Fast:Forward Farther

One of our good friends would continually talk with his family about the importance of safety around the home. I never really paid much attention – even though we stayed with them many times over the past 16 years when we returned to Ft. Worth. After all, what can happen in a house if you just keep your eyes open?

Last week, I spent five days observing a training class for one of the world’s five biggest companies. My role was to provide feedback to presenters; however, I learned a lot during these multiple 12-hour days. Each morning began with a participant delivering a Safety Moment… and I heard several tragic stories about what can happen when employees and contractors fail to follow processes and procedures.

Interestingly, a few days before I found myself running up and down our staircase for probably the thousandth time since we moved into our home. I always looked at this as a great form of exercise, so I’ve typically sprinted up and jogged down. However, on that particular morning my foot caught on the top step and I fell to my knees. If it had been a middle step, I might have gotten hurt. I thought, ‘At my age, maybe I shouldn’t do this anymore.’

Then someone shared a story during the sessions about a man who fell down his staircase and broke his leg in several places. He spent nearly a month in the hospital, endured rehab for three years and missed a lot of work. I committed at that moment to never use my staircase as a treadmill again. Incidentally, this company’s rule is to hold the handrail anytime there are more than two steps. I must say that’s something I had never heard before. I’m in.

A terrific quote from Franklin P. Jones recently crossed my path: “Always tell the truth. You may make a hole-in-one when you’re alone on the golf course someday.” As someone who enjoys hitting the links by myself late on summer evenings, I appreciate that perspective. Of course, a bigger personal challenge might be counting that missed two-foot tap-in no one saw.

Trust is something that’s hard to earn – taking years to build – and easy to lose. There was a joke (perhaps inappropriate for younger audiences) that went something like: “I’ve raised four wonderful kids, built three successful companies and given away two million dollars, but one time I get busted with a hooker and…”

There is something interesting about human beings placing themselves in situations that could disrupt a lifetime of goodwill. We taught our children to always behave as if there is a camera on your shoulder… or that whatever you do could be on the front page of tomorrow’s New York Times. That’s true even more so today when everyone around them has a camera and the instant ability to tweet a negative headline. Hopefully, they listened.

The answer isn’t to lock yourself in a room to avoid difficult situations. It’s to think twice – or four times – before playing with fire and believing you’re not going to be burned. As my mother use to say: “Nothing good ever happens after midnight.” So throw some cold water over your ego… and live to play again another day.

Interestingly, I’d never heard of Mr. Franklin P. Jones, so I googled and discovered he may be the only quotable personality I’ve ever come across who doesn’t have a Wikipedia entry. He may have been a Philadelphia reporter born in the first decade of the 20th century or a businessman born in 1887. Someone should properly identify this man who is attributed with such great quotes as:

“Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.”

“The trouble with being punctual is that nobody’s there to appreciate it.”

“Honest criticism is hard to take, especially from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.”

“It’s a strange world of language in which skating on thin ice can get you into hot water.”

“Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.”

“All women should know how to take care of children. Most of them will have a husband some day.”

“Scratch a dog and you’ll have a permanent job.”

Two of our family’s all-time favorite TV series are ending in the next week. Before the two eldest left for college we watched them together. While we tune in separately now, texts fly fast between us after each episode.

When Kathy and I were newlyweds, we turned on the television one Sunday evening and caught the premiere of “Twin Peaks” on ABC. We were immediately drawn to the quirky David Lynch drama, which became one of the highest rated shows of 1990. It gained a cult following before going up in flames in season two – leaving a wake of disappointed fans.

When I traveled for sports television, college football and basketball games were on Saturdays. After going to dinner with our announcers the night before, I would call home. On September 10, 1993, I flipped on the TV in some long forgotten hotel room, dialed Kathy a few minutes later and realized we were both watching a new show on Fox. Thus we created a tradition of spending Friday nights together – even when apart – as fanatics of “The X Files.”

Our last favorite show to bow out was “Monk,” a dramatic comedy starring Tony Shalhoub as the obsessive-compulsive detective. Like many series that overstay their welcome, the penultimate season was disappointing. However, the writers pulled things together and the ending was perfect.

So it is with mixed emotions that we count the hours until the finales tonight of “Psych” and “How I Met Your Mother” Monday. Sean and Gus delivered many laughs the past eight years, as we searched for hidden pineapples – and sang along with one of TV’s best theme songs. While we would never condone his antics, Neal Patrick Harris’ “Barney Stinson” will be listed among the Greatest TV Characters whenever they take a poll the next 50 years. We’ll miss Ted, Marshall, Lily and Robin… and the nine-season unveiling of the Girl with the Yellow Umbrella.

Thanks for the memories everyone. You were good friends.