Hmmm let me see, where have I been? I think it safe to say that I have been in a state of purgatory for a little while.

In my little world of work it gets a little bit crazy when you change jobs from one company to the next. You literally resign on the spot, take all of your belongings and walk out the door to begin working for your new company as soon as they legally release you from your old place of employment. In other words, you start work on Friday night and don’t look up until you are finished several weeks later.

You don’t have much time to say goodbye or even think about the relationships you leave behind. That is one part of the job I despise. Unfotunately, they are beginning to lay people off from that office now that I have left. I feel terrible.

Life was so stressful I seriously contemplated suicide. The ONLY think that kept me from dying is the love I have for my daughter and wife. Never underestimate the power of love. In my case it saved my life for I was haunted by a lone gunman who wanted to end everything for about a week.

I am now a Senior Vice President for a new company; Partner of our own Real Estate business and a director for a Charitable Foundation.  

I am overwhelmed by the love and support I have received from my friends and family. I would be nothing without them.

For weeks, I thought the light at the end of the tunnel just might be a train. I’m beginning to think it could be sunlight.

Flash Forward….

I am alive. I am relatively well. I turned 46 years old on Saturday. I am running races and exercising like crazy.

I have been following you quietly. There are several of you I love. Some of you don’t know it so I may make it a point to tell you over the next coming days. Please accept it for it is all I have to offer.

Stay tuned.

Peace be with you,

Bobby

A new twist on an old picture. This one taken for Christmas 2009.

Bullet points.

This could be short or could be long. I don’t know.

1)      Racism. I‘ve seen some discussion on the subject in KCL. All it takes is one human being who is different than another and BOOM you have potential for conflict. Education is the only way to solve racism.

2)      Straight A’s continue for Jovana, our exchange student. The kid should be an engineer. Unfortunately, they have no use for Engineers in her country. Engineers, Physicians and Lawyers are not well paid in Montenegro.

3)      Kelly has been pounded with snow these last couple of weeks. Friday and Saturday they are getting 15-26 inches of snow after having snow all week up in DC. Folks, we are from the beach where the snow never goes…It has officially freaked her out.

4)      Me? Oh I have completely lost my mind. I had two rentals come vacant at the end of January. One is rented already (Wonderful turn around and picked up 45 more bucks a month in rents.) The other? I should have it ready to show in the next two weeks. Those folks were not the cleanest humans on the planet. I will pick up an extra 45.00 bucks in rent there as well. Lots of work. Many long nights!!!

5)      Nurse Ratchet? Um, her mentor and old physician co-worker passed away suddenly about 2 weeks ago. He died of a massive heart attack. They worked together the day before he passed. She has cried everyday since. Not pretty. Actually, I have never seen her depressed. She is CRUSHED.

6)      My brother is working with one of the producers of Lady GaGa on some music tracks. They both went to Berklee together. Frankly, this is his big break. The downside? My brother is a monster in the studio. In fact, he has his own studio in his house. Killer. We are having a divorce party for him on the 8^th!!! It is official.

7)      My little sister? I love her. She is just back from a business trip to Atlantic City. She was excited. Me? You can keep Atlantic City. She has already fallen off the wagon on her running and diet.

      Hopefully, I can fix my golf cart tonight or tomorrow. I snapped a strut off jumping some dunes awhile back. Were we out of control? Yes. Was it fun? That cart should be outlawed.

9)      Superbowl? I see the Saints winning it unless Peyton Manning gets red hot.

10)  I miss you all very much. I still read you but have not logged on to comment or write. I think that status will be consistent for awhile.

Peace be with you,

Bobby

Hmmm,

Just sitting here thinking about life.

I got an email this morning and my sister tells me her Best friends brother in law (and passenger) died in a car wreck last night. These men were 20 and 21 years old.  Single car crash at a high rate of speed. All over the news of course…

God knows I have done my share of that stuff. I guess it wasn’t my time.

My other buddy texted me to let me know his son got into Cornell University. This is the same 17 year kid who wrecked his motorcycle and broke a wrist, knee and ruptured a testicle. We call Chris “Captain Blueball”. Guess it wasn’t his time.

I hit a jetty once when I was surfing. I was knocked out and broke my board. My friend pulled me to shore and I have no recollection of the incident till this very day other than blood all over the back of my head and my broken board.  Ever heard the phrase “Swim with a buddy”?  Trust me it makes sense. You would have never met me if I wasn’t saved by my buddy Bruce.

Looking back, I was upset about my board. I was too stupid to think I could have died. I never told my parents exactly what happened.  You just put this stuff out of your mind.

Every day we live, we run the risk of dying. I accept these risks as a part of life. I would rather live my life as a series of experiences.

