What Happened in Vegas

Last week was a good adventure.

Wendy and I flew to to attend a gathering of wedding merchants at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  We had the back row on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 on our 0605h flight Monday of last week.  No, no glitzy accommodations on the Strip; we stayed at the Mardis Gras Hotel, a short walk away  from the convention.

Highlights of the trip included a visit to the “World Famous” Gold and Silver Pawn Shop (where Pawn Stars takes place), a couple buffet meals, lots of good service and the convention itself.

Oh, don’t get me wrong.  Not every workshop was a hit.  It still amazes me how a speaker, who presumably submitted a proposal to the program committee for a specific topic and subject matter, could spend about ten percent of their time on the topic and 90% on ancillary drivel.  I heard a few people lean over to their neighbor and say, “I thought this was supposed to be on…”

Still, a few of the sessions were clear standouts and made the entire convention well worthwhile.

Of particular note was Chris Evans with the Wedding Business Boot Camp and, even better, the presentations by Alan Berg.   To condense the one take-away, we were reminded of the need to always provide our brides with the best service and value.  A message I take to heart.

Riding back home was a treat.  We were upgraded to first class on a late night flight on a 737-900.  Comfortable, and nice to have food on a real plate and my ginger ale in a real glass.

But, nice to be back home, which is where we’ve been since Friday.

What Will Matter

What Will Matter

With thanks to my friend John Green, I was introduced to this piece by Michael Josephson.  Nice contemplative existential presentation.  If you didn’t quite understand what I just wrote, then suffice it to say, “Look at this for a reminder of what’s important.”

Lunch with my Army Sergeant

Me and my little boy

My son Jeff is still in town on his leave from deployment in Afghanistan.  Promoted earlier this year to the rank of sergeant, Jeffrey Amundsen serves at a location at about 8000′ elevation, not far from the border with Pakistan.

Today, all three of my children met at the Old Country Buffet in Lynnwood, WA.  This seems to be our traditional place to get together when Jeff is in town.  Jonathan, my eldest works for First Call Plus, a trade mortuary in Kent, WA.  My middle child, Stephanie, works for my younger brother at Juanita Firs 76.  We were all there with Jeff who is 25, really tall, and serving with the 101st Airborne.

The Old Country Buffet is a great place to meet, because there’s something for almost every taste.

It was great to hear Jeff’s plans.  His unit is on deployment until maybe August.  Jeff will be leaving the military in December, hoping to use those veteran benefits to complete a degree in business.

It was great to have all three of my kids together and to see my youngest looking so grown up with a sense of confidence and direction.

Proud of My Army Sergeant

Jeffrey Sebastian Amundsen, sergeant in the United States Army, is back in Washington state on a short leave from his duties in Afghanistan.

I’m proud to be dad to three children:  Jonathan, Stephanie and Jeff.  Jeff, the youngest, is 25 and has been in the Army since 2006.  He went through basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.  I was moved to tears as I attended his graduation, alongside my son Jonathan and step-son Kody.  Pretty proud.  God has done a good work in his life (and mine!).

He ended up at Fort Campbell in Kentucky with the 101st