A dip in the temps today and a trip to the Quarter for a little “back yard” sightseeing.

At least I wish I was. Soon. Have a couple of trips in the works. And Boy am I ready. Today’s outfit was inspired by my zombie chambray shirt. Zombie in that I gave it a new life by having my tailor flip the collars over. It is easily 30+ years old. As is my tie. The coat was made 29 years and nearly 2 months ago. The shoes are at least 44 years old. The Darn Tough socks (my first pair of that brand) I discovered in Ely MN on a scout trip to the Boundary Waters 10 years ago. The silk pocket square and belt are a few months old and the super light weight gaberdine trousers I’ve had for a few days. Did I say so need to go fishin? I need to go fishin….

Three years ago when my friend Tad Jones the Executive Director of the Will Rogers Memorial spoke to my Rotary Club, I came up with an idea: work concurrently in preparation of the 100 hundred year anniversary of the American Mother Road (Rt. 66) in 2026 to grow our Rotary Club. The Highway was also named the Will Rogers Highway At Will’s passing in 1935. https://oklahomaroute66.com/news/the-will-rogers-highway Tad was starting the process in 2023 to raise $11 million to break ground on the Will Rogers Memorial renovations (he raised $18 million in fact and breaks ground this August). I got the club last year to start a companion club that meets 2X a month in the evenings to support all things Will Rogers Highway. As the official “Membership Dude” (yup that’s my title), this process has increased our club by 50%. One of the things I designed was a bench and brochure under the title The Rotary Initiative: On the Road to Civility. The ultimate goal is to have these benches from Chicago to L. A which is like a “zipper” across the center of the US. God knows we could use more civility. I am most pleased to announce the first bench was dedicated today. I helped a young guy in the troop make its installation and promotion his Eagle Scout project. We had a county commissioner, a state Representative, the UnderSheriff and of course Tad Jones at the ceremony. The Rotary Club members (most of us in club shirts, me included) were there naturally as the first Bench went up at the county courthouse. It’s not about a bench it about the message of Civility along RT 66. Hope it works.

Whenever you find yourself blaming Providence, turn it around in your mind and you will see what has happened is in keeping with Reason. Epictetus, Discourses, 3.17.1