I knew something was brewing when I saw her hovering around the barista.
It all started off as a sidetrip to pick up a coffee while I had some free time in the middle of my day. I thought I'd pop in, grab a java, relax a few minutes, read for a few minutes, then get back into the groove of my day.
But little did I know that I was about to come face to face with a life lesson - or perhaps I should say, a little life reminder.
The commercial will go something like this ...
8 reams of 20# white paper | $38.88 |
5 HP94 black printer cartridges | $97.40 |
1 HP95 color printer cartridge | $27.05 |
Time to write the book | 6 months |
Time to edit and tweak the book | 1 month |
Number of words | 48,447 |
Number of characters | 286,965 |
The moment when you see the first edition of your first book in print | Priceless |
I don't think words would suffice for the look on my face and the joy in my heart when I opened the package. At 6:25 pm, it was real - finally - my first book in print, right there before my eyes!
I can't say that it has really sunk in just yet. Part of that is because of the sheer mental effort required to simply get it out the door. Let's face it - I'm pooped from it all. Six months of writing wasn't a big deal, in all honesty. The writing part was truly enjoyable - challenging, but enjoyable. It was the month of editing that took it's toll!
Twenty years ago this month, I graduated with a degree in physical therapy. Now, twenty years later, I have seen the birth of my first book. I guess that after at least 25,000 patient visits, I could muster up at least 48,447 words. Those are some crazy numbers - in hindsight.
The next chapter ... has already started writing itself ...
Priceless, it is!
It's been forty years now ... forty years ago today. April 4, 1968 - the day the earth stood still - the day that Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
To many, it's simply a milestone of our historical era. Time passes, history is made, important people die, events happen - repeat ad infinitum.
But perhaps that's what makes this so worrisome to me, so sad, so heart-wrenching - because to many, it IS simply "another day in history", another day left to the annals of the history books, for children and their children to read about years and years from now.
It was only a matter of time before the issues of gender and race made their way squarely into this political campaign. As we approach the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination, it's high time to pause and consider one of the biggest issues that plagues this country today.
If you do but one thing today ... please take the time to watch (or read) Barack Obama's speech from Philadelphia today. We owe it to ourselves, our country, and our future ...
You can find the transcript here - Transcript of Obama's Speech in Philadelphia 3/18/2008
I promised myself I wouldn't make my next post in a political vein, but thanks to the Democratic Party (or certain members thereof), I had to do so.
Why?
I think this is truly cause for concern - for a nation.
I am sure by now you've heard Geraldine Ferraro's comments in the press. If not, hold on tight because here they are ...
Today is a big day in Texas. It's election day - and with any luck, the picture of our impending national election in November will be a little clearer.
In the midst of all of this, and after discussions with many (because "talking politics" starts to feel like "talking Longhorns football"), I found myself wondering about the potentialities that are ahead of us. So before the events of today play themselves out completely, I thought I'd throw out a few thoughts in no certain order ...
Let's take a look at our contestants.
I've got to start off with a comment by the Clinton campaign this past week - about how Barack Obama doesn't have the "experience" necessary to be president (and, of course, following that up with "... and Hillary does").
It's that time again - time to choose a Democrat and Republican to go head-to-head for the Presidency of the United States. As Super Tuesday just passed, some things have become a little more focused - and others haven't.
Growing up in Canada, we learned a lot about US history. In Canada, we actually realize that there is a neighbor to the south and that it's only neighborly to learn about them, hence our studying of the US political system. Living within a mile of the US, I got my fair share of US television and US politics.
Fascinating stuff, when you're observing from afar!
Now, I am within it all ... and have been for years. It's still so very fascinating, but for so many different reasons.
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Dip.MDT has a unique voice in the world of sports, education, and health care. Read more about Allan here.