Tag: commentary

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My morning 10 years ago

Unlike most the world, I wasn’t impacted by the events of 9/11/2001 immediately upon hearing and seeing the events taking place in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. A few days prior, I received a call from my mom that my father was in dire health after suffering a stroke. I withdrew from seminary in Kentucky and on the night of 9/10/2001, I loaded my family into the car and we headed for Florida not knowing when or if I would return to school. We drove through the night arriving around 4 am in Lakeland, FL.

We awoke a few hours later to see the horrible scenes of the Twin Towers unfolding on TV. My mind, however, was on racing to hospital to see my father. We arrived to find him completely paralyzed on the left side and unable to do much as he was left handed. His mind was sharp, but his body wasn’t cooperating. I watched with him on the hospital TV as the towers fell and I had to explain to him it wasn’t a movie. My brother was across the country unable to come because of flights everywhere being grounded. I spent the next couple days at the hospital helping dad to eat and trying to get him transferred to an agressive stroke rehabilitation facility. The doctor was concerned about blood on his brain and recommended surgery to relieve the pressure, but offered no hope the paralysis would end. Dad agreed and underwent surgery as we and our church family in Kentucky prayed. Miraculously, dad began moving his left arm in the recovery room and would walk out of the hospital on his own power a few days later.

That horrible day will always remind me of my father as my emotions were so wrapped up in caring for him at the hospital. I didn’t feel the impact of the tragedy that befell our nation until months later when watching a TV special about what took place. Today, as I listen to names being read, I remember my father who left us on 9/17/2009 and the loss of so many that fateful day when horrible men with horrible thoughts took so many from their families. Time does heal wounds, but scars remind us of pain once incurred. Tears fill my eyes and the memory of that morning will always endure in my mind. Condolences to all who lost loved ones that day or in the military service as a result of their commitment to protect our land from men of evil intent.

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Off on his great adventure…with another to follow.

Yesterday afternoon, we dropped our son Jesse off at his school to join his classmates, history teacher and a number of parents on a two week trip across Europe. They will be visiting Rome, Paris, Normandy and London during their time overseas. It was the culmination of 6 months of asking for help from family and friends, selling off his childhood (his words), and doing odd jobs. We told him he would have to raise the money himself if he was to go. It was a test of his faith and the Lord came through for him. It is a wonderful experience for him and it will broaden his worldview.

Though I joke about when he moves out, I found myself pondering what lay ahead for us. He will be graduating in a few more months and has plans to begin a 4 month internship in Los Angeles. Jesse and I sat outside the church building Sunday afternoon while Renee attended a meeting and joked and laughed together. The realization is setting in that the boy we raised is soon to be off on another adventure, life. Our time with him in our home is dwindling despite Renee’s wish that he stay until he is older. I left home two weeks after graduating high school and returned 5 months later for a year before leaving home for good at 19. Renee married me at 18 while she was still in high school and moved out.

Now it seems, we will have an empty nest as Jesse spreads his wings and embraces his destiny. It is an accomplishment that we are glad he has achieved, but also one that is bittersweet. We are now entering the post-parenting part of our lives. We will always be there for him, but he won’t need us as much or be around our home as frequently. As he graduates high school, we graduate as well. There will be grandkids at some point, but we aren’t in a hurry for them to arrive. Enjoy your great adventure son, we are so very proud of you and will await what lay ahead on your journey and ours.

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2011 – A year to be thankful for

On the first day of 2011, I felt impressed to express my thankfulness each day via Twitter. I am going to say what I am thankful for each and every day of this coming year. In this life, I have so much I take for granted and so much to be thankful for that goes unexpressed. I think I could stand to be more thankful so I intend to do just that. 2011 – a year to be thankful! If you want to read each of these tweets, follow me at www.twitter.com/Hairy_Baldman.

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The benefit of a friend

Over the past two weekends, we have been very fortunate to spend time with our two longest and best friends. We traveled to San Diego to celebrate the promotion and graduation of my best friend Jim Ritch on May 23rd. Jim has attained the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer(E-9) and finished his Masters degree. I have known him since Drivers Ed class back at Barstow High School in 1982. We struck up a friendship that saw me enter the Army while he married and had two beautiful daughters. Years later, I would be out of the Army as he began his Navy career. Through it all, our friendship has remained close. He lost his mother and this past year I lost my father. We have watched our children grow and now he is a grandfather. I am so very grateful that we have remained close.