We only get one chance.

Make today count. While you are at it, tell someone you love them.

Peace be with you,

Bobby

Well…

Here we are 18 and some odd years later. I can’t believe the kid is leaving for college already. We make our way out tomorrow evening. I remember the day she was born and the nurse first put her in my arms.

I remember all the events in between. I know because I have been there all her life. Now we will be left with an empty bedroom until she returns for the holidays or occassional weekend.

Kelly leaves for college tomorrow and I am excited yet sad that she is going to be away from us. DC may not be that far away but in my mind it is too far.

I know I have been harping on this subject for awhile. I will probably harp on it for a long time to come.

She is my little girl and always will be.

I am ruined. My little buddy is going away.

We come back on Saturday just in time for a funeral and then a going away party for some lovely friends. UGH!!!!

You know what? I sense the fall is coming. Hurricane season makes it obvious. I don’t like the fall….I really don’t like winter.

Nurse Ratchet cries so much I don’t know what I’m going to do.

The ride home will be long and full of emotions.

This chapter of our lives is over. A new chapter begins.

This little space has and always will be about the love I have for my family and friends. My life and world revolve around my family.

Time for Kelly to make her mark on the world….

Life moves pretty quickly.

Enjoy each day.

Peace be with you,
Bobby

Nurse ratchet at one of our favorite Surfing spots last we call the boilermaker or boiler. This steamship wreck is off the coast of The Pea Island wildlife refuge. If you look closely you can see the stack of the Oriental on the right.

When you paddle out about 100 yards you can see the ship underneath you of the water is clear. On good days the visibility is about 15 feet or so which make it a pretty good snorkle event.

You can’t miss a 200 plus foot boat under that stack so if you are surfing it, steer clear…

I often wish that my writing style was polished.

The world is for the living. You have to make the most of each day.

I have read about and seen some absolutely incredible acts of humanitarianism in these pages recently. I’m so sick and tired of reading about all the negativity that comes with the news.

I make it a point to tell my closest friends and family that I love or care about them often.

I intended to write something more upbeat. I sure did live this weekend to the fullest for instance. I ran a race, went to the beach twice, worked on several projects and watched as my daughter left for her senior prom.

My home was full of loved ones as Kelly and her date departed. I love her with all my heart and am very proud of her. My little Ronin has a good head on her shoulders. More about this later….

My Sister’s best friends mother passed away Saturday afternoon in a tragic car accident. She was 47. She pulled out from a filling station and was hit on the drivers side. She died at the scene. I heard all about it from EMS and I’ll spare you the details.

This is a painful death for all of us. Having a child at 17 put her behind the 8 ball. She was just beginning to live her life. Tragic to say the least.

I am very close to my sister and her best friend of course. I don’t know what to say.

Perhaps you would do well to tell those around you care about them.

We have no idea what tomorrow brings.

All we have is today.

Peace,
Bobby

Sunset on the water at home…You will find me here all summer (year) long…in fact, this will be my final resting place.

That is the name of a very old ZZ top song.

I have been to Houston before and didn’t really know what to make of it. We stayed at the Ritz or Four Seasons (I can’t remember) and during the day my wife would ride over to La Galleria and hang out at the mall and shops near the University. I don’t even know the name of the University for Pete’s sake.

This post is going to be pretty melancholy for reasons everyone really knows about me from the start.

As you know I have mentioned we are looking for other employment opportunities. Well, so far the best bang for our buck seems to have landed right in Good old Houston, Texas.

Apparently, there is a lot of money to be made in that town for the both of us. It comes with a cost and I’m not sure I can bear the cost.

My entire family, all my friends and all my loved ones with the exception of my parents (Bradenton,FL) live within spitting distance of my home right now.

I don’t know if there is a price tag that can be placed on how much we cherish our relationships.

The waters of the Atlantic Ocean run through my veins and I have often said that I would die if I was to be away from the ocean for too long.

You better include my family and Nurse ratchet’s family as well. I can’t imagine life without them. I like being able to see them anytime I wish. In fact, we see each other all the time.

Having said all of that we still are looking at Houston. It makes plenty of sense in a lot of ways.

It is my issue.

I don’t like the idea that I’m not in control of my life.

Living here I am somebody. I make a difference. I am connected to many. So is my wife.

In Houston? I don’t even have a clue and it looks like I would have to buy a few clues to figure it out.

Could we connect and make friends anywhere we go? Yes, I suppose so.

So you have discovered my biggest fear in these little pages haven’t you?

I fear change as much if not more than anything.

So what are the odds of this kind of change?

Over 50% and climbing.

“Painful to live in fear isn’t it?” - Leon (Blade Runner)

Peace be with you,

Bobby