Morning all:

“Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.” — Carl Sandburg

Hello from Orlando, for the first time since I checked in I have my little in-room coffeepot perking away; the Starbuck’s in the lobby won’t open till six. In the background the television newscasts are still blathering away about the shooter in Virginia—they only know how to play at the periphery and grab the sensational. Possibly what is needed is a bit of a focus on how severely mentally ill folk are coated in a legal blanket of ‘Teflon’ so that no service agency can provide necessary and real services to these individuals. The youngest son of our old neighbors is a senior at Virginia Tech. He is safe and sound. Let the healing for all those affected start quickly.

The meetings I have been attending have been tremendous, contacts made valuable, and the days long. Still, there has been opportunity to spend a bit of time with Kirstin and the grandkids—and are they ever delightful.

In a bit I have a morning breakfast meeting to finish up my week and then I’ll spend the day with Vince, Kirstin, and the kids. I am told that a ride on Thomas the Train is in the offing.

What has thrilled me is how excited both Derek and Kellen were to see me. How loving both little guys are, and how incredibly quick they were to warm up to me being in their lives again. Even Kellen at only nine months played with me for about 15 minutes while big brother and mom were not even in sight, I just didn’t expect that degree of acceptance.

By the way, did I tell you just how much fun they are?

In the morning I am heading for meetings in Atlanta and on Tuesday it is off to France, We’ll talk next week.

In the meantime, make it a great week everyone: since by now the Starbuck’s is open I know mine is starting off right. Now first spend a bit of time cleaning up yesterday’s email.

Cheers,
Dirk