If it is not fun, why do you do it?

If it is not fun, why do you do it? 

An important question for all of us to answer. Katelyn Ohashi caught a lot of folks attention with the perfect 10 in January 2019. While it was an 'overnight' sensation, as usual, it took years to prepare for.

Didn't see the perfect 10? Check out the link  https://youtu.be/4ic7RNS4Dfo




A key part of the preparation was with Miss Val, Katelyn's coach at UCLA who is the real thing. The quick summary of Miss Val's story as she retires this year.

https://youtu.be/gZF6GKzBLQo




The longer (and great version) can be found in the "Laughter Permitted" podcast by Julie Foudy and Lynn Olszowy interview with both Katelyn and Miss Val: 
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1qShhXbjsxpmFnG27hm9eG

or on ESPN http://www.espn.com/espnradio/podcast/archive/_/id/26092845

Now in the retirement world

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!

To reap that which has been planted. Yes, Pete Seeger, I am about to. I officially retired from the corporate working world effective Monday, Sep 30, 2019. 

I am fortunate to have had a long and successful corporate career. I started in February 1982 with Burroughs which became Unisys, switched to Fidelity in 1995, to Citizens Bank in 2010, and then most recently with John Hancock/Manulife (from 2015-2019).

I did spend the better part of two years during the recession (having been let go by Fidelity) on the job hunt before landing a contract position at Citizens which then converted to a full time position.

Walking out the door on Monday was a different feeling in that it was the first time that I knew I wasn't going to be walking into another corporate office. 

To help celebrate I put together a 'retirement' play list that I shared with my Hancock/Manulife co-workers.

• Come Monday – Jimmy Buffett https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGw_hrlaOY
• Homeward Bound – Paul Simon, Willie Nelson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqAJTCk6yHc
• Sound of Silence – Disturbed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4
• Resilient – Rising Appalachia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx17RvPMaQ8
• In Hell I’ll be in good company – The Dead South https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9FzVhw8_bY
• Kiss Me ‘Cause I’m Gone - Ellis Paul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe5wQEq_9Y4
• Kiss of Fire – Hugh Laurie, Gaby Moreno https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQawVOeVOoE
• Ring of Fire – Mingo Saldivar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdTYelvSgOc
• We didn’t Start the Fire – Bully Joel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g
• Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxuThNgl3YA

Bonus: (take it to 11)
End of the Line – The Traveling Wilburys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMVjToYOjbM

If you have a song or two to suggest, please let me know

The former Hancock Tower (now 200 Clarendon St) from the Public Gardens in Boston

PS - while I am retiring from work, I will continue to spend time with Franklin Matters.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/