A WORK IN PROGRESS

Despite my accumulation of years on this planet I recognize I am still a work in progress.

My re-reading of some of my past blogs - specifically the one on the subject of Nirvana - would seem to confirm friend Harry's comments about his reflection on some of the things I have written.

Not having the exact quote, I'll paraphrase Harry, "Generally, I like your blogs but after reading some of them I wonder if I missed something."

You're absolutely right, my friend. Sometimes my passion for a particular topic, coupled with my questionable classic writing skills, will permit a lack of cohesion in my attempt to win the race to blog publication. (probably a good example, huh?)

Maybe better yet: "sometimes I do a lousy job in communicating."

As brother Tom once commented (again paraphrased) "You have found your voice and your passion." (now, I need to find an editor)

In all truthfullness, brother Jim wrote a much more cohesive blog - on the subject of baseball. That was before some censoring from the Pirates (PBC) in refusing to grant him access to sources he had previously quoted and locations that provided a better view as to what was going on.

A sizeable blog audience was greatly disappointed when he stopped.

My hope is that in the future, youngest brother Tom will similarly acquire the temerity of his older siblings and write his own blog.

My tongue in cheek observation is that even if he limited his musings to only the subject of familial dysfunction, he might well be looking at a Pulitizer.

The point is that we're all different - with different passions - and it ebbs and flows from family to family, or sibling to sibling.

People's interests vary greatly. I still have not adopted any passion for watching cars run around in a circle while the fans appear to eagerly anticipate a wreck.

It's not always easy to get a Southern bartender to switch over to golf - even when the patrons don't appear to be watching the screen.

Our differences are only partially based upon birth order and birthplace. It's also the teachings we learned from observing our parents, and the whole philosophy of "You are what you are - based on where you were then".

They vary from region to region and generation to generation.

This last point was never made clearer than in a workshop called "Paradigms" for which I was the instructor/moderator. My audience was young management folks - who were there through conscription, as I recall.

"Paradigms" -was a course with a film and an outline, but,it allowed both you, as the discussion leader, and your audience, as participants, to put down the pencils and just go at it.

It was the freedom to "step outside the box" (an overused term - but, in it's infancy then), forget corporate thinkspeak and explore "what if".

I would make up my own questions and invite the group members to do the same. One of my favorite had to do with what our company would look like 10- 20 years hence. They were omnificent in their replies.

The lead topics contained in the film included Japanese products that no longer required the "Made In Japan" warning stamp on the back of the item being considered for purchase.

It also delved into why the Swiss were no longer the worlds leading watch makers. The world of change was explored in many many ways in the film.

Clearly, this course was "no longer your father's Oldsmobile'.

To understand change and not always see it as negative was a theme repeated in several of the workshops I was privileged to lead. The company encouraged this belief. It is one of the reasons it continues to be a leader of the industry.

Positive change is also something I still embrace and it causes me to shudder when I receive all the "remember when" e-mails.

Very few of them show pictures of an occupied iron lung.

Like it or not, my blogs will continue to reflect my passions, my criticisms, my many diatribes against political corruption, ill gained fortunes, dishonesty/spinning or political correctness, as well as my Pirates and the NFL.

Not sure if this passion is a reflection of my place in the family birth order as much as it is an example that "Olde Bar" remains hopeful- but wary.

It is a hope that the morals of the society I am observing today will not necessarily be predictive as to the future of ethics.

It is also my hope (and I'm sure that of my brothers) that the "future" of our progeny and their issue will see an improvement of ethical behavior, and a return to basics when warranted.

In many ways, it is for these folks I do much of my blogging.

Despite the fact they may well deservedly conclude: "Pap was a real kook", I hope they may give my ramblings a second chance some day and find out that really, like them, "Pap was just a work in progress."

My thanks to my readers.