A Case for Walking Barefoot

Food for thought on the final day of an April that has felt at least three times longer than its appointed duration…

-AK 

Heart before Head

A nickel's worth of wisdom for April's final Friday, courtesy of the always insightful Charles Bukowski...

He may never have been mistaken for the bluebird of happiness but he certainly spoke the truth.  

-AK 

A Prayer for One Who Mattered

 

May it be of some comfort and some solace to the family of FF Timothy Klein of Ladder Company 170 of the FDNY as they, those who he loved, and those he loved most of all gather today and tomorrow to bid him farewell to know just how completely and unfailingly he did what matters.  

It was Sunday, April 24 that FF Klein - a member of Ladder 170 but working in Engine Company 257 on what proved to be the final tour of his life - died in the line of duty while fighting a 3-alarm fire in Brooklyn.  Just thirty-one years young, FF Klein, the son of a retired FDNY firefighter, left behind his father, his mother, and his three sisters.  

May his strength give them strength.  

-AK 

A Forward-Moving Exercise

As true today as it was when first written or uttered aloud…

 

Unless you are Sherman and Professor Peabody, there is no WABAC Machine.   For the rest of us, there is merely memory.   It shall have to be enough.   

-AK 

Brotherly Love

The engine of the sextet of Kenny siblings celebrates a birthday today.  I do not pretend to know what Bill has on tap (although I have my fingers crossed that Sigrid has lined him up at least one pony ride) but I hope that however he spends it, he has one hellaciously fine day.  He deserves nothing less. 

Happy Birthday, Bill.  Thank you for everything.  Every bit of it. 

-AK 

Twenty-Five Words or Less

Food for thought for April’s final Monday.   I presume that each of us experiences a day on which getting up and joining the fight is a struggle.   I know that I do.  

“It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive.”  No, no it is not.  

-AK

Rise and Shine

 Paulo Coelho speaking words of wisdom on a Sunday morning...

-AK 

Good for the Sole

Apparently, you can go home again...

...at least for thirty minutes or so.  

The Missus and I shall spend a bit of time near the old homestead this morning while Yours truly runs in the Lake Como Spring Break 5K.  Once upon a beach house ago, I could run a 5K that ended at Bar A, retire to the outside bar for a Bloody Mary or four, and then walk home.  Not any longer.   

Hopefully, while we are in town this morning we shall see our old neighbors, Dom and Matthew.  Rumor has it that Dom might be lacing up his running shoes to join this old man for a leisurely jaunt around Lake Como.  

Pretty damn fine way to spend a Saturday morning. 

-AK 

The Wisdom of Whitman

Apparently, The Who got it right.   No one knows what it is like…

-AK

Wakened by the Alarm Bell’s Ring

Food for thought on April’s penultimate Thursday…

 

Be careful out there.

-AK

King Henry

Twenty-year-old Henry Richard did not break the tape when he completed the Boston Marathon on Monday afternoon at 2:52 p.m.  Nevertheless, his Marathon Monday was nothing short of extraordinary for it not too very far from the spot where Henry crossed the finish line in the 2022 Marathon where Henry's little brother, Martin Richard, was killed by terrorists' bombs at the 2013 Marathon.  Martin Richard was eight years old.  

The cowardice that killed Martin Richard nine years ago also injured Henry Richard's younger sister, Jane, who lost a leg.   On Monday afternoon, Henry Richard completed his first-ever Boston Marathon in 4:02:20.  As he crossed the finish line, he was consumed by his family, whose embrace of him is among the best images you shall see today - or any day for that matter. 

-AK 

 

A Written List of Things We Dare Not Speak?

A morsel or ten of thought for a mid-April Tuesday…

Even though they are unspoken, apparently writing them down is perfectly fine.  Maybe Rule 11 should be, “Appreciate irony.”  

-AK

Kicking the Tires

In five-and-one-half decades plus on this planet, I have never had a mantra.   That said, I have been kicking the tires on this one the past couple of days since I first stumbled across it somewhere on Al Gore’s legacy creation…

Concise, direct, and easily understood - or perhaps better said, easily capable of explanation.   

The understanding part?  Well, that depends on you.  

-AK

Mother, still your tears

If Easter is a day of importance to you and yours, then may it be a happy one.   

The Contact Sport of Life

About this, there cannot be any debate

But as my late, great Irish mother used to say, “It beats the alternative.”  No matter how trying the circumstances and no matter how dark the night, never lose sight of that fact.  Dawn is always less than a day away.  

Win today.  Play again tomorrow.  

-AK

Once and Forever

Today is an unofficial work day.  My office is closed, as are courts here in New Jersey, and a slew of other offices and businesses of all ilks.   Apparently, if happiness is a Friday off, then today is indeed a Good Friday.   

