officer and the foster parent are all gone. I didn't get to thank them. If I did, certainly not enough. Their legacy lives on in the work of a new generation of unsung heroes. If you know of a group I should thank, and sing their praises, please contact me.
