On The Fly

In this episode,  Beyond the Post-it Notes: Finding the Anam Cara . . .  Last week, when I arrived at Dr. Don’s home to help him with computer issues and our biweekly lunch, I found myself reflecting on the wide range of topics we always discuss. We connect as if we’ve been friends for years, even though he’s 92 and I’m 68. It’s funny—during our conversations, age seems to disappear. As we reviewed his list of computer questions on his Post-it notes, he surprised me by handing me a book. "Here, I want you to have this book," he said, his expression resembling that of someone offering something precious or secret. Later that day, I found myself engrossed in its pages. The book is "Anam Cara" by John O'Donohue. For weeks, I had noticed it on his desk and felt curious, yet I had no idea what I would discover inside. Right from the very first chapter, "The Mystery of Friendship," this book beautifully captures a feeling I experienced in that moment with Dr...

He was never on Facebook, not Twitter or LinkedIn yet he was one of the most connected people I knew. He loved life, treated people with the utmost respect, an avid reader, a true educator, and a wise man who knew how to make everyone feel special. Every birthday, which he always remembered, his special gift to me was books, printed books, not electronic, subjects designed to broaden my understanding. He would send me articles on business, technology, sports, and politics. He always encouraged me to grow, to learn new things, to write, to always be me. “Never compromise your Midwest values, never stop being Patrick.” Always smiling and laughing we met for lunch when he was in town. It was always at 11:20 a.m., he wanted to beat the crowds. That hour together we always laughed, never about gossip, never at the expense of another, a deep hearty satisfying laugh, the kind that when you part you’re smiling inside. After lunch he would  insist on driving back along the Carlsbad coast....