SGM Sam’s Alabama Memorial Service

Command Sergeant Major (U.S. Army, retired) Chester A. Potter — Sam — will be honored in Huntsville Alabama with a Memorial Service on Friday, October 8, 2021. Sam passed away while in in-home hospice care at his residence in Kaneohe Hawaii on August 25, 2021 soon after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The … Read more

4, 8, 15, 16, 23, & 42

I never missed an episode of LOST. If you were a fan like me, you instantly recognized that sequence of numbers that played a pivotal role in the plot. If you never watched the show, the survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island. Sound … Read more

persona non grata

In a little less than 24 hours, I will become persona non grata in every restaurant on Oahu. Not just me, but 44% of the population of the City and County of Honolulu — some 447,264 people — will be unwelcome in all restaurants, bars, and gyms on this island, because that is the number … Read more

paper vs screen

I posted this on Facebook the other day and got a surprising amount of interaction:“Among my many odd quirks: an affinity for blank journals. I am a digital tool guy who prefers paper & ink for to-do lists, tracking projects, and making meeting/contact notes. On my “I wish they would…” list? PAGE NUMBERS on all … Read more

desire paths

The phenomenon seems to have begun on university campuses. Planners and designers were frustrated to see that despite their carefully laid pattern of campus sidewalks connecting buildings, the students invariably walked across the lawns and made more direct paths — called desire paths — all over the campus. A few schools, taking note of this, … Read more

I want to be a model

I am not much to look at. Pudgy, slightly balding, less-than-great teeth; I am pretty self-aware. And yet, despite all of that, I want to be a model. By “model” I mean an example. I want to be a model, an example, of what a healthy leadership transition should be. I have seen plenty of … Read more

Do you recall?

It has happened so often I have almost begun to think it’s normal. A politician talks a great game, makes me believe he agrees with me on at least a few non-negotiable issues, and gets my vote. Flash forward a few months, and (s)he disappoints me again by taking some stance that is so boneheaded … Read more

Old dog, new tricks

My father was one of those old-school dads from the greatest generation. He knew how to do stuff. Lots of stuff. He repaired his own vehicles and built his own house. He was a bit of an autodidact. With only an eighth-grade formal education, but he was the smartest man I have known. He was … Read more

Looking forward

Men of a certain age have a tendency to live in the past, rest on their laurels, and talk about the glory days of the past. Not me. The best is yet to come. Regrets? I have a few. (Great song lyric) If I could go back half a century or so and do some … Read more

Alone again, naturally

1972: I was in Vietnam when I first heard a very melodic song called Alone again, naturally. Despite the nice melody, it was actually a depressing song about suicide. This blog is not about suicide; I am just riffing off of the title and final line of the song… Alone again, naturally. Someone asked me … Read more