Monday morning I turned on my computer, opened my email to find this message: You have no mail. No Appointments. Please enjoy your day. I thought to myself, “I’ve never seen that message before, now what”?

As many know, I retired from full time employment effective June 30, 2014. So as I write, I am less than 30 days into this new adventure….this new exciting time of my life. This is a time of life that many people long for….they plan for it for years. They can’t wait until the day comes when they can say adios, sleep late, start the day with a cross word puzzle and no place to go. No more meetings. No more evening events. No more working weekends. Life is short, don’t waste it all at work. Right?

Truthfully, I don’t know what I’m doing right now. Have I retired? Am I on sabbatical? Is this just a weird dream? I have been working full time or part time for the past fifty-two consecutive years. A year ago Sandy and I decided that this would be my last year of full time employment. She and I wanted more time for to see our children, grandchildren and personal travel. I informed my employer and went back to a busy work life. Then, surprise surprise, a full year had passed, my retirement day arrived and I said goodbye.

As the final days of employment approached, we established our “when Dan retires plan” which covers the first 100 days. The plan includes 70 days of travel. We’ve been to Perdido Key, Florida with the family. It was great. This month, I play golf two days a week. We walk and work out every day. We have dinner with friends. We watched all of the World Cup soccer games and Cardinal baseball games.  We live the life of leisure. So, why do I question this way of life?

This may sound odd to some people but, I enjoyed my work. I consider myself blessed to have had interesting, challenging work opportunities for most of my adult life. I have invested myself greatly of mind and physical energy in setting goals, achieving goals, working long hours…always trying to accomplish something worthwhile. Now, as I suspected, I miss it.

At the same time, honestly, the day to day– no e-mail messages, no appointments, nothing special going on–this lifestyle is pretty enjoyable at the moment. We are planning a 60 day trip by car, boat, air and train that will take us out through North Dakota, to Glacier National Park in Montana, then Alberta, Canada, on to the Cascades in Western Washington, to Mazama in Eastern Washington, to Vancouver BC, from there to an Alaska cruise ending in Anchorage. Shortly thereafter we will get back in the car for the coastal drive down through Oregon and Northern California. After we see the California red woods we’ll head in the direction of Colorado before driving home. We expect to be in Saint Louis by October….just in time to see the Cardinals in another World Series, Missouri University defend their reputation in the SEC, SLU Billiken basketball, and exciting multi-media events in Nine Network’s Public Media Commons.

So, what happens after the trip? What happens in October? Do I go back to Nine Network and contribute in some way? Do I join a consulting firm? Or, a marketing firm? Do I become a self-employed consultant? Should I invest time and money in a start up? Do I decide to retire for good? Maybe we live on the West coast for half of the year? I ponder all of these as possibilities.

Something nags at me and constantly resurfaces in the back of my mind because I know this to be true….“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile” Albert Einstein

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill

So we pray…

Saint Theresa’s Prayer

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
dance, praise and love.
_____________________

“We sanctify all we are grateful for”

– Anthony DeMello SJ

Each morning when I wake, often my first thought is “thank you.” I am grateful for my family, my friends, my opportunities….what comes next?

As 2013 comes to a close I am reflective of the past and quietly looking forward to tomorrow, the beginning of a new year. The past year of reflections include memories of great trips to fun destinations, significant issues affecting family and another interesting year of work at the Nine Network.

WORK STUFF

As for the work, my staff had two significant resignations. In April our foundations director retired and then in December the director of major gifts and planned giving moved on to a new job. Both are nice people. It will be a challenge to replace them and yet all changes of this type offer opportunities to upgrade the positions with new talented people who will bring new ideas and talents to their job.

This will be my last year as the Vice President of Development at Nine Network. I will resign my full time position effective June 2014. I’m going to find something else to do where I can work nine months a year and travel for 12 weeks or so. That should satisfy our desire for travel and my desire to continue doing some useful work of some kind.