In order to help guarantee that today is indeed a Good Friday for my wife, I shall spend it at the office.   Thanks to the good efforts of my two adversaries, this afternoon’s docket includes a deposition.   

At some point, however, either this evening or tomorrow morning, the Missus and I shall head to our little paradise by the Sea.  I hope it is this evening so that I can wake up tomorrow for the first time with the ocean “right over there”.   

Make your Friday a good one.  However and wherever you spend it.   

-AK

In the Spirit of the Season

With Easter and Passover both upon us, today seemed to be as appropriate a day as any to remind one and all that what each of us practices is more important than what any of us preaches…

Can I get an “Amen”?

-AK

Made in the Shade

It is not an exaggeration to say that my first-born grandchild helped save my life.  Or at the very least, she helped give it purpose.  In the slightly-less-than five years since Maggie was born, four more grandchildren have followed in her footsteps.  Each has been an elixir.  I love each of them more than I can adequately express.

Of all the things that makes each member of my quintet extraordinary, perhaps the most extraordinary is their making me understand how much bigger life is than I am.   It is an important lesson.  

It is one that I am grateful they have begun teaching me.  

-AK 

 

The Socratic Method

I woke up this morning feeling a lot better about myself than I have in years.   According to old Socrates, I am apparently much wiser than I had ever realized…

In these United States these days, that Socratic self-awareness appears to be harder to find than a $3.00 gallon of gas.  Here is to hoping that both reappear sooner rather than later.  

-AK

Marking Time

When it comes to all things food, the late Anthony Bourdain forgot more than I shall ever learn.  

Thus he is a far better source of wisdom on this Monday than I could ever hope to be.  

He was right, of course.   Life is a combination platter of the beautiful and the painful.   Sort of like ordering from Column A and from Column B, I reckon.  

-AK

Is Eight Enough?

As many of you know, or at least the nine or the eleven of you who actually purchased Pop Pop Rules,  a wise man has opined that there are in fact thirteen indispensable rules by which to live one's life.  However, in the spirit of the season, and the whole "...and on the seventh day" vibe, these seven will serve you well.

Actually, an 8th Rule would complete the set quite nicely:

          8.  Read as many books as you can.

               Emil Faber was right.  Knowledge is good...

...and when you are looking for something to read, might I suggest this masterpiece.    

Enjoy your Sunday.

-AK 

Be Incredible

Get up.  Get after it.  Rinse and Repeat.  Life according to the Shampoo Principle.

This is not a dress rehearsal after all.   If you are not actively pursuing your best life then ask yourself this question:   For what is it, exactly, you are waiting?

-AK

From the Mouth of Babe

From whom is it better to take advice on Opening Day?

Play Ball! 

-AK

No Retreat. No Surrender.

Today was supposed to be Opening Day at Yankee Stadium.  Alas, poor Yorick, it is not to be.  Mother Nature 1.  New York Yankees 0.   Better luck tomorrow, Bronx Bombers. 

As for the rest of us, today has not been called on account of rain.  Truth is, it never is... 

...even at those times when we wish it could be.   

-AK 

Can You Build It?

Thus endeth the lecture.  

-AK

Cue Up the John Sebastian

Food for thought for April’s first Tuesday…

…as we welcome back one of the most extraordinary leaders I have ever known and with whom I have ever had the pleasure and privilege to work.   

-AK

A View of the World

Wise man he is, Mr.  Washington…

-AK

For One Who Passed Boldly

Mom died fifty-eight months ago.  As I was perusing the interweb the other day, I came across something that immediately reminded me of her.

As I read it, I found myself sitting quietly and simply smiling.  Then again, I always smile when I think of Mom...

...even when I am crying.  Love you Mom.  

-AK

 

A Perfect Day

Whether you are up early intending to get the worm or sleeping in for as long as you can, today is a perfect day... 

Be careful out there. 

-AK 

A Matter of Heart

It is known to those who know me that while I have never - and shall never - refer to Suzanne and Rob as anything other than my children, neither of them carries the burden of my DNA.  

Margaret was married once before she and I married.  Suzanne and Rob were (I think) six and five, respectively, when Margaret and I started dating and eight and seven, respectively when we married close to thirty years ago.  

Having raised them both (well having driven the car, done my part to ensure the mortgage was paid and the lights remained on, and otherwise stayed the hell out of the way) since they were that young, I have never thought of them as anything other than my kids.  Why would I?  Hell, how could I?  

Today is Rob’s birthday.   My son is an extraordinary man.  Truthfully he is a significantly better man than I am or could ever aspire to be.   May his birthday be all that he deserves.  

And may everyday thereafter be nothing less.  

Happy Birthday, Rob.  Much love.  

-AK