“I’m on my way
Well I’m on my way
Home Sweet Home
Tonight Tonight
I’m on my way
I’m on my way
Home Sweet Home”
Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home” hit the charts in 1985. The lead singer of Linkin Park, Chester Bennington, teamed up with Crue after Hurricane Katrina and produced a touching video around this song. Carrie Underwood has a recent version out there as well. I’m sure this song has been performed by many more artists, but tonight -- tonight -- it's me singing "Home Sweet Home."
I was born and raised in Massachusetts. In 1985 I moved two hours north to Southern New Hampshire where I would spend the next 15 years. It was in NH where I met my wife Lynn during her visit to NH to visit mutual friends. At the time Lynn lived and worked on the Gulf Coast. Soon thereafter Lynn would move to NH, and about one year later I asked her to marry me at an adorable Bed & Breakfast in Boothbay Harbor, Maine called the Greenleaf Inn.
Since moving away from New England almost 10 years ago we have lived in Ohio, Arizona, Maryland, and Indiana. Some of these areas we truly enjoyed living in, some were just okay, and one city we couldn't get away from fast enough.
Our first stop was Ohio as it was here where my job would take me. Northwest Ohio wasn’t wonderful for my family, but it wasn’t terribly horrible either. Ohio is where I put my dog Casey down which was an awfully difficult and emotional decision; but a decision that would place me on the path to leave corporate and enter animal-welfare as a career.
Ohio also brought us Simba. We adopted Sim from a local rescue group after seeing him online and hearing his story from his foster Mom Barb. Today Sim & I are best buds and our entire family loves him dearly.
Outside of New England, I don't believe I have ever seen a more beautiful park than "Wildwood Preserves" in Toledo. Being only a few hours west of Cleveland and an hour or so south of Detroit, catching a game when our beloved Boston Red Sox came to the area was always a treat. Lynn also got tickets to the Toledo Mud Hens from her boss, and if you have ever gone to a AAA ballgame you know that these games are good (and cheap) entertainment. Plus it's nice to watch professional athletes before their egos get out of control, and before they produce a ridiculous hour-long TV show announcing who their next employer will be.
Ohio also brought us Simba. We adopted Sim from a local rescue group after seeing him online and hearing his story from his foster Mom Barb. Today Sim & I are best buds and our entire family loves him dearly.
Outside of New England, I don't believe I have ever seen a more beautiful park than "Wildwood Preserves" in Toledo. Being only a few hours west of Cleveland and an hour or so south of Detroit, catching a game when our beloved Boston Red Sox came to the area was always a treat. Lynn also got tickets to the Toledo Mud Hens from her boss, and if you have ever gone to a AAA ballgame you know that these games are good (and cheap) entertainment. Plus it's nice to watch professional athletes before their egos get out of control, and before they produce a ridiculous hour-long TV show announcing who their next employer will be.
Holly, Kevin and Erin were wonderful neighbors in Ohio, and another neighbor, “Nails,” was a retired police officer that kept us on our toes. Ivy, our Basset Hound, loved this man, and Nails didn't take to kindly to me catching him talking 'baby talk' to Ivy. There was no question why this tough guy was called “Nails.” Our neighborhood, though void of a single mature tree, had a healthy, but respectable, competition on who had the best front lawn. Nails, Bob, and myself seemed to share the title each week, while my buddy Kevin could have cared less.
Arizona is where my animal-sheltering career would begin but I won't discuss that career today. There were several things we loved about our three years living in Glendale, Arizona. The states natural beauty, the rather comfortable Glendale winters,, the hiking in Sedona, watching the Patriots beat the Cardinals, so much more; but the highpoint for us might be the folks from Arizona Basset Hound Rescue.
I became very close with these people, as AZBHR was a rescue partner that could be at my shelter, not in days, not in hours, but in minutes if I needed their help getting an animal out of my shelter (alive). They were wonderful to me as a Shelter Manager, warm to everyone in my family, and so very good for the entire community.
