Good morning and happy Monday!

Big Pete and I at High School Graduation :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day! On a day that is often not the easiest for me I spent it with some of my favorite people doing some of my favorite things: enjoying a breakfast out, a day at the beach and making dinner and chatting with friends.

I must say, Fathers Day does for me what it probably does for many of you, causes me to reflect on what an amazing father I have. While many will meet JoJo and question how I became as obnoxious, loud and I like to think entertaining, I can assure you she will point to the man above. While that is not the only thing I got from him, I think it's probably what is most easily identifiable to those who knew him and know me. Strangely, many of my closest friends at this point in my life did not know him, I appreciate their willingness to let me share stories about to this day one of my favorite people. 


The thing many may know about my dad, he had a passion for many things: family, kids, the Dallas Cowboys, the NY Yankees, cheese doodles, Disney World, movies (specifically ones that taught a lesson...and Titanic lol), The Sopranos and... Bruce Springsteen. It was most appropriate that this weekend Clarence Clemons of Bruce's E Street Band passed away which of course meant Bruce Springsteen music, EVERYWHERE. So, in case I wouldn't already be thinking of Big Pete, I was reminded constantly. Bruce music makes me smile though, and laugh thinking of the many car trips where his music was blaring and while driving, dad was also playing the air drums, guitar, sax or all three. As JoJo said yesterday, I'm sure Big Pete was racing to the pearly gates to meet him, probably singing "Born to Run". Poor Clarence. 


The interesting lesson I am learning right now professionally is the transience of the field I have entered. It seems like every day I'm getting another e-mailing indicating a staff member is leaving the University to pursue a position somewhere else. While I am sad to see these people leave, one is particularly hard, Miss Jenn Smist. Jenn was the head of the search committee that hired me but has become one of my closest friends here in Wilmington. While I am incredibly happy for her to go on to pursue a position at the University of Illinois (yes it's cold there, I get it, she's from Boston, she'll be fine!) I am sad to see someone who has been a loyal friend and a great professional role model for me leave Wilmington. 

I think that's all for today :)