The almost full moon broke through the nighttime clouds as I made my way to the airport before the sun woke up. Last year, I became a “Platinum level” flyer meaning that I fly a lot. Several years ago I hit “Silver” status and then “Gold” and last year hit the big time.
It comes in handy sometimes. Once I was stuck in Pittsburgh and was told there was no way that I could get on another plane until the lady saw that I am a “Platinum Flyer” and then she quickly said, “Of course you can.” I also get bumped to first class a lot which gets you spoiled.
Last year this time the Chairman of my Board who chooses to remain anonymous questioned all of my travel. So I told Jerry Rainey, “It is part of the job. Almost all of it is paid for by the people who invite me to come. I learn all kinds of things from these visits and apply them to our work because other people are doing certain things better than we are. And besides, we have contacts across the nation that can come in handy doing fund raising.”
I don’t think that he ever believed me.
Today I’m off to Ft. Lauderdale because I am a member of A National Advisory Committee for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. We’ve read about thirty grants and will lock ourselves in a room for a few days to determine who gets slices of a $5 Million pie.
This marks my sixth year doing this and I’ve everything there is to know about grant writing (and I was already pretty good), the common themes of successful applications and the newest solutions to complicated issues. It’s been a great experience!
Afterwards I’ll hook up with friends and at some point this weekend run into Conner. We were last together in St. Martin and made mischief together as we do. Before that we were in New Orleans where mischief was made too but neither one of us remember what actually happened.
There is a sign that my friend Jenny has in Fannies-On-the-Beach. “Travel is fatal to prejudice and bigotry.”
I think that this is true.
And I’ve been lucky enough to have most of my prejudices and bigot beliefs be blown to pieces. It makes you more open to new things and people who you normally wouldn’t pick to be your friends. But you do.
For years I begged my kids to move to Europe for year after High School then go to College or to work. This was Dad talking of course so they didn’t listen. Oh Jeremy went later and fell in love with it. Kristen hasn’t made it yet but will.
And then my baby girl Chelsea decided to go. She flies out tomorrow for a few weeks in London before spending five months in Italy. I couldn’t be prouder. She will study art while she is there but will return a changed person. It makes me happy.
I hugged her goodbye last night because I’m flying out today. We will Skype and Face Book because the world is more connected electronically than it’s ever been. Maybe one day it will be as connected in other ways. And I’m already making plans to go see her.
So Godspeed my baby! Enjoy the hell out of it! I’m proud of you!
