For one day, I was the ice cream man.
Years ago, I drove a big white van, covered in colorful stickers and blasting circus music. Our church wanted to bring a little joy to the community by handing out free frozen treats. My job? Secure the truck.
So I called a delivery company, asked if we could borrow a vehicle, and they simply said, “Sure, come pick it up.” No insurance check, no ID, nothing. Different times back then.
That night, I ran an extension cord from my garage to keep the freezer humming as it sat in my driveway. It was so weird. The next morning, I rolled through neighborhoods and apartment complexes like a rock star, kids and adults pouring into the streets.
When told there was no charge for the sweets, they stared in disbelief. Oh, the looks on their faces.
Tonight, I scored more free goodies. A local shop, Bruster’s, had a promo: wear pajamas, get a cone. So we piled in the car and went for it. Chocolate chip cookie dough for me.
There’s just something about free ice cream… and this time, there was no circus music.
27 years ago, on this day, I cried.
It was 2 p.m., and they were happy tears. I rarely cry — and especially not in front of a couple hundred people. But that afternoon, I did.
As Jess walked down the aisle, everything else faded. Just her, just us, just the moment. And, well… I lost it.
This morning, she sent me a note: Love you and will always be walking towards you.
Uh-oh. My eyes are sweating again.
There’s something about this day.
3-7-98.
I’ve always loved tech.
I remember the first time I played Pong on an Atari. Mind-blowing. Suddenly, I had games in my bedroom. No more stuffing my pockets with quarters for the arcade.
A lot has changed since then. Just today, I spent hours in a virtual conference exploring AI’s best business applications.
Which got me thinking about my technology journey. Here’s what shaped me, in order:
Viewfinder (as a kid, this was cutting-edge)
Atari
Apple IIe
Walkman
CD boombox
Internet
DVDs
TiVo
iPod
Smartphone
Artificial Intelligence
And now, the robots are here. So, what’s next... Holograms? Time portals? Star Trek transporters?
If the machines do take over, I’m ready with my Atari Space Invaders skills.
My city got slammed with a powerful storm today. Howling winds, pounding rain.
Then, with a crack, a massive tree crashed into the yard. A heart-stopping moment. Miraculously, it missed the house by inches and landed right beside our windows.
That’s three trees down in four years. And somehow, each one has fallen to the side, sparing our home.
Another close call.
And if you read yesterday’s blog… well, let’s just say it’s been that kind of week.
Tonight, we received the news that a family member was injured in an accident.
It was serious. Just a few inches, a split second, and it could have been much worse.
There’s something about close calls that jolt me out of taking each day for granted. I’m reminded of the fragility of life. How things can flip upside down in a heartbeat. And how so much of what I worry about is trivial.
In these moments, I’m thankful for the steady strength of loved ones. How we come together and carry each other when the world feels heavy, when the hours grow dark.
Maybe close calls are life’s way of whispering, Cherish The Now.