My goal before I leave is to help Nine Network achieve our $25 million Igniting the Spirit of Possibility goal. We are at $22 million as we end December. I think we surpass the goal soon.

FAMILY ISSUES

Kerry and Kris packed up family and possessions and left San Francisco returning to their home in Mount Vernon, Washington. Sienna and Sebastian are making the adjustment pretty well. Kris’s contract with Oracle expired in December. He may get another offer to join another Oracle campaign beginning in May or June of 2014. Larry Ellison is deciding if the Oracle will defend the Americas Cup and race again in a few years.

Brent has spent more than a year living in Saint Louis. He had been living in Washington, California, and Colorado for most of the past six years. He has such a special spirit about him. He is a joy to be around.

Kelly and Mark bought a new home in Anacortes, WA. The Guemes Island resort continues to be successful year after year. Rumi and Teo are getting bigger month by month.

Todd and Jessica have had a very interesting year. Jessica changed jobs, while Todd has switched from advertising to consulting. They continue to be amazed at Scarlett and share in the joy of parenthood.

Brian made the biggest surprise announcement. He and his girl friend, Emily, are expecting a child in April. This will be granchild number ten for Sandy and me. We are looking forward to the trip west when they give us the OK to come see the baby. In the meantime, Fisher is looking forward to being a big brother.

Craig and Nicole are still living in the fast lane. Their lives are as busy as ever. Olivia is 15 years old and started driving lessons. Evan is still playing three sports year around. Ella is on a traveling soccer team.

TRAVEL

In April, Sandy and I flew down to Tallahassee. Jim Short picked us up at the airport. We enjoyed a three day weekend with Jim and Debbie. They showed us all the cool places along the forgotten coast of Florida. The trip included Apalachicola, St. George Island, and Carrabelle, a small fishing village where they now live. Jim and Debby are happily retired. They sure know how to treat their guests….good food and good friends.

In May our PBS annual meeting was in Miami. After five days in Miami (working), Sandy I took a few extra days of vacation to Key Largo and Key West. I’ve got a Jimmy Buffet t-shirt to prove that I was there. The margarita’s seemed to taste better on Key West.

In August we traveled to Atlanta for the NETA Conference. Sandy joined me for an extra day with our friends Joe and Pam Krygiel. Joe resigned his CEO position with Catholic Charities and he returned to Delta Airlines as a flight instructor. They are planning to move to South Carolina next year so we will have another great destination to visit. We enjoy their company.

Then, in September, we took my first ever, three-week vacation. We traveled the first week with our good friends, Jim and Eileen Schaller. We flew to Seattle, ate dinner that night near Pikes Market. The next morning we took the Clipper Ferry Boat to Victoria, Canada. After a one night stay at the Empress (and enjoyed High Tea, by the way) we traveled by ferry boat again to Vancouver. After two pleasant days there we were off by train to Mount Vernon WA. Fortunately, Kelly picked us up and provided car transportation to her home in Anacortes, WA. We enjoyed two great days as Mark’s guest at his Guemes Island Resort. Then, we headed for the Snorting Elk Bar at Alpine Inn, Crystal Mountain for a spectacular view of Mount Ranier.  The final day we were back to Seattle for plane departures. We had a great time with too many highlights to mention here. Being with Mark, Kelly, Rumi, Teo, and Brian and Emily on Anacortes and Guemes was fun.

When the Schaller’s headed home, we still had two weeks left for our trip to see Kerry, Kris, Sienna and Sebastian in San Francisco.  What a great time.

We were in San Francisco when the USA Oracle Sailing team was competing with New Zealand for the America’s Cup finals. Kerry’s husband, Kris, works for Oracle. So, we had VIP treatment as guests and family members of the Oracle team. If you follow sailing you know that the United States team had an amazing come from behind victory. At one point they were down 7-1 only to come back to win 9-8. We were there for every victory, and oddly enough ,we never saw them loose a race.

