This week Becky is off on her 11th fit of insanity, riding in RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. This is the 40th year for RAGBRAI and there are 10,000 registered riders (not counting day-riders and pirate riders) doing this as well. This year’s ride is short… Only 405 miles! It is usually closer to 500 hundred. On Tuesday there was an additional 24 mile loop which made that day over 109 miles for Becky. (They add a loop one day each year making that day a “Century Day” with at least 1oo miles of riding.) Becky did the extra loop but struggled on that one. It was 98 and windy. She also tells me that Iowa is much hillier than people think!
Becky has developed a following on this that I keep updated daily with emails. If you’re not on that list and want to be, let me know.
I lost a good friend last week. Mary Ellen was in a fatal car crash Thursday evening heading home from a client meeting in Wabash. She was an Architect that I worked with for the past two decades on projects too numerous to count. Some of them large, some of them small, some of them award winning, some of them mundane. She often referred clients to me with no expectations other than that I would treat them well. I often returned that favor, referring clients to her. I never hesitated to do so, knowing that she would do all in her power to meet their needs and respect their wishes. She had no ego and was excellent at listening. Her ability to do thumbnail sketches on the fly with clients would often lead to the client being able to realize their vision in a way they couldn’t without her help. When I had roughed out a design for a client, I sometimes would send it to Mary Ellen and she would make some minor change that would make things “pop”. She did this just as a favor as with the proposed fireman’s memorial here. Her input was always appreciated.
I was fortunate to be invited to attend Ron Liechty’s 80th Birthday Party at the Conservation Club on Saturday. It was a surprise party put on by his family and it was nice to see the community come out to celebrate with him.
I’ve known Ron for over a decade and I am pleased to call him a friend. My initial introduction was through Easterday Construction’s work on Garden Court projects. Up until this year Ron has been the President of Garden Court. This is a case of a client becoming a friend… A goal I have with all of our clients.
If I hadn’t met Ron through work, I’m sure I would have known him through other associations. It seems like he has been an ubiquitous fixture in Plymouth and Marshall County over the last several decades, serving on various boards and in many cases taking on the leadership and spearheading projects. He is an example of someone giving back to the community. This is an example I try to follow and try to encourage others to pursue.
Happy Nikola Tesla Day!
Check out this comic at The Oatmeal for a little humorous background information. Fair warning that it contains some colorful language references… mainly in reference to Thomas Edison.
If you prefer a little more scholarly reference from the Tesla Society, try this.
Nikola Tesla discovered or invented many of the things that make modern life possible including AC (Alternating Current), Radio Waves, Hydro-electric power and held many of the patents that went in to transistors… all of which contribute to your ability to read my ramblings in this post on your computer. The life accomplishments of an 86-year-old virgin! Sheesh!