Lessons From My Father

I was doing some “Spring” cleaning when I came across a folder of letters from and to my dad. I knew he was an avid writer of letters to the editor. I had forgotten how he typed letters to my sister on a weekly basis when she went away to college and then for all the years she was in letter writing distance.

There was a letter in the folder from Senator Bob Dole congratulating my dad on becoming a Member of the President’s Club. I have no recollection of this “honor.” It would be just like my dad to not share any honor and keep it to himself.

And then there was a 4 – page typewritten letter to my dad from a friend he had not been in contact with for 64 years. The friend remembered “Bella” the German Shepherd “uncle” talked to in Hungarian. The letter was dated 1993. The friend updated my dad about his son, who worked in Artificial Intelligence in Palo Alto, California. Think about that . . . the TV show 60 Minutes refers to AI as the “magic of the moment.” This friend’s son in the 80’s pre-Silicon Valley was working on AI.

The friend had become a rabbi, retired by the time he wrote the letter. Amazing how much he remembered about his childhood with my dad. Are you making memories for someone to remember?

Does print media have a future? A conversation with publisher Kevin Adelstein on the challenges of printing a monthly newspaper. To paraphrase J.K. Rowling, we should be delighted people want to read, regardless of the platform they choose.

Sightings from Puerto Vallarta

1. Crocodile Sighting



The Malecon is a 12-block pedestrian only boardwalk in Centro Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The waterfront crosses the Cuale River. Two mornings there was an unusual crocodile sighting during my walk. The bridge over the Cuale River is maybe 20' high. It is from there I snapped this photo, closer to a croc than I have ever knowingly been.

Lesson Learned: In 25 years of going to PV, I have never seen a crocodile this close. Perhaps I have been close to one and didn’t know it. It came back to the same place at least two days in a row. 100’ away was a group of swimmers seemingly unaware. How often are we close to danger and don’t know it?

2. A Drug Store Like a Candy Store

In Mexico it appears that most if not all medication that is by prescription in the USA is over- the-counter in Mexico. A medicine that can only be made available to a patient on the written instruction of an authorized health professional here, is over the counter there. Examples include blood pressure tablets, cancer medicine and strong painkillers.

Lesson Learned: A drug that is illegal here, can be legal a few yards away when you cross the border. The penalty for manslaughter in Vermont may be five years less than in Texas. Some things we accept as absolute, like a prescription drug, are not absolute. How does that apply to your life?

3. We Are So Much Alike

2600 miles separate Washington D.C. from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. As the nation’s capital, D.C. is a sophisticated metropolitan area with international tourists and residents. Canada and U.S. make up most of Puerto Vallarta’s visitors, known for its cobblestone streets and old world feel. Yet they both have a small area decorated with umbrellas.

Lesson Learned: I’m not sure what the lesson is to be learned from the umbrellas swinging in the air: perhaps we can learn that we are more alike than we are different, we can appreciate beauty regardless of our education or origin. Perhaps it’s simply to take a moment and appreciate art wherever we see it. Can you take a moment this season?

My search for a dog instructor took me back to my roots, so to speak. Back to a place I started at with our first family dog, Gigi. The “obedience school” is now under different ownership. Apparently a spray bottle of water with a stream not a mist is all that separated me from a better behaved dog.

When we left my dog saga last month, I was in search of an instructor who used more than positive reinforcement. I walked in with puppy Tevi, his annoying bark and menacing attitude in tow. She sprayed him a few times with a water bottle and I had a different dog. Was it really that simple? NO. Do I still need to provide positive reinforcement on a consistent basis? YES.

I take my spray bottle with me in the car, to the park, wherever we go.

You are invited to:

Video and Vino

January 18, 5pm - 7pm

We would be excited to have you join us at this unique session. Each participant will be taped, we will play it back, make suggestions, and tape you again. You will see immediate improvement!

You learn by doing and by observing others. Guess what? You have fun throughout the process!

• This session will prepare you to be ready for your time in the spotlight whether it is in person, on TV, a podcast, Tik-Tok, YouTube or Zoom.
• Leave with VINO and a gift bag!

You are invited to:

Dead President's Boot Camp

February 13, 9am - 12pm

We are thrilled to share with you this opportunity to use the magic of history and video to enhance your communication style.

• So much to learn from:
• Lincoln's very short Gettysburg address really not written on the back of an envelope as urban legend tells us.
• MLK's handwritten index cards really was how he prepared.
• In the history of the world, no one is better at answering tough questions than RFK in Columbus.

Perhaps you will want to come with a friend! We need to know how many gift bags to make!

Location: Electric Impulse Office

Valentine’s snacks and gift included for each attendee.

Email us at [email protected] for further information or to RSVP to one of our events. For more information visit our website.

Ask me about my 10 in 10!