When they lost races we were in Healdsburgh, California visiting our friends, David, Gretchen and Oliver. Or, we were in Yosemite National Park with Kerry and her kids and my nephew Luke Politte and his girl friend Amber and little Leo.

Yosemite was awesome. I love national parks and Yosemite was my second favorite next to Glazier National Park in Montana. All parks remind me of our friends Leo and Mary. Leo passed away in September after a nine month battle with cancer. We know he is in a better place but we miss him.

As I write this it is December and we are on a ten day trip by car. On December 22 we headed south to Nashville, then on to Chattanooga. By the 23rd we were driving through Atlanta and on Christmas eve we  returned to Apalachicola Florida for a two night stay in a haunted, turn-of-the-century hotel called the Gibson Inn.

On Friday, December 27 we show up on Sanibel Island and Captiva with no reservations. This is one of their busiest weekends all year. Traffic jams were all over the island, restaurants were packed, waiting lines for all of the popular places, like Lighthouse Cafe, Grandma Dots, Mucky Ducks. That didn’t stop us. Sandy visits a real estate office for island rentals. They say, “Sorry Charlie” the island is sold-out. Five minutes later, and right across the street,  I notice a small place partial hidden by Palm trees. They had a vacancy. And, even though the Parrot’s Nest looks funky from the outside it turned out to be just what we needed for a two night stay on the Island.

On our trip home we had an over night stay in DeFuniak Springs Florida, lunch at Bay Saint Louis Mississippi, and dinner in Jackson Mississppi with an overnight at one of our favorite places the Cabot Lodge.

So, the year 2013 comes to close. We are prayerful and grateful for our great family that chooses to love each other above all us. We look forward to 2014. It’s going to be the best year ever!

I have always loved the Thanksgiving holiday. In fact of all the holidays, it’s my favorite. For me, Thanksgiving has been a time for family, food, and football. Sometimes we would play American  touch-football but more often than not my family played the other “football.” A game played with a round ball and two goals. Any number of players would do. No weather or excuse could stop the annual Thanksgiving “football” match. At Christmas, the same rules applied for the “Santa Cup.”

As I have gotten older, Thanksgiving now consists of a drive out to Eureka, Missouri, to Kevin and Kimberly’s horse ranch for a fantastic turkey dinner prepared by multiple family members including my sisters, nieces, nephews and  brother-in-law. Everybody brings something and it comes together successfully with more food than anyone can eat or take home in their pockets. There is still time for football. But these days, I watch more than I play; I hope for a good NFL game on television.

This coming Thanksgiving and Christmas to follow will be different this year. Members of the Dunn’s, Robinson’s, Politte’s and the Shasserre’s will celebrate the family holidays without our friend, my brother-in-law, Leo Politte, Jr.

Leo died September 17, 2013. He and his wife Mary have a home in Frontenac, Missouri and a second home in Blue Hill, Maine. The past several years they would spend equal time in both. Though I’m pretty sure Leo enjoyed Maine the best.

He was born in Washington, MO. on November 2, 1940 to Margaret and Leo Sr. So his death comes just short of his seventy-third birthday. Leo loved Thanksgiving too–all of the family gatherings, good food (lots of it) and a glass or two of wine or his favorite bottled beer.

Leo was not a football fan. Nor was he a fan of most any sport played by professionals and watched on television. In fact, his interest in sports watched on television was near “zero.” And his tolerance level for those of us who watched sports on television was less than zero. But, I loved him anyway.

Instead, Leo was all about “doing” not watching. He believed in playing the game just for the fun of it. He only kept score because everyone else did. He loved volleyball, especially beach volleyball. He loved hiking, camping, canoeing and sailing. Just about anything that could be done in a river, lake or ocean Leo had done it or was planning to do it. And if you wanted to head to the mountains or even a small hill somewhere near or far Leo would be the first to say “yes, when do we leave?”