AZBHR's special events, that Lynn & I loved to be a part of throughout the year were simply so much fun to attend. I still remember an event that had 100 Basset's running free in a very spacious Scottsdale field (backyard). I miss the folks from AZBHR to this very day, especially Monique, and sadly, FaceBook updates just don’t cut it, but they help. Fantastic people for sure.
Adopting Briley, Ellie-Mae, Daphne and Nicholas from my shelter in Phoenix was a great time for us, and maybe better for them considering who their Mom is and what she does for them. We had one Basset when we got to town (Ivy), and left AZ with four more; and of course Simba our lab.
I became very close with these people, as AZBHR was a rescue partner that could be at my shelter, not in days, not in hours, but in minutes if I needed their help getting an animal out of my shelter (alive). They were wonderful to me as a Shelter Manager, warm to everyone in my family, and so very good for the entire community.
AZBHR's special events, that Lynn & I loved to be a part of throughout the year were simply so much fun to attend. I still remember an event that had 100 Basset's running free in a very spacious Scottsdale field (backyard). I miss the folks from AZBHR to this very day, especially Monique, and sadly, FaceBook updates just don’t cut it, but they help. Fantastic people for sure.
Adopting Briley, Ellie-Mae, Daphne and Nicholas from my shelter in Phoenix was a great time for us, and maybe better for them considering who their Mom is and what she does for them. We had one Basset when we got to town (Ivy), and left AZ with four more; and of course Simba our lab.
Animal welfare. Where taking work home is a good thing.
Just as I remember the gorgeous Arizona winters, I will never forget the summers. Local radio had bet's on what day in May would hit 100 degrees first. And please: 110 temps day after day is nasty weather to live in, so "...but it's a dry heat" doesn’t work for me. I would take a New England winter over a Phoenix summer any day of the week, though Lynn may argue that one.
If it was 110 degrees outside, the pool water wasn't much cooler. I love doing yard work but in the summer months yard work needed to be done by 9:30am, so fun turned into a chore. The only practical time to walk the dogs during the hot summer months in AZ was long after the sun went down and the sky was dark.
If it was 110 degrees outside, the pool water wasn't much cooler. I love doing yard work but in the summer months yard work needed to be done by 9:30am, so fun turned into a chore. The only practical time to walk the dogs during the hot summer months in AZ was long after the sun went down and the sky was dark.
We never decorated our house in Glendale during the holiday's. Growing up in New England, it’s not really Christmas unless it's cold outside and snow is on the ground. I don’t believe we unpacked our holiday decorations once when living in AZ. Seeing holiday lights on homes and decorated palm trees when folks were walking around in shorts did little to put us in the holiday spirit either. Don't get me wrong, Arizona is a great state to live in, but there is a reason why folks head north in the summer.
Our nice neighbors in Maryland, Judy & John Q, are retired folks that we miss dearly and who were very good friends of ours (and our dogs). We will never forget the first time we met Judy and what she was doing in her backyard with a snake. We lived in a small rancher that was surrounded by trees that backed up to a small creek. This means that “Critter Watching” in our backyard was an Olympic sport for our dogs, and maybe more so for the agile squirrels who always got the best of the dogs.
Maryland walking trails were beautifully sculpted to say the least. Some nights deer stood 30 feet from the trail never moving once as the dogs passed right by them. The people we met on Maryland trails were also very nice; unlike one city where mustering up a simple "smile" on a trail seemed to be a struggle.
A visit to Camden Yards (Baltimore) to see the Red Sox take on the Orioles was great fun since the park in Baltimore is considered Fenway South (at least in Boston). In other words, when the Sox visit Baltimore you would think the Sox were playing in Fenway Park, not Baltimore. I felt sorry for Oriole fans when Red Sox nation came to their town in droves.
No, not really, it was rather fun.