This past weekend, we received a surprise call from Renee’s best friend, Michelle Daley. Like Jim and I, they have been friends since high school. We spent Saturday hanging out in Palm Springs together. After they graduated high school, we followed Michelle to Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas, TX. While we were youth pastors, she came and spoke to our youth group. She later spent Thanksgiving with us in Tulsa, OK at a trying time in her life. We attended her graduation from Dallas Baptist while we were visiting from Kentucky. We also flew out to spend some time with her and break in her Chocolate Fountain. Mmmmmm!

The greatest benefit of each of these individuals in our lives is the constant knowing that they are there for you. Proverbs 18:24 states: “A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” Thanks for sticking by us over the years Jim and Michelle. Many have come and gone, but you have remained faithful. We are both so very glad to call you friend.

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When people leave your life…

Maybe you have had someone that passed away or someone walked out with no explanation. Someone you consider a friend stops returning your calls. In some cases, you are prepared due to an ongoing illness or maybe friction in your relationship. No matter what the reason be it known or unknown, you are left wondering what to do from that point on. You have an obvious choice to be bitter, angry or depressed, but that is not the best choice. Does getting angry at someone solve anything? In fact, it only hurts you as they go about their life without a second thought. Bitterness as well only hurts you. Along with depression, each of these things affect you and those who have chosen to remain in your life.

I choose to think of good things, of happy memories and experiences shared that cannot be taken away. I refuse to let them be tainted by current circumstances. Do I wish things were better? Of course, but I am not in control of them. When my father passed away without saying that final “I love you,” I remember all the times he said it over my lifetime. When my childhood friend refused to return calls, I remember the fun we had growing up and appreciate the memories. When my sibling decided he no longer wants to talk to me, I remember the fun and adventures that helped make me who I am. When I open my heart to someone and they close the door on their side, I refuse to slam mine in anger, bitterness or depression. I would rather show too much love than not enough. Lord, help me to love as you loved, expecting nothing in return.

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Weekend Update

Friday night, Jesse drove us to dinner and then went to a movie night at his youth group while Renee and I went grocery shopping. Saturday was a wet and dreary day spent switching between coverage of the mudslides in LA and the blizzard in DC where my brother is working. When I went to check the mail during a break in the rain, the street was like driving on a freshly frosted cake. Our yard was a series of 1-2 inch puddles. That evening we watched a DVD before calling it a night.

Sunday began quietly with clear blue skies. After reading the paper and little of a Star Wars novel, I decided to check the fluids in Jesse’s truck and run it a little. I discovered that it was leaking antifreeze and we were off to Autozone to obtain a replacement for the leaking part. We were able to fix that without much trouble and then I resumed reading the novel until the Super Bowl began. I thought the ads this year were not so good, but was pleased that the Saints won. I didn’t like when Drew Brees left San Diego, but was glad to see him and the long-suffering Saints and city of New Orleans get their celebration. We finished the evening watching Undercover Boss which was ok, but won’t last long.

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January update….We are still here

So a new year has come and with it some new things and some of the same. Jesse is now the personal chauffeur for the Zeliff family as he has to get more practice driving. Anytime we go somewhere, he drives and is getting more confident with each trip. He still manages to scare either Renee and I, but he is getting better. We did nothing special for New Year’s Eve and celebrated at the house when the clock struck midnight. This involved drinking some sparkling grape juice and then off to bed. The next day we watched the Rose parade and then took all the Christmas decorations down and packed them away for the rest of the year.

This past weekend, I watched the NFL playoffs and once again saw my beloved Chargers crash and burn. Same result as every other time they have entered the playoffs. I am angry and bitter now about how it ended, but come the fall I will have renewed hope that they might finally secure a championship. It is strange how one can get so wrapped up in the efforts of grown men that you don’t know simply because they wear the jersey of your favorite team.