Leo may have been the most generous person that I have ever met. That’s why remembering him fondly in the month that he was born and in the month of the Thanksgiving holiday is so appropriate.

In bible parables, Jesus talks often about the importance of being a good neighbor. Leo was a good neighbor. If you needed help of any kind he was the first to volunteer. The gift of one’s personal time and attention is the greatest gift of all. It was a gift that Leo gave freely and frequently.

Shortly after Leo and I first met, he helped me to find a summer job at State Hospital. I was a Psychology major at Southeast Missouri State College. I needed a job and without asking for help Leo went out and found it for me. He repaired my cars and those of all family and friends at his backyard “shady tree” garage. He helped me move from house to house on many occasion. He was constantly giving me other things, like a canoe for our lake house or a bench table because he thought it would look good facing the lake and the fire pit. His generosity, and Mary’s as well, continued until his death. More about that later in this letter.

Leo was a “neat guy,” as his nephew, David Politte put it in an email message sent to Mary and her three sons, Mark, PJ, and Luke, the day Leo died. The email message read as follows: “Kim and I express our condolences on Leo’s passing. I know that’s what folks customarily say and I’ve said it many times, but when I thought more about it I realized I’m not really sure what ‘condolences’ means. So, I looked it up. According to Webster, ‘condolences’ is an expression of sympathy with another in sorrow or grief.

So, does that word really fit? Certainly, it is sad that Leo will no longer be with us here on earth. But, maybe it is more fitting to give congratulations and to be happy because Mary-you were married to, and you guys were raised by-such a neat guy. You all are very lucky. With three boys of our own, I have always admired the way he (and you too, Mary) raised your three boys.

I have tried to look up to him for inspiration. From my perspective, he always seemed to have the right combination of discipline, leader, counselor, friend, and comedian which caused his boys to grow up in his image and become the good people they are today.

Perhaps, saying we will ‘celebrate’ his life on the 28th (the day of his funeral mass at All Saints) also sounds like a cliché’ but to me it really is more fitting than the cliché of expressing ‘condolences’. Kim and the boys and I look forward to seeing you then.”

I was honored that day, being asked to give the eulogy. From the pulpit I commented to David, who was in the church, that his email message was exactly right. Because Leo’s way of life, his way of doing is to be remembered. His values are to be honored. His love of being with friends and giving back to others is what giving thanks is all about. His grateful nature and loving smile we will all remember.

Leo planned his funeral mass details. He wanted all in attendance to celebrate his life and to comfort his wife. He wanted all to gather as family and friends to share our stories. To smile, to laugh, embrace with gusto just as Leo laughed, smiled and embraced.

I knew Leo for 47 years. My memory of him and the recall of stories are many. But, there is one story that I must tell just because to me it is a priceless memory. Leo Politte had a reputation for traveling the back roads. In fact, often times he would leave the main highway to explore a road less traveled.    

This particular story begins almost twenty years ago when Leo’s oldest son, Mark and Samantha were married. Their wedding was in a small town in the State of Connecticut. Following the wedding Sandy and I joined Mary and Leo for a road trip up to Montreal and Quebec, Canada. Our plan was to drive to Boston, then head up the coast to Rockport MA. Then, we drove up to Merrimack NH to visit an old friend.

The next day we headed off to Quebec via New Hampshire with a path set to cross Maine. We were supposed to be traveling north, then northwest but never south or southeast.

If you have ever traveled by car with Leo you know he had a tendency to get side tracked occasionally or should I say, frequently. Along the way we stopped every two hours or less. We stopped for garage sales, flea markets, interesting road signs, and historical markers. We stopped for breakfast, for lunch; and of course, we had many stops for Mother Nature. We stopped, I kid you not, for every information center in every city along the route.

At some point along the trip Leo decided to get off the highways to drive through small towns. Then, it happened. Leo came across a road he couldn’t resist. The sign read– Logger road (a place where only loggers were supposed to go).

