Reflecting on the Past/Focusing on the Future

Last year we enjoyed a cruise on the Rhine River, traveling from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland with a couple of days in Lucerne before returning home. It was a fascinating experience and totally relaxing. My wife and I made the trip with friends which made it even more pleasant.

I served in the Army in the late 60s and early 70s. I was stationed in a small town in Germany named Heilbronn which is not far from Heidelberg. I often spent time in the old city on weekends. It is a charming old-world city on the Neckar River which flows into the Rhine. I remember to food most of all. I also made the walk from the city center to the castle at the top of the hill.

Our cruise stopped in Speyer (on the Rhine) and took a bus tour to Heidelberg. So many years have passed, but the city looked and felt the same. As I walked the streets it was obvious that our world had changed to one much more "connected". People passed by looking down at their mobile devices or with wires running from their ears to their pockets. Gone are those days of turntables, amplifiers and reel-to-reel tape decks that were popular when I was there (but Santana is still around). It is interesting that as years pass, so much changes while some things seem to remain the same. Perhaps it is just a reflection of memories from the mirror of time.

I am now focused on moving toward a well-earned retirement. My professional career has been rich and rewarding with experiences from manufacturing to management consulting to higher education. My last eighteen years have been with the University of Texas. During my time on the Austin campus my office window looked out on the West Mall.  Every day there was the bustle of students heading to class or gathered to protest or discuss a current issue.

I have been blessed through the years to work alongside many bright and creative people. My career has taken me to many countries and cities around the world. I have seen many “business” operations from automobile assembly plants, to hospital emergency rooms, to classrooms, to administrative offices.

SO WHY BLOG?

• I am hoping to give back through sharing my experiences and learnings from work, family and life in general.

• I am hoping to share my experiences as I move through the maze of things like Social Security, Medicare, 401(k)s and IRAs that may help others as they begin this life transition.

My wife and I are hopeful for the future and the opportunity to spend more time together. Last year we purchased land in Marble Falls, Texas and our retirement home is under construction.

So......more to come in future posts which will focus on things I hope will be both interesting and helpful to others, but certainly things that chronicle of events from my past to the present and into the future.