A visit to Camden Yards (Baltimore) to see the Red Sox take on the Orioles was great fun since the park in Baltimore is considered Fenway South (at least in Boston). In other words, when the Sox visit Baltimore you would think the Sox were playing in Fenway Park, not Baltimore. I felt sorry for Oriole fans when Red Sox nation came to their town in droves.
No, not really, it was rather fun.
Half of Boston is Flying Southwest
to Head to Fenway South This Weekend
to Head to Fenway South This Weekend
I could write a TV mini-series speaking to the negativity, political dysfunction, lack of personal accountability, and the inconsiderate, selfish, "it's all about me" way of life that rules Indianapolis, but I’ll pass. There is little we will miss about Indianapolis, or even remotely liked enough to share in this post, but there is a "small handful" of people I will miss. They know who they are, and I hope that the these folks continue to treat "all" animals as the individuals that they are, with flexibility, and with the utmost respect. Anything less is a bad compromise...
This leads me to one man, only one person, who through the good and the bad times in Indy stood right by my side (and Lynn’s) and never, not once, wavered on his support; never forgot that I was unemployed and things were not easy for me or for Lynn; and truly exemplified the meaning of what it means to be a loyal and faithful friend to the very end.
Our very good friend Mike.
Mike with his best friend ever, Island Boy (lab) and Island's buddy Nubis in Tennessee.
Mike was my Board Treasurer who I met shortly after coming to Indianapolis. This man left the politics at the door when so many others allowed the politicking of Indianapolis to dictate their life-style. Mike remained focused on the homeless animals 100% of the time and never compromised his core values. He supported me in so many ways as the ACC Administrator but he really excelled in that support once I was fired, especially when so many others simply (and conveniently) walked away. But Mikes support started almost on the day we met each other.
After we couldn’t find what we were looking for in a new home, Mike told me about his second house that he was thinking of selling. That house was far more than what we were looking for for the dogs (1.5 acres), much more than what Lynn had expected to live in after what she saw (or didn't see) over two days looking with a realtor, and thanks to Mike’s generosity, this house was also 'well within our price range.' We would buy Mikes home and become very close friends of his.
Mike would call me on a regular basis and invite us over to his house for dinner, offer to take us to his favorite Mexican restaurant, or take us to his country club for a nice night out with fine food, fine wine, and finer conversation. Mike knew money was tight for my family after I was fired, and he always seemed to be there when we needed support the most. Being in a new town with no friends or family is always hard, so Mike made sure we felt welcome with him our entire time in Indy.
After we couldn’t find what we were looking for in a new home, Mike told me about his second house that he was thinking of selling. That house was far more than what we were looking for for the dogs (1.5 acres), much more than what Lynn had expected to live in after what she saw (or didn't see) over two days looking with a realtor, and thanks to Mike’s generosity, this house was also 'well within our price range.' We would buy Mikes home and become very close friends of his.
Mike would call me on a regular basis and invite us over to his house for dinner, offer to take us to his favorite Mexican restaurant, or take us to his country club for a nice night out with fine food, fine wine, and finer conversation. Mike knew money was tight for my family after I was fired, and he always seemed to be there when we needed support the most. Being in a new town with no friends or family is always hard, so Mike made sure we felt welcome with him our entire time in Indy.
One day Mike called to see how we were doing and during that call I shared how the finances were tight being out of work. Mike happily offered to give us a short-term loan to get us through. I was floored that he would think of such a thing having only met us a few months earlier. We respectfully declined his offer, but what a kind and thoughtful gesture. A sincere gesture that we may never forget.
When needed a minor home repair Mike sent someone over to fix it for us. When the repairman was leaving I asked what I owed him. His reply? “Oh no, you are Mr. Mike’s friend. Nothing” Last winter a few storms ripped through the area and our roof took a beating. Mike suggested I call “his guy.” Thanks to Mike, a new roof was put on our house and it didn’t cost us a single penny. Goodness, Mike even left behind his riding lawn mower when he sold us his home! What a great guy!
