During Thanksgiving I drove to Duck NC to visit my cousin Tim Brown. I saw him at my aunt's funeral in January for first time in over 40 years. When he and his wife Mia invited me to spend Thanksgiving on the outer banks at a house they rented I'm thinking Georgia--North Carolina no problem. After committing I realized it was 600 miles--ouch. But once I commit I rarely back down so Greta & I made the trip.
It was a great experience to spend quality time with a relative I hadn't been close to in a long time, meet his wife and extended family. It seems easy for me to connect with relatives even after years apart. I've done a lot to accomplish reconnections over the past few years. I wish it happened more often but with 20 cousins spread all over the east & west coast & few places in between it hasn't occurred with some of them.
Tim and I went on bike rides Thursday & Friday. Both days I ran into friends I hadn't seen in quite a while. On Thursday as we were finishing up a car pulled along side us and called out my name. It was a guy named John Green who I had worked with years ago. His wife Jennifer (who I introduced him to) was with him along with their 10 month old daughter (Sophie). We stopped along the roadside and had a quick conversation update and exchanged email addresses. The next day we cycled to the Wright Brothers Memorial and as we were leaving I heard someone call my name. It was Hetal from a team I coached a few years ago who had moved to India and just returned to Atlanta. Again another quick update and a promise to ride together in Atlanta. Two connections in 24 hours--my cousin is asking me are you sure you haven't been here before?
On Saturday I headed to Staunton to see Nancy Williams. I shared a recollection of her in earlier post Not sure how much of that reconnection I'm willing to share here--maybe someday in the future. All I'll say for now-- it was memorable and special.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Back To the Future--Nancy Williams
This morning my phone rang at 6:40 am. Caller ID said it was Nancy Williams--of all the back to the future posts I've done this one is special--at least to me.
In 1964 I was graduating high school, dating a girl I cared about, looking forward to the University of Richmond. My next door neighbor (Beth Brown) kept telling me I should meet a friend of hers. On a Friday night after a picnic at Elkhorn Recreation Club (a lake I was about to start work at as a lifeguard) Beth told me her friend Nancy Williams would be a slumber party not far from my house. Beth said I should come by and Nancy would sneak out to meet me. I went over there late that night, met Nancy and my life over the next few years changed dramatically.
To say I was smitten would be an understatement. I broke up with my girl friend (Diane Boy) within days. I handled that so well that 20 years later at a high school reunion she stared right through me. I dated Nancy that summer, and headed off to college. Lots of stuff happens when you leave home for college but Nancy always remained special. I remember one time I went to a car race at VIR with a bunch of college friends. I ran into her and we wound up totally immersed in one another again. I can't remember all the other times we re-connected over the years but I do remember she once told me (at UR fraternity party) that I lived in a much faster lane than she did. That's when 3 year's age difference was a big deal since I was in college while Nancy was in high school.
I still remember the day I got an invitation/announcement in 1972 that she was getting/got married. That was one of the saddest days in my life because my first true love had chosen some one else. I've re-connected with a fair number of friends from my past but until now Nancy had eluded me. It's hard to find folks when their last name can change.
So how did this re-connection happen? I joined the classmates.com web site since my 45th high school reunion is next year. I think our class has only had 3 (1974, 1984, 2004) and I didn't know about 2004. Anyway a few days ago Nancy showed up as a visitor. An email from me led to an early morning call from her, a follow up email and an invitation to a "phone date" scheduled for later this weekend. I've never experienced a phone date before. But whenever Nancy Williams enters my life I've always been willing to re-connect.
This morning when I saw her name on caller ID I felt like Back to the Future star Michael J Fox in the Delorean transported back in time. I know one can't turn back time, but I'm still smitten by the memory of Nancy Williams--even 44 years later.
In 1964 I was graduating high school, dating a girl I cared about, looking forward to the University of Richmond. My next door neighbor (Beth Brown) kept telling me I should meet a friend of hers. On a Friday night after a picnic at Elkhorn Recreation Club (a lake I was about to start work at as a lifeguard) Beth told me her friend Nancy Williams would be a slumber party not far from my house. Beth said I should come by and Nancy would sneak out to meet me. I went over there late that night, met Nancy and my life over the next few years changed dramatically.
To say I was smitten would be an understatement. I broke up with my girl friend (Diane Boy) within days. I handled that so well that 20 years later at a high school reunion she stared right through me. I dated Nancy that summer, and headed off to college. Lots of stuff happens when you leave home for college but Nancy always remained special. I remember one time I went to a car race at VIR with a bunch of college friends. I ran into her and we wound up totally immersed in one another again. I can't remember all the other times we re-connected over the years but I do remember she once told me (at UR fraternity party) that I lived in a much faster lane than she did. That's when 3 year's age difference was a big deal since I was in college while Nancy was in high school.
I still remember the day I got an invitation/announcement in 1972 that she was getting/got married. That was one of the saddest days in my life because my first true love had chosen some one else. I've re-connected with a fair number of friends from my past but until now Nancy had eluded me. It's hard to find folks when their last name can change.
So how did this re-connection happen? I joined the classmates.com web site since my 45th high school reunion is next year. I think our class has only had 3 (1974, 1984, 2004) and I didn't know about 2004. Anyway a few days ago Nancy showed up as a visitor. An email from me led to an early morning call from her, a follow up email and an invitation to a "phone date" scheduled for later this weekend. I've never experienced a phone date before. But whenever Nancy Williams enters my life I've always been willing to re-connect.
This morning when I saw her name on caller ID I felt like Back to the Future star Michael J Fox in the Delorean transported back in time. I know one can't turn back time, but I'm still smitten by the memory of Nancy Williams--even 44 years later.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
More on the bailout
Now that our government passed the bailout Paulsen and others are re allocating where it goes. Remember I said they were asking for all that money and telling us "trust us we'll figure out who deserves it."
Now many other sectors are coming forward asking for funds. They all begin their request with how crucial their survival is to our economic system along with the refrain "you already bailed out AIG, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, etc"
That's the problem with government "bailing out" troubled sectors. As they "kick the can further down the road" the parade just gets longer. This week Chrysler, Ford & GM are begging. But when the 3 spokesmen fly to DC from Detroit in 3 separate corporate jets why would any rational person listen to their plea? Clearly those 3 just don't get it. I'm sorry that many folks will suffer if sectors of our economy fail. I may also suffer, but I'd risk that in exchange for a free market system that sorts things out over time instead of relying on government corrections/interference.
Looking back to the great depression, many experts feel that Roosevelt's "New Deal" prolonged the depression for 7-10 years when market forces would have corrected the economy in 3-4 years. I majored in economics so I know economies go through cycles. I was also taught that government's role was to act as a stimulus when times got slow and a restraint when things got too fast, eg inflation. One economic principle I learned way back then was government was more effective slowing things down than stimulating the economy. Personally I'm not sure our government is effective at much any more except mortgaging future generations with a ton of financial obligations.
Kick the can, kick the can.......maybe someday we'll figure out how to refill it instead.
Now many other sectors are coming forward asking for funds. They all begin their request with how crucial their survival is to our economic system along with the refrain "you already bailed out AIG, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, etc"
That's the problem with government "bailing out" troubled sectors. As they "kick the can further down the road" the parade just gets longer. This week Chrysler, Ford & GM are begging. But when the 3 spokesmen fly to DC from Detroit in 3 separate corporate jets why would any rational person listen to their plea? Clearly those 3 just don't get it. I'm sorry that many folks will suffer if sectors of our economy fail. I may also suffer, but I'd risk that in exchange for a free market system that sorts things out over time instead of relying on government corrections/interference.
Looking back to the great depression, many experts feel that Roosevelt's "New Deal" prolonged the depression for 7-10 years when market forces would have corrected the economy in 3-4 years. I majored in economics so I know economies go through cycles. I was also taught that government's role was to act as a stimulus when times got slow and a restraint when things got too fast, eg inflation. One economic principle I learned way back then was government was more effective slowing things down than stimulating the economy. Personally I'm not sure our government is effective at much any more except mortgaging future generations with a ton of financial obligations.
Kick the can, kick the can.......maybe someday we'll figure out how to refill it instead.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Favorite Movies
My favorite top 10 movies in no particular order:
My Dog Skip
Shane
The Sting
Five Easy Pieces
Cool Hand Luke
Old Yeller
African Queen
Remember the Titans
The Deerhunter
Hombre
The Natural
Breaking Away
My Dog Skip
Shane
The Sting
Five Easy Pieces
Cool Hand Luke
Old Yeller
African Queen
Remember the Titans
The Deerhunter
Hombre
The Natural
Breaking Away
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
$700 Billion Bailout?
This is a very popular topic right now. A couple of observations from someone who is very skeptical of anyone who says "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you".
The 2 guys ( Bernake & Paulson) who are preaching that we've got to do something right now--aren't they the same 2 guys who preached most of this year that everything was under control? And wasn't Paulson an investment banker for many years walking in the shoes of the folks he's now asking us to hand this money too?
Congress: most of these folks have been there too long and have spent years protecting some of the same industries/executives they now accuse of leading us into this mess. Now some of them want us to hand over $700 billion to fix this? And aren't many of them the folks who hastily passed the Sabonis Oxley legislation post Enron which requires these institutions to "mark assets to current market value"?
$700 billion comes out to an average of more that $23,000 per person in USA. That's every person--babies, kids, homeless, millionaires and everyone else in between. Does this figure include what's already been committed to Fannie, Freddie, AIG, etc. or is it an additional amount? No, it's additional because AIG just accepted their $85 billion, and by the way exactly how much money was committed to Fannie & Freddie--that figure seems absent from the Wall Street Journal and other publications.
Many folks seem to think this whole thing can be pinned on someone. In my opinion it can't be pinned on specific industries, markets, executives, citizens. Many have done things for years that led to this. I say let the market correct itself. That probably means a recession, and some other painful sorting out. But government's obsession with keeping things hunky dory means turning a recession that would normally last 1-2 years into an event that lasts a lot longer. I think there are a lot of foxes and hens in the chicken house and both sides are scaring the hell out of many folks across the country.
Warren Buffet, a very savvy investor in my opinion, spokeout in favor of the government plan and opened the betting with $5 billion, along with options to invest more. Andy Kessler, a former hedge fund trader and writer, suggests the taxpayers could yield between a $1--2 trillion return over time on $700 billion. Pretty good ROI. So why not let each one of us decide exactly how much of our money we want to bet on this and let the market play out. You know what--the ability to do just that already exists. I'm certainly fishing--I just don't have as much bait as Warren, and I just don't trust government telling us where to fish.
The 2 guys ( Bernake & Paulson) who are preaching that we've got to do something right now--aren't they the same 2 guys who preached most of this year that everything was under control? And wasn't Paulson an investment banker for many years walking in the shoes of the folks he's now asking us to hand this money too?
Congress: most of these folks have been there too long and have spent years protecting some of the same industries/executives they now accuse of leading us into this mess. Now some of them want us to hand over $700 billion to fix this? And aren't many of them the folks who hastily passed the Sabonis Oxley legislation post Enron which requires these institutions to "mark assets to current market value"?
$700 billion comes out to an average of more that $23,000 per person in USA. That's every person--babies, kids, homeless, millionaires and everyone else in between. Does this figure include what's already been committed to Fannie, Freddie, AIG, etc. or is it an additional amount? No, it's additional because AIG just accepted their $85 billion, and by the way exactly how much money was committed to Fannie & Freddie--that figure seems absent from the Wall Street Journal and other publications.
Many folks seem to think this whole thing can be pinned on someone. In my opinion it can't be pinned on specific industries, markets, executives, citizens. Many have done things for years that led to this. I say let the market correct itself. That probably means a recession, and some other painful sorting out. But government's obsession with keeping things hunky dory means turning a recession that would normally last 1-2 years into an event that lasts a lot longer. I think there are a lot of foxes and hens in the chicken house and both sides are scaring the hell out of many folks across the country.
Warren Buffet, a very savvy investor in my opinion, spokeout in favor of the government plan and opened the betting with $5 billion, along with options to invest more. Andy Kessler, a former hedge fund trader and writer, suggests the taxpayers could yield between a $1--2 trillion return over time on $700 billion. Pretty good ROI. So why not let each one of us decide exactly how much of our money we want to bet on this and let the market play out. You know what--the ability to do just that already exists. I'm certainly fishing--I just don't have as much bait as Warren, and I just don't trust government telling us where to fish.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Back to the Future--Chubb Career
40 years ago today I started my post- college career in New York City working for a company called Chubb & Son. Probably the biggest day I my life as I went from college grad from Danville Va to a job in the world's financial capital. I spent almost 20 years at Chubb moving up the corprate ladder through offices in NYC, Atlanta, NJ, CA, CT and back to Atlanta in 1982. learned a great deal, made a lot of friends, but since I changed cities every few years some of those friends came and went. But within the company I could maintain contact with many no matter where I was.
I left Chubb in May, 1988 squeezed out by a branch manager who decided he didn't want me around. It was hard to figure out at the time since at one time we were good friends when we both worked for Chubb in New Jersey. I realized that if you ever crossed his path he was unforgiving and reentless in getting even. I saw him hold grudges against folks forever, but I really couldn't figure out how I crossed that line. I found out after I left that he went to great lenghts to bad mouth me to many folks. I also learned that most folks he bad mouthed me to had a "what the fuck are you talking about reaction."
Recently I went to a reunion of many Chubb Atlanta employees. I hadn't seen most of them in years. I was touched by how many of them felt I'd been railroaded by my branch manager. While there Linda Hayes told the story about how he had come to my office smoking a cigar. As he walked in she said I told him " George, if you want to come into my office leave the cigar some where else, if you need to smoke it we'll meet outside or in your office." I had no recollection of that encounter but Linda said George was silently steaming. Maybe that episode was my undoing, maybe it was something else. I do recall that if anyone ever pissed him off, he stayed mad and vengeful forever.
As long as we never cross paths again it won't matter. If we do I'll most likely kick his ass. Not because he shoved me out of Chubb, where I'd be way ahead financially, but because I wound up losing touch with lots of folks I really cared about--and who cared about me. My hope is the Chubb connections I'll make down the road are the ones who matter.
I left Chubb in May, 1988 squeezed out by a branch manager who decided he didn't want me around. It was hard to figure out at the time since at one time we were good friends when we both worked for Chubb in New Jersey. I realized that if you ever crossed his path he was unforgiving and reentless in getting even. I saw him hold grudges against folks forever, but I really couldn't figure out how I crossed that line. I found out after I left that he went to great lenghts to bad mouth me to many folks. I also learned that most folks he bad mouthed me to had a "what the fuck are you talking about reaction."
Recently I went to a reunion of many Chubb Atlanta employees. I hadn't seen most of them in years. I was touched by how many of them felt I'd been railroaded by my branch manager. While there Linda Hayes told the story about how he had come to my office smoking a cigar. As he walked in she said I told him " George, if you want to come into my office leave the cigar some where else, if you need to smoke it we'll meet outside or in your office." I had no recollection of that encounter but Linda said George was silently steaming. Maybe that episode was my undoing, maybe it was something else. I do recall that if anyone ever pissed him off, he stayed mad and vengeful forever.
As long as we never cross paths again it won't matter. If we do I'll most likely kick his ass. Not because he shoved me out of Chubb, where I'd be way ahead financially, but because I wound up losing touch with lots of folks I really cared about--and who cared about me. My hope is the Chubb connections I'll make down the road are the ones who matter.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Mary DeWree
My friend Mary DeWree is being given a surprise 50th birthday party this Friday. All invitees have to write down and bring "My Mary Memory". Here's mine.
I first met Mary in the summer of 2001 as I prepared to coach another group of cyclists for TeamInTraining. I'm use to meeting cyclists with all kinds of bikes and cycling ability at these early group training rdes. Nothing in my 4 previous years of coaching prepared me for Mary.
Well, it wasn't really Mary I was unprepared for--it was the bike she brought to the ride. I don't remember the brand but it was yellow, weighed at least 40 lbs, and was a ladies model mountain bike. It hadn't been ridden in years--it probably hadn't even been inside a garage or house since the turn of the century. Tires with no air, spokes that had rusted, I'm thinking that bike won't get her out of the parking lot.
I was close to being right. As I recall we suggested she ride to the track at the Lovett School and do some laps to see if the bike would actually work. That's the last time Mary ever followed my cycling advice.
Fortunately Mary wound up with another yellow bike--this one a Cannondale road bike which her friend Lynn now rides. You see the one thing that Mary knows how to do is solve problems by upgrading. Her philosophy is "I can solve any situation with money or friends."
Mary, tonight as we gather to celebrate your 50th I hope you still have as much money as you do friends.
Your friend and cyling coach,
Neil
I first met Mary in the summer of 2001 as I prepared to coach another group of cyclists for TeamInTraining. I'm use to meeting cyclists with all kinds of bikes and cycling ability at these early group training rdes. Nothing in my 4 previous years of coaching prepared me for Mary.
Well, it wasn't really Mary I was unprepared for--it was the bike she brought to the ride. I don't remember the brand but it was yellow, weighed at least 40 lbs, and was a ladies model mountain bike. It hadn't been ridden in years--it probably hadn't even been inside a garage or house since the turn of the century. Tires with no air, spokes that had rusted, I'm thinking that bike won't get her out of the parking lot.
I was close to being right. As I recall we suggested she ride to the track at the Lovett School and do some laps to see if the bike would actually work. That's the last time Mary ever followed my cycling advice.
Fortunately Mary wound up with another yellow bike--this one a Cannondale road bike which her friend Lynn now rides. You see the one thing that Mary knows how to do is solve problems by upgrading. Her philosophy is "I can solve any situation with money or friends."
Mary, tonight as we gather to celebrate your 50th I hope you still have as much money as you do friends.
Your friend and cyling coach,
Neil
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Damascus--That Damn Cat
Last July cycling in north Georgia I came across a kitten on Damascus Church Rd. My friend Wendy who saves animals from cats to turtles and many species in between stopped to check him out. I figured it was a wild feral cat who would run away. Instead he was a super friendly kitten and we picked him up to take care of him until we could find a good home. Since Wendy already had 2 rescued cats he wound up at my house. By the time I'd had him checked out at my vet's we had bonded. I named him "Damascus" because of where we found him, and because it coincided with what I'd sometimes call him (that damn cat) as he became a household member.
There's no such thing as a free kitten. I spent about $500 neutering vaccinating and dealing with several minor health problems that cats in the wild usually have. But compared to other cats I've had or encountered Damascus was truly special. He would almost always come when called, he loved attention and if my dog Greta or I didn't give him enough he would quickly remind us of our responsibility. Greta for the most part tolerated Damascus but I could tell she kinda liked having a companion in the house while I was gone.
Damascus had no fear of anything and everyone and every animal was a friend. I think that lead to his demise. Last Thursday morning he went outside. When I took Greta out later there was no sign of him which was unusual. I started looking and found him curled up under his favorite bush. He looked OK but didn't get up when I called him to me. I picked him up and as I went up the stairs I found a wound on his right hindquarter. It was pretty obvious he had been attacked and couldn't move his rear legs. He didn't seem too distressed and purred constantly just like he normally would when I engaged him. The vet wouldn't open for an hour so I made him comfortable in Greta's cage. I looked around outside for any animal or evidence of what happened--I looked at my neighbor's Rottweiler a few doors away--he was on his normal chain but I wondered if he'd gotten loose for a while.
Once at the vet's the news was pretty bad. The vet was more worried about his inability to move his hind legs than the wounds. They discovered Damascus had a heart murmur (new news) and thought perhaps something had broken loose and moved into a position where it temporarily paralyzed his back legs and that he was attacked while in that condition. They suggested an xray and further exams so I left him there while they continued to check him out. By now I had a gut feeling this was not going to be a good day.
When I returned the vet confirmed the xray revealed a compressed fracture in his lower back. They could attempt corrective surgery but the prognosois was grim and the cost prohibitive. The vet totally supported my decision to put him down. They asked if I wanted to be present but I have never been able to be there whenever one of my pets have to be put to sleep. I did ask for a chance to say "goodbye".
They brought Damascus into the exam room wrapped in a blanket and left us alone. He was still purring like everything was OK. I hugged him and said "I'm sorry buddy. I wanted to spend the next 10--15 years with you. I let you down by not protecting you. I am so sorry!" I cried, and left him there on the table still purring.
Now almost a week has passed. Many emotions still run through my mind. I rescued him from a certain early grave only to have him caught in some jaw of death 7 months later. I feel blessed that he crossed my path, but guilty that I let him out one morning to step into harm's way.
Damascus, I miss you! You damn cat.
There's no such thing as a free kitten. I spent about $500 neutering vaccinating and dealing with several minor health problems that cats in the wild usually have. But compared to other cats I've had or encountered Damascus was truly special. He would almost always come when called, he loved attention and if my dog Greta or I didn't give him enough he would quickly remind us of our responsibility. Greta for the most part tolerated Damascus but I could tell she kinda liked having a companion in the house while I was gone.
Damascus had no fear of anything and everyone and every animal was a friend. I think that lead to his demise. Last Thursday morning he went outside. When I took Greta out later there was no sign of him which was unusual. I started looking and found him curled up under his favorite bush. He looked OK but didn't get up when I called him to me. I picked him up and as I went up the stairs I found a wound on his right hindquarter. It was pretty obvious he had been attacked and couldn't move his rear legs. He didn't seem too distressed and purred constantly just like he normally would when I engaged him. The vet wouldn't open for an hour so I made him comfortable in Greta's cage. I looked around outside for any animal or evidence of what happened--I looked at my neighbor's Rottweiler a few doors away--he was on his normal chain but I wondered if he'd gotten loose for a while.
Once at the vet's the news was pretty bad. The vet was more worried about his inability to move his hind legs than the wounds. They discovered Damascus had a heart murmur (new news) and thought perhaps something had broken loose and moved into a position where it temporarily paralyzed his back legs and that he was attacked while in that condition. They suggested an xray and further exams so I left him there while they continued to check him out. By now I had a gut feeling this was not going to be a good day.
When I returned the vet confirmed the xray revealed a compressed fracture in his lower back. They could attempt corrective surgery but the prognosois was grim and the cost prohibitive. The vet totally supported my decision to put him down. They asked if I wanted to be present but I have never been able to be there whenever one of my pets have to be put to sleep. I did ask for a chance to say "goodbye".
They brought Damascus into the exam room wrapped in a blanket and left us alone. He was still purring like everything was OK. I hugged him and said "I'm sorry buddy. I wanted to spend the next 10--15 years with you. I let you down by not protecting you. I am so sorry!" I cried, and left him there on the table still purring.
Now almost a week has passed. Many emotions still run through my mind. I rescued him from a certain early grave only to have him caught in some jaw of death 7 months later. I feel blessed that he crossed my path, but guilty that I let him out one morning to step into harm's way.
Damascus, I miss you! You damn cat.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Customer Service
This afternoon I was involved in 2 incidents that remind me how important customer service can be.
In the first incident I was the one providing service; here's how it went. 5 minutes after my office closed the phone rang and I answered it. A mortgage broker needed information updated on our client's insurance. No big deal except this was the 4th time this jerk had asked me for a change which on every prior request I sent to him the same day he requested it. Twice he'd "lost" the fax, once we had to change the effective date, and now we're changing mortgage companies. I processed the change and faxed it in 5 minutes. Then he calls back and asks me to email it since his frigging fax machine isn't working. I did it and finally left the office about 4:45. Now bear in mind this is a transaction that doesn't generate any revenue for my agency, but it's the kind of service we provide routinely. Hopefully he won't call on Monday with another request cause he'll be pretty low on my priority list.
I then stopped at Pier One to look at furniture for my covered patio. Since I'd been there before I went directly to the items I was interested in buying: a wicker chair, some pillows, matching table, and an outdoor lamp. Probably about $300. I spent 15 minutes sitting in various chairs, looking at pillow and lamp combinations. No one said a word to me. Finally I asked an associate a question about whether the lampshade could live on a covered patio. He looked at it, looked the item up, and then told me he wasn't sure. I then asked him about the pillows--I wondered if they had a different color that was an "outside" pillow. Again he was kinda clueless even when I asked if other locations might have colors I was looking for. I even offered to leave him my card so he could research, and he said "well all the stores pretty much have the same things and we get new stuff constantly." Something about that response doesn't make sense. I immediately decided that even though I'm really interested in the items, I ain't about to buy them from him.
I make my living selling insurance. It's an intangible service that most buyers don't enjoy shopping for, think it's too expensive, don't understand how it works if they have a claim, and feel the insurance company is out to shaft them. I've had some people walk over a few dollar's difference in price, and I've had client's stay where my price is much higher. What's the difference: some folks don't appreciate customer service--fortunately many folks do and that's how I survive.
In the first incident I was the one providing service; here's how it went. 5 minutes after my office closed the phone rang and I answered it. A mortgage broker needed information updated on our client's insurance. No big deal except this was the 4th time this jerk had asked me for a change which on every prior request I sent to him the same day he requested it. Twice he'd "lost" the fax, once we had to change the effective date, and now we're changing mortgage companies. I processed the change and faxed it in 5 minutes. Then he calls back and asks me to email it since his frigging fax machine isn't working. I did it and finally left the office about 4:45. Now bear in mind this is a transaction that doesn't generate any revenue for my agency, but it's the kind of service we provide routinely. Hopefully he won't call on Monday with another request cause he'll be pretty low on my priority list.
I then stopped at Pier One to look at furniture for my covered patio. Since I'd been there before I went directly to the items I was interested in buying: a wicker chair, some pillows, matching table, and an outdoor lamp. Probably about $300. I spent 15 minutes sitting in various chairs, looking at pillow and lamp combinations. No one said a word to me. Finally I asked an associate a question about whether the lampshade could live on a covered patio. He looked at it, looked the item up, and then told me he wasn't sure. I then asked him about the pillows--I wondered if they had a different color that was an "outside" pillow. Again he was kinda clueless even when I asked if other locations might have colors I was looking for. I even offered to leave him my card so he could research, and he said "well all the stores pretty much have the same things and we get new stuff constantly." Something about that response doesn't make sense. I immediately decided that even though I'm really interested in the items, I ain't about to buy them from him.
I make my living selling insurance. It's an intangible service that most buyers don't enjoy shopping for, think it's too expensive, don't understand how it works if they have a claim, and feel the insurance company is out to shaft them. I've had some people walk over a few dollar's difference in price, and I've had client's stay where my price is much higher. What's the difference: some folks don't appreciate customer service--fortunately many folks do and that's how I survive.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Peg Seifert
Last weekend I attended a funeral service for my aunt who died New Year's day. As long as you're not the main participant, funerals bring folks together that may not have seen each other for many years. Peg's funeral was certainly that for me. The priest and her daughter Gretchen delivered touching eulogies. Had I been asked to speak it would have gone like this:
"It's been 44 years since I've been here at Our Mother of Sorrows Church. I'm Peg Seifert's nephew Neil Fleming. Back then following the death of my father my mother was unable to care for my brother and I. Peg brought us to Johnstown to live with her family until my mother recovered. So every Sunday whether I wanted to or not I was here for a service.
My brother and I came to Johnstown reluctantly since we really didn't have any other options--at 17 and 15 you usually don't. Peg brought us here and at great personal sacrifice made us a part of her family that summer and fall. It was hard for Peg because money was limited and other family members were not able to help. But Peg with support from her husband Sy provided the support we needed. My own mother died almost 30 years ago, but as long as Peg was alive I felt the presence of a surrogate mother hovering in the background.
I made many friends in Johnstown most of whom I haven't seen since 1963. I see some here today, and you remind me of how Peg did whatever she could to bring family and friends together. She was the matriarch of our family, keeping in touch, reaching out even when we disappeared for a time, and as Gretchen said 'forgive but not forget'.
I know that Peg would look over this weekend and say to herself, 'Thank God I was able to re-unite some of my family and friends one more time'. Right know she's no doubt getting a key from St Peter for that place in heaven reserved for very special souls."
In 2005 I spent several days with my brother and Peg in Johnstown. It was the first time Mark and I had seen Peg together since 1963. I had a sense it might be the last time I'd get a chance to spend time like this with her. When I learned Peg had died going to her service was a journey I knew was inevitable.
With few exceptions I didn't keep in touch with my extended family for many years. A small part of that could have been resentment over what happened after my father's death and my mother's complications. But I think it was mainly indifference on my part. During the last 4 years I've made efforts to reconnect with extended family. Whenever I've been able to reconnect with individual family members it's extremely fulfilling. Sometimes it seems like it's only been a short disconnect even though it's been years. I hope I can re-establish connections with more although it's awful hard when folks get spread out. The promise I've made to myself is to keep up trying. The past few years have shown me it's worth the effort. Peg's funeral was a special weekend for me and others.
My brother Mark also wrote about Peg today on his blog, Unsolicited Opinion.
"It's been 44 years since I've been here at Our Mother of Sorrows Church. I'm Peg Seifert's nephew Neil Fleming. Back then following the death of my father my mother was unable to care for my brother and I. Peg brought us to Johnstown to live with her family until my mother recovered. So every Sunday whether I wanted to or not I was here for a service.
My brother and I came to Johnstown reluctantly since we really didn't have any other options--at 17 and 15 you usually don't. Peg brought us here and at great personal sacrifice made us a part of her family that summer and fall. It was hard for Peg because money was limited and other family members were not able to help. But Peg with support from her husband Sy provided the support we needed. My own mother died almost 30 years ago, but as long as Peg was alive I felt the presence of a surrogate mother hovering in the background.
I made many friends in Johnstown most of whom I haven't seen since 1963. I see some here today, and you remind me of how Peg did whatever she could to bring family and friends together. She was the matriarch of our family, keeping in touch, reaching out even when we disappeared for a time, and as Gretchen said 'forgive but not forget'.
I know that Peg would look over this weekend and say to herself, 'Thank God I was able to re-unite some of my family and friends one more time'. Right know she's no doubt getting a key from St Peter for that place in heaven reserved for very special souls."
In 2005 I spent several days with my brother and Peg in Johnstown. It was the first time Mark and I had seen Peg together since 1963. I had a sense it might be the last time I'd get a chance to spend time like this with her. When I learned Peg had died going to her service was a journey I knew was inevitable.
With few exceptions I didn't keep in touch with my extended family for many years. A small part of that could have been resentment over what happened after my father's death and my mother's complications. But I think it was mainly indifference on my part. During the last 4 years I've made efforts to reconnect with extended family. Whenever I've been able to reconnect with individual family members it's extremely fulfilling. Sometimes it seems like it's only been a short disconnect even though it's been years. I hope I can re-establish connections with more although it's awful hard when folks get spread out. The promise I've made to myself is to keep up trying. The past few years have shown me it's worth the effort. Peg's funeral was a special weekend for me and others.
My brother Mark also wrote about Peg today on his blog, Unsolicited Opinion.
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