We headed up the logger dirt road surrounded only by trees. In the middle of nowhere Maine we see a marker… Appalachia Trial.

So, what do you do if you are Leo Politte? Or, any Politte for that matter. You get out of the car and you hike the Appalachia Trail. One hour up the mountain trail and MARY says, LEO, it’s time to turn around. One hour we hike back. By the time we load the car and continue our journey the day is turning to dusk. We have nowhere to stay.

We ended our day in Moose River, Maine. Look it up! It’s in the middle of NOWHERE, MAINE. There was one place in Moose River for lodging and one restaurant to buy a meal. Fortunately, we ended the day with a good meal and a clean bed. Leo was lucky that way.

This past January Leo was given the news. His doctor told him that the cancer had spread. He had weeks to live. Weeks, not months……Leo responded to that news by living each day pretty much as he lived each day before the diagnosis. His daily routine was unchanged as long as he had the energy. He spoke with gratitude about his life. He spoke about his blessings, his good fortune. He spoke with pride about his three boys and the great women who had entered their lives. He was grateful for his grandchildren. And, he talked with affection about his life lived with his best friend and loving wife, Mary.

He faced death with a smile, a good sense of humor and a generous amount of time for anyone in his path. Leo’s entire life, it seems to me, has been spent in service to others. His work life before retirement was spent working for the State of Missouri with mentally challenged clients. In his retirement days, he enjoyed his volunteer activities serving the Saint Vincent DePaul Society, working at the Missouri Transportation Train Museum, and then, ironically, working in both Missouri and Maine as a volunteer for Hospice patients.

Leo’s last eight months were spent in a courageous battle against a formidable disease. In the end, cancer was the cause of death. But, cancer didn’t deter the spirit within. Cancer didn’t stop Leo’s generosity. And, it certainly didn’t stop that big smile and loving hug that he gave to each of us in greetings.

Every person who knew Leo Politte will have fond memories that will never pass. We will remember family visits to the farm in Washington MO., Sunday drives to Alton to see the Eagles fly, short trips to site-see or for a hike. We will remember longer trips driving from Washington DC down the east coast all the way to Amelia Island, one day traveling only 100 miles in seven hours, because of all the interesting stops that Leo just couldn’t resist.

We will remember the trip to the Bad Lands in South Dakota, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone in Wyoming, the Grand Canyon in Arizona and Glacier National Park in Montana. We will remember the Dunn family gathering in Blue Hill Maine, the cruise trip and snorkeling in the Cayman Islands and Kelly’s wedding day on Guemes Island. For all of the Politte’s, the Robinson’s, the Dunn’s and the Shasserre’s, we will always remember Perdido Key, Florida because it was there, that we all bonded as family. Again, through the invitation and generosity of Leo and Mary Politte.

The day before Leo’s funeral I came across this quote. “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is.” Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Leo chose the latter. Leo A. Politte Jr. was a great person and a great friend. He was a great husband and a great dad. He set the bar high. He offered himself generously as a way of life not as though the act of giving was an intrusion, but rather an opportunity.

This Thanksgiving holiday, Sandy and I will honor the lessons from Leo’s life by making a donation to Well Spring Journey Project, a 501c3 nonprofit agency established in 2011 by Kelly Sontheimer and Pat Kerber. It was Kelly who came to Leo’s bedside every week to offer comfort-oriented massage therapy for both Leo and Mary. This tender care helped to reduce pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, nausea and fatigue. Mary and Leo looked forward to Kelly’s visit with great appreciation. Kelly offers this service to others facing a cancer diagnosis or other life threatening illnesses. Often times she offers this valued service for “free-no charge.”

If you would like to make a donation you can do so by sending a check to Wellspring Journey Project, in honor of Leo Politte, 3284 Taylor Avenue, Bridgeton, MO 63044. Or, you can go their website at www.wellspringjourneyproject.org

Final thought, another Einstein quote, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” Rest in peace, Leo.