Shadows of a Past

i connected with my past this week. a nostalgic journey back to germany. to karlsruhe. the last city of my proselytizing years of my youth. old friends. old lessons. new jobs. new lessons.

i spent two years in this city. three seasons. one hurricane. three companions. forever memories.

this time i spent four days. friends. the old congregation. 'i remember that missionary called pond from new york city. he played the piano so well'. that's me. big presentation. new strategy. toured an upscale spa and pool and a drinking water plant in a quiet, snow blanketed black forest valley.

the picture is taken during our tunnel walk under the dam and to a reservoir tower. the shadows are fitting.

lessons learned:

• humility and joy with the realization you changed people's lives forever. people who continue strong in the church despite ten years and several moves. that you were both important and probably not so much
• impressions of mastering managerial skills. what to do and what not to do
• strong strategies. structure does not equal strategy
• beauty and simplicity of the english culture and dress
• a love of english cottages and manors
• simplicity of business. '17 years without a budget'
• school of life & intelligence squared - turning SAGE into cash
• there is something comforting and homely in german and english cuisine. unsung heroes of gourmet
• the pure ecstasy of powerful prose
• i miss my girls. it hurts.

what a treat to visit the land of my birth and my great-grandfathers'.

hrp