| I'm SO Glad I wasn't in the office... | | | | We vacationed summers on Nantucket, renting |
| This is one story I'd hope I'd never get to write. | | | | some pretty incredible properties and bringing the |
| But it's very important within the context of the | | | | entire family. |
| work with clients and yes, even time with some | | | | Every weekend and vacation was an adventure. |
| of my friends. Its way more important than | | | | Even went to Daytona about 18 times in |
| getting the next new patient, insurance hassles, | | | | February. |
| and yes even the amount of today's deposit. | | | | I'll never forget an early morning Florida pre-fishing |
| My wife and I hung a bird feeder near her dad | | | | trip to a diner, where Al orders a chilidog before 5 |
| Al's window yesterday. He's 85, and in his last | | | | AM! I could barely sip coffee in the cold dark |
| days on earth. | | | | morning and he's eating like were at a barbeque! |
| When we went to his shed to look for some | | | | One particular trip, we went red fishing on the |
| screws and a bracket to use, we were both | | | | Indian River Lagoon. It was so cool; the space |
| overcome with sadness. | | | | program gantries of Cape Kennedy dotted the |
| You see, in that shed were things we had given | | | | skyline. We fished with a legendary Guide (and |
| him 25+ years ago, along our extensive journeys | | | | philosopher/writer). We all hit it off really well, |
| together. Tools, a fishing hat, stainless steel | | | | hooting and hollering like 5 year-olds. So as a |
| riggingknife, and stuff I haven't seen in years. | | | | unique experience for us, the Guide parked the |
| How did we do all that stuff together I asked | | | | boat on one of the islands, so we could fish some |
| myself? | | | | totally unprotected water. His only admonishing |
| Then it all comes back. We did it all while I was | | | | was to watch for gators. Big ones. If memory |
| building an enormous practice, getting a DABCO | | | | serves me well, he did have a handgun. |
| and an MS while practicing all day, doing many | | | | What a spectacular piece of nature that was. |
| workshops at night, building a race car, running | | | | Birds, incredible trees, and alligators. |
| frequent road races and even a marathon. | | | | I did manage to hook a fabulous redfish in the |
| Deliberately. | | | | isolated lagoon. |
| Here's a partial list of times we've spent. Together | | | | Meanwhile, Al wanders off on his own without |
| we built and raced a 1970 Mustang, from the | | | | saying a word. For about 20 minutes the guide |
| ground up. Friends frequently lent a hand. Literally | | | | and I searched for Al. I was at one point seriously |
| we built it from the frame up, tubbed, roll-cage, | | | | wondering how I'd explain his death to my wife! |
| engines, rear-end, you name it. We even rented a | | | | Then he casually reappears and the guide then |
| local garage on weekends complete with lifts and | | | | quickly puts him back on the boat. Eight plus foot |
| all the impact tools, at one point spending 24 hrs | | | | alligators in the warm winter sun getting hungry |
| over weekends fixing the car I broke the | | | | will do that when you are responsible for a |
| weekend before. (I personally NEVER saw | | | | strangers safety. |
| patients beyond 1245 pm on Fridays in the | | | | And then there was Al's first bluefin tuna in the |
| summer). | | | | canyons off Block Island. 12-foot seas and he's |
| I ultimately got sick of towing the "Beast" as I | | | | the only one not barfing. Must have been all those |
| used to call it, so I got one of the locals to rent | | | | days on the aircraft carrier in WWII... |
| us his flatbed on weekends. Al and My daughter | | | | Fortunately, I had great mentors along the way |
| Caitlin would pile in and drive 135 miles to the | | | | that I really listened to intently so I'm just kind of |
| track, and back on many a Saturday. | | | | passing this on. My friends and I paid handsomely |
| We also had a 29 ft travel trailer, and set up | | | | for practice building (and life) advice, frequently |
| camp each summer in Maine, and 3 years on | | | | traveling to be with the best as there was no |
| Cape Cod. Lots of campfires and cold beer. At | | | | PPW, and boy are we glad now we actually |
| night, the telescopes would come out, and | | | | applied their advice! |
| sometimes we'd be there for hours. | | | | Here's the most important message from all this. |
| Then, we shared 3 boats together. Over 22 | | | | Live, and Practice, by your Design, not default. |
| years. Thousands of hours together with friends | | | | Always. |
| and family. Of course I still have the latest one, | | | | There are after all, no second chances with your |
| and hopefully a new story one that soon. | | | | life. |