When the New England Patriots came to Indianapolis, Mike "gave" us two tickets to the game; his season tickets no less! As Lynn & I made our way up the Lucas Oil stadium stairs that night, each of us wearing a Patriots jersey, it was clear that the folks who sit next to Mike all year long were not happy as we got closer to them. We hadn't even sat down and the looks and sneers had started. This is to be expected from a city full of people who decide what their day-to-day attitude will be like based on the results of Sundays football game. Not Mike.
When the New England Patriots came to Indianapolis, Mike "gave" us two tickets to the game; his season tickets no less! As Lynn & I made our way up the Lucas Oil stadium stairs that night, each of us wearing a Patriots jersey, it was clear that the folks who sit next to Mike all year long were not happy as we got closer to them. We hadn't even sat down and the looks and sneers had started. This is to be expected from a city full of people who decide what their day-to-day attitude will be like based on the results of Sundays football game. Not Mike.
Although Mike significantly helped me in my job search, I knew in Mike’s heart of hearts that he didn’t want us to leave Indy. A good example was during a recent job interview. Mike made the offer to “fly out” to the city (on his dime), and speak to the full Board on my behalf. In this day and age, who offers to do such a thoughtful thing? For the record Lynn ‘never’ really wanted to come to Indianapolis, so to get her to stay in this city after people showed their true colors (especially to Lynn) would never have happened. Ever.
Sorry Michael.
Sorry Michael.
Mike was also one of my job references and he followed up a recent reference call with a thoughtful email to the employer promoting me even more. Mike even attached a letter of reference to this email that Mike had written about me. When I was asked back for a second interview, Mike invited us over to his house the night before the interview. Mike asked me a few times that night to call him and let him know how the second interview went.
Upon returning home two days later, my cell phone rang; it was Mike. “How did the interview go? Did you get the job?” My plate was so full that I had forgotten to call my good friend Mike. Not surprisingly, Mike didn't forget me. No he never forgot me or my family one time, and just maybe, just maybe, Mike considered what happened to me in Indy his problem to help me with, rather than say, "Oh well. Best of luck to you Doug."
Mike also invited us over to his 'family get togethers.' You see, Mike considers us a part of his family, and we consider Mike a part of ours. Lynn loves this man with all her heart, and she is easily brought to tears when she talks about how she will miss him. There is only "one" other thing about Indy that can bring Lynn to tears, just one. Tears of joy when Lynn sees Indianapolis in her rearview mirror as she waves goodbye forever.
Mike also invited us over to his 'family get togethers.' You see, Mike considers us a part of his family, and we consider Mike a part of ours. Lynn loves this man with all her heart, and she is easily brought to tears when she talks about how she will miss him. There is only "one" other thing about Indy that can bring Lynn to tears, just one. Tears of joy when Lynn sees Indianapolis in her rearview mirror as she waves goodbye forever.
In a city where integrity is harder to find than a snowflake in Phoenix, Mike puts the 'I' in Integrity and the 'F' in Friendship. "IF" everyone had a fraction of Mike's honorable integrity, and a small taste of his gracious friendship, imagine what a wonderful place the world would be.
So when the score was 19-3 in the bottom of the ninth, and when most folks rooting for a big win before the game started had long left the ballpark to support another team (or themselves), Mike supported his team to the very end of the game. Right to the very last out had been recorded. Mike simply couldn't turn his back on his team until he had done all that he could. Now that's a true fan....
OK. As you have seen, we spent time in many different states. Some we lived in. Others we worked in. Still others we visited for a day or two. Maybe for an end of the year conference, travel for my job, educational seminars, a job interview, vacation, or a family get-together. Whatever the reason, it's rather nice to visit a new area for the very first time. That feeling can be startling to the inner soul as one can be encompassed with a sense of joy and newness, or it can be downright unsettling to your soul due to the negative energies that abound in the area.
In June I interviewed for a job in New England where I spent the vast majority of my life. I drove from Indy to New England for the first interview and planned time with family back east around this trip. A few days after the initial interview I was asked back for a second; an invitation that I gladly accepted!
