Skip to main content

Keep Smilin' Alex

In this episode – Keep Smilin’ Alex  . . .



Welcome back to this week's On the Fly. The Cenergy Team wants to recognize the dedication, steady hand, and contributions of our Senior Accountant, Alex Shoushtari. As he takes the next step in his life's journey to serve others and fulfill his mission, we want to express gratitude for his hard work, integrity, and commitment.


This special tribute episode features lyrics to the iconic Dion Warwick song "That's What Friends Are For” by Burt Bacharach. Click the link to listen to the original song "That's What Friends Are For" as you read the lyrics.
Music by: Burt Bacharach - Lyrics by: ChatGPT, Kevin Osborne, & Patrick Ball 



Keep Similin' Alex


Verse One


For years, you’ve always led the way,


Shuffling checks and books each day,


I’m so glad I got the chance to say,

                 

With every balance, every call,

                 

You stood tall and gave it all.


And if I should ever go away,


Well, then close your eyes and try.


To feel the way we do today


And then, if you can remember . . . 


Chorus


Keep smilin’, keep shinin’ knowin’ that it’s time to celebrate–for sure.


That’s what friends are for.


Your journey’s been so truly great,


At seventy-nine, it’s your time to shine,


In this time of life, it’s time to unwind.


That’s what friends are for.


Verse Two


You kept our finances all so clear,

               

With every audit, every year,

               

Balancing books with a steady hand,

             

You’re the rock, the steady man.


In good times and bad,


And then, if you can remember . . .


Chorus


Keep smilin’, keep shinin’ knowin’ that it’s time to celebrate–for sure.


That’s what friends are for.


Your journey’s been so truly great,


At seventy-nine, it’s your time to shine,


In this time of life, it’s time to unwind.


That’s what friends are for.


Bridge


From balance sheets to cash flow streams,

                     

You brought to life our biggest dreams,

                   

Now it's time to chase your own,

                       

The world is yours; the seeds are sown.


Verse Three


Your legacy will linger on,

                 

In every ledger that you've drawn,

                 

Here’s to the memories, to laughter and cheer,

               

Thank you, Alex, we hold you dear.


Chorus


Keep smilin’, keep shinin’ knowin’ that it’s time to celebrate–for sure.


That’s what friends are for.


Your journey’s been so truly great,


At seventy-nine, it’s your time to shine,


In this time of life, it’s time to unwind.


That’s what friends are for.


Outro Music


So here’s to Alex, CPA,


May your retirement bring brighter days,


With gratitude, we sing this song,


That’s what friends are for,


For in our hearts, you’ll always belong.


I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. Until next time, Keep smilin’, keep shinin’. 

Labels:

Comments

Don Hanley said…
You and he are real poets as well!
June 29, 2024 at 8:57 AM
Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

Epictetus, Ego, and Acronyms

In this episode, Destroy Communication, One Three-Letter Acronym at a Time This week, I want to explore a deeply relatable, universally feared workplace character: the "know-it-all." Now, I’m not pointing fingers here. If we are being completely honest, we have all played this role. We've all uttered some version of, "Yes, absolutely, that aligns with our strategic objectives," while our internal monologue is screaming, "I don't even know what the objective is, let alone the strategy." What got me thinking about this was a chapter in Ryan Holiday's book, Wisdom Takes Work . Holiday leans on a powerful piece of Stoic truth from the ancient philosopher Epictetus: "It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows." It's a brilliant quote that strikes right at the heart of the human ego. You can't learn what you already know, and you certainly can't learn what you pretend to know to save face. Though to be ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Yellow Legal Pad

In this episode, the Art of Refiring July 1st is staring me in the face, less than two weeks away. For years, retirement seemed like something that happened to other people. Suddenly, it's on my calendar. I've been thinking a lot about the dreaded "R-word" lately. Not because I'm worried about having enough to do. Quite the opposite. What fascinates me is this strange paradox: Why does retirement make so many of us nervous, while having a job—even one that regularly drives us crazy—somehow feels comforting? Let's be honest. Most of us spend years complaining about meetings that should have been emails, reply-all disasters, impossible deadlines, and that one coworker who insists on microwaving leftover fish in the breakroom. Yet when the idea of walking away finally arrives, we hesitate. I think I've figured out why. A career isn't just a job. It's a highly structured coping mechanism. For forty-plus years, somebody else has basically decided what I...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Big Rip and the First Tee

The telescope (Celestron) sits quietly under its cover, temporarily blinded by Southern California's annual meteorological hostage situation – June Gloom. Somewhere above that thick gray ceiling, photons that began their journey before humans appeared are streaming across the cosmos, only to be intercepted by a marine layer that seems to have veto power over astronomy. Instead of observing the universe, I find myself imagining – The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) by physicist Katie Mack. According to modern cosmology, the universe may eventually end in a Big Rip, a Big Crunch, Heat Death, Vacuum Decay, or some other catastrophe that sounds suspiciously like a rejected heavy-metal album title. Astrophysicists spend their careers calmly discussing the possibility that reality itself could suddenly cease to exist because a quantum field had a bad day. It's a remarkable way to start a Saturday morning. One moment you're contemplating the ultimate fate of spacetime...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Places You'll Go . . .

Well, the time has arrived. Yes, July's drawing near, And somehow I've managed to last seven years! I've analyzed forecasts and studied the trends, While spreadsheets multiplied without seeming to end. We've planned for the sunshine, the storms, and the load, while Mother Nature kept changing the code. But through all the numbers, the forecasts, and charts, the best part of Cenergy's always been hearts. The people beside me, year after year, Made even the toughest challenges clear. To the bright, talented folks reading this today, The future is yours now—you're well on your way. And unlike my era, here's the key: You’ll work with AI just as smooth as can be. The reports that took hours may take only minutes. The models you build with intelligence in it. The data will flow faster than ever before, While AI handles tasks that are mostly a bore! But here's my advice as I head out the door: Technology changes, but people matter more. AI can predict, calcula...
Post a Comment
Read more