Thankfully, my faith rests in one who eternally won. He defeated death and hell and will reign for all eternity. And the cool part of that is He did so once and for all. My sports teams may fail and let me down, but the Creator of Heaven and Earth is always faithful and victorious. I hope everyone reading this is doing well and that you know His love for you is so great that He stretched out His arms and died for you.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8

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Pomp and Circumstance – 25 years later

Twenty-five years ago, the Barstow High School Class of 1984 marched across the stage to receive their high school diplomas and launch out into life. We were full of dreams and hopes not knowing what lie ahead, but ready to leave BHS behind. I remember thinking how, like almost every student, I looked forward to leaving the campus behind and enjoying what I would do with my life. I wrote in my senior plans, “I plan to stick around Barstow for a year and then go down to San Diego State.” I was going to study Broadcast Journalism and become a television news reporter. Things didn’t exactly work out that way.

Two weeks after graduation, I was on a Greyhound bus bound for San Jose, CA. My best friend was living in a transient hotel and had a job lined up for me. I went to work for Bentz Tool in Campbell, CA as a Grinder’s apprentice. I was laid off after two weeks and eventually landed a job at a plating company in Santa Clara, CA doing shipping/receiving. I eventually moved back home to live rent free and worked mowing lawns/trimming trees around Barstow. I got tired of that, visited the recruiter and signed up for the Army to get out of Barstow.

I would eventually be stationed in Alaska where I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Reassigned to a post in Texas, I left the Army and married my wife. Our journey took us to Bible school in Dallas, youth pastors outside Ft. Worth, back to school in Tulsa, on to more school in Kentucky, before returning back to California.

I never figured, 25 years after graduation, I would be working back in Barstow and living in the desert again. I am not complaining as I have a great job and actually enjoy being in the desert. The town I desperately wanted to leave at graduation is now the place I provide for my family. I go to restaurants I loved growing up and see people I have known since grade school. I enjoy the smell of rain and work helping people understand the desert. Who knows what the next 25 years will bring? I have enjoyed the last 25 and trust the Lord to direct my steps in the next 25.

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Back from NAB Expo

Three years ago, I went to the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Expo with some co-workers at the school where I was teaching Flash and Web Design to Middle/High School students. They had an entire area of the Expo dedicated to Multimedia/Web and I was amazed by what I saw. I returned this year expecting to see something similar. I was a bit disappointed as the show had a much narrower focus. Last time I went, I felt a part because of the web/multimedia portion, but this time I felt more like an onlooker than a participant. The emphasis on the move to 3D was evident from the moment we walked in. Sony had an area dedicated to their 3D TV displays. It was pretty amazing to see a 3D image on a wall mounted TV. Panasonic also had an HD 3D theater for which you had to line up just to get tickets for a later showing. One of the highlights of the day was being able to sit in the Content Theater and see what Pixar was doing with 3D. Two of their leads in the 3D department discussed their approach to 3D and shared some of their early trials from Ratatouille and Cars. They also showed us extended scenes from the upcoming summer realease Up. It was cool stuff and certainly amazing to see. I enjoyed their approach to 3D as a story telling element instead of just a novelty to make things emerge from the screen. It was also evident that the economic downturn has had an effect on trade show shwag as well. There were more candy dishes and pens being dispensed than last time I attended. Even Microsoft was just handing out pens. I am glad we went, but I think I will stick to trade shows that are more to my area like Photoshop World and of course the geekfest that is Comic-Con.

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Cherish the moments!

Yesterday, I attended a memorial service for classmate/teammate Larry O’Donnell. He was all of 17 days older than me and left this life far too early. His daughter spoke of him taking time to sit and talk with her through the night shortly before his passing. How many times are we too focused on goals and objectives that we lose sight of what is important? We each are given so many breaths and while providing for your family is important, don’t lose sight of the family that is there supporting you. Take time to love on them and listen to them. Make the most of the moments you are given. As I heard a preacher say once, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” In other words, don’t let the affairs and challenges of life overtake time with family and friends. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Nobody ever wishes they had one more day to work at the end of their days. We all have to work, but we can’t let it blot out the loved ones along for the ride.