Once back in New England for the second interview, I found myself with three hours to burn before I needed to be at the airport to catch my return flight home. After speaking with a lovely local in the hotel lobby, and after meeting with a few other nice folks that morning, I jumped in my rental car, got on the historic (and beautiful) Route 1A, and casually headed toward the airport via the scenic coast line.
Once back in New England for the second interview, I found myself with three hours to burn before I needed to be at the airport to catch my return flight home. After speaking with a lovely local in the hotel lobby, and after meeting with a few other nice folks that morning, I jumped in my rental car, got on the historic (and beautiful) Route 1A, and casually headed toward the airport via the scenic coast line.
As I passed shop after shop, beach after beach, New England(y) restaurant after restaurant, and some stunning views, I stopped now and then to take in the natural beauty of the area. The smell of the ocean air, the sound of sea gulls, the tranquility of waves breaking against the shore, just to name a few. There was much more to take in, so much to enjoy, so much to see, and regrettably, not enough time to do it all in. It wasn’t until I was driving through a small town that majestically gave way to a gorgeous view that I stopped and got out of my car.
As the waves crashed below my legs which now hung over the wall that I was sitting on...
...I realized that though this was New England, it was a part of New England that I had never visited before, but today, it wasn't like past visits to a new part of the country. I never felt this way before. Not even close. Not in Ohio. Not in Arizona. Not in Maryland. Not in Indianapolis. Not anywhere in this country and not anywhere we have visited overseas. Today was different.
...I realized that though this was New England, it was a part of New England that I had never visited before, but today, it wasn't like past visits to a new part of the country. I never felt this way before. Not even close. Not in Ohio. Not in Arizona. Not in Maryland. Not in Indianapolis. Not anywhere in this country and not anywhere we have visited overseas. Today was different.
I was so relaxed. So very comfortable. So not a tourist 'passing through town.' I was at peace with everything around me. The familiarity with my surroundings was astonishing as I had never been there before. I felt like I had sat on that wall every Saturday since I was a young boy. Being so keenly in-tune that day I probably could have described the woman’s perfume sitting on the wall 20 yards to my left. Not once that day did I say, "I hope I get the job!" No, I knew deep in my soul that I had the job well before I received the call today saying it was a go. Every single thing about that trip, no matter how small or how big, seemed so right to the very soul.
As I sat overlooking the ocean, I thought about my Mother being less than 2 hours away. My sister 2 hours to the north. My niece 40 minutes away who I simply adore and who misses her Uncle 'D.' Aunt's, Uncle's, nephews, cousins, old friends, and countless memories are sprinkled throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island; all but a very short drive from where I was sitting.
To top it all off, the Ocean that Lynn loves so much, and that was high on her list to be near again one day, is now a Pedro Martinez long-toss from where I just interviewed. Sure, I might have been in a brand new area as I contemplated all of this on that wall by the ocean, but in my head, in my heart, in my soul -- I was home again, and no-one could have told me differently.
So as I prayed, prayed some more, and prayed even more -- I kept faith that one day, when the time was right, I would return home to New England with Lynn right by my side. That day is today, and the time has never felt more right for my heart to cry out, "I'm on my way. Just set me free. Home Sweet Home."
To top it all off, the Ocean that Lynn loves so much, and that was high on her list to be near again one day, is now a Pedro Martinez long-toss from where I just interviewed. Sure, I might have been in a brand new area as I contemplated all of this on that wall by the ocean, but in my head, in my heart, in my soul -- I was home again, and no-one could have told me differently.
So as I prayed, prayed some more, and prayed even more -- I kept faith that one day, when the time was right, I would return home to New England with Lynn right by my side. That day is today, and the time has never felt more right for my heart to cry out, "I'm on my way. Just set me free. Home Sweet Home."
"You have given him his hearts desire, and not withheld the request from his lips" ~ Psalm 21:2
