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

The Birth of a Cubs Legend

In this episode, The 162-Game Exhale — and the Birth of a Cubs Legend There’s a hush in the baseball world on Game 162 — a collective breath drawn in and slowly released. Scoreboards stop flipping. Dugouts empty. For six months, the game has been our steady heartbeat, pulsing from the cherry blossoms of Tokyo in March to the crisp, playoff-charged winds of late September. And now, as the regular season exhales, baseball fans everywhere pause to absorb the story we’ve just lived. For me, that story has been deeply personal. This season unfolded in the rhythms of my daily life. It was the summer soundtrack echoing beneath the constant turmoil of politics and sensational headlines. It was a handful of carefully chosen ballpark pilgrimages stitched together with countless nights in front of MLB.TV. And at the center of it all, for a lifelong Cubs fan like me, it revolved around one name — a young center fielder who turned hope into history: Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 2025 season didn’t begin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Paris – the End of Silence

✈️  In this special episode: Paris – the End of Silence Sometimes, connection arrives in the most unexpected form—not through grand gestures, but through a quiet voice carried by technology. In a Paris apartment, I finally understood my family’s words . . . and felt my mother’s presence in every sentence. Since I was a little boy, France has been both a beautiful and frustrating paradox in my life. Every six to nine years, my mother, Mauricette, would take my brothers and me back to La Rochelle to visit our French family. The moment we arrived, the air would fill with a sound I loved but couldn’t share in—the rapid-fire, musical rhythm of French. My aunts, uncles, and cousins would warmly sweep me into hugs and kisses, their words flowing like a lovely melody I couldn’t quite catch. I’d smile brightly, trying to communicate with my eyes and hands. But as soon as we stepped off the plane, my mother and her sister-in-law, Joséan, started talking animatedly. They were gone, chatting h...
2 comments
Read more

Pushing the Pause Button

In this episode, Pushing the Pause Button: Stepping Off the Treadmill Hello, friends — If you're reading this, I'm already off the grid. Today begins a much-needed vacation, and for the next few weeks, On the Fly is taking a break right along with me. For a long time, my inner voice has said, 'Keep every commitment, no matter what.' That's meant early mornings, long days, and a calendar packed with posts, podcasts, and projects I couldn't seem to say no to. I've been trying to be the tireless workhorse—but that kind of grind doesn't end well. Lately, I've noticed I'm not quite myself—shorter fuse, louder sighs, and a few too many grumbles (Lori deserves a medal). That's when you know it's time to hit pause before the spark burns out. So, I'm stepping back to rest, recharge, and remember what it feels like to not live by the next deadline: no tech, no to-do lists, just some space to breathe. Thank you, truly, for all your support and ...
2 comments
Read more

The Friday Morning Pause

In this episode,  The Friday Morning Pause: When My Brother’s Bookshelf Called Me to Stillness We live in a world allergic to stillness. Our mornings begin mid-sprint—thumbs scrolling before our eyes even open. The impulse to jump into the digital chaos is immediate. But sometimes, stillness finds you . It was early Friday morning. We’d arrived late the night before, stepping into the cool air before the day turned hot. Half-awake, I reached for my phone—emails, headlines, social feeds waiting like a morning buffet of distraction. We were in Cuba. No Wi-Fi. No 5G. No password. Just stillness, disguised as inconvenience. Instead, I caught sight of something unexpected: a small stack of books on my brother’s TV shelf. My brother and his wife are powered by perpetual motion. They are the definition of overscheduled and overstimulated. Yet there it was: Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday, quietly mocking my scrolling habit. The irony was perfect. I put my phone down—a small, delibe...
Post a Comment
Read more