So I'm having one of those days where it just seems impossible to get in a groove. The day started off wonderfully with me getting two - not just one - but two parking tickets for parking in front of my home. This actually makes the trifecta when you include the one I got while doing the responsible thing and returning a library book. Yes, I put money in the meter for a 15 minute stint at the library, returned my book, realized I needed to take care of a minor personal matter and the guy must have been waiting for my meter to turn red. I couldn't have been in there any longer than 16.4 minutes. But there it was $45 ticket. I won't post how much today's gems were. Suffice to say that since I'm now parking in front of my house instead of my driveway, and that's why I was ticketed - since it's rarely an issue, forgot that there's opposite side Monday - it added a nice little chunk to the overall renovation cost. I keep trying to look at the bright side of these? Some help please? OK, yes, no points...I'm still healthy? Sure. Why not? For my Seinfeld crazed friends of course this brings up two wonderful episodes.....
The Library Cop. Truly a favorite. Easy one here Dave (Krell if you're reading this) - what's the name of the Library Cop? What does Kramer make the analogy to (that's like a guy who sells ice cream with the name ___________?
And of course there's several episodes involving parked (and parking cars) What famous actor/director decides his days of filming in New York due to the aggravation George causes due to his inability to park cars? And who is substituting for? That gentleman notes that parking cars is as easy as what? It has to do with dressing...
Anyway, it's been a fun and pleasantly exhausting summer. We have a great group of teens that are running both in the AM and PM as well as Saturdays. So I've been getting plenty of running by hanging with both groups; so that's seven runs a week there plus my own training. Last week, was able to hit 55 miles. I've come to realize that I have to use the off days as cross train days or I may be unable to walk by the end of this summer. And that would just be no fun.
On an unrelated note, had a wonderful time this past Thursday. While not something that comes up a ton, I spent two fun filled (perhaps too fun filled) years at University of Maryland as a member of Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity. While I ended up transferring (that's worthy of a blog itself) to Temple University in my hometown (Philly) I always loved that school and that time of my life. Through the joy of facebook I ended up reconnecting with a whole bunch of my old friends/brothers at a steak dinner they had been having for a few years. Since then, have reconnected with several and now are in touch.
While that dinner has been in MD, one of the brothers here in the tri-state thought it would be fun to have one that was a bit more for the locals. What a great idea..While I fit a bit old having to say that I went there in 83 and 84 (think Reagan, Pink Shirts, or just everything from Rock of Ages), it was great to see some folks I had been to school with and a whole host of brothers I had never met. Yet, I realized that despite the fact that we were there, we seemed to have shared lots of similar experiences. Very cool.
What I also realized looking back is how much that time shaped me. No soapbox or over sophistication intended here. Several brothers mentioned the fact that the fraternity had a lot to do with "the men they became" and I'm guessing - intentionally or not - same here. Thinking of my work in the nonprofit world - and not to pat my own back - our fraternity's motto was about chivalry and service to others. While I my comments after today's tickets probably weren't too high on the chivalry scale, I do hope that we do at Teens Run Yonkers is providing a valuable service to the community. I also realize how strongly that sense of service was demonstrated by several members in the house who did important volunteer work.
One of the other things that really stood out was the value in respecting and honoring others differences. It was funny looking back on how many of us came from different backgrounds as well as likes and even dislikes. Yet, somehow we were able to come together around common ideals. With a daughter in her senior year in college and spending lots of time with high school teens due to my work, I fear that this thought process isn't demonstrated. Too often I'm told of prejudices around the simplest differences and the rifts that result. It's sad. We were in school at a time when we didn't worry about that stuff - if you were in the same house as me, that was good enough. We're friends. That simple...Nowadays, not always
Anyway, too often fraternities (and I imagine sororities) get this bad rap for not promoting any good - or at the worst end of the spectrum being a paid friendship network. Hey, I still would have done this if we had facebook and linkedin back then. To tell you how long ago I pledged, the payphone in the hallway was one of the primary means of communication! But seriously, there are lots of good things to be learned by being a member of the greek system. And sometimes you don't even figure that out until 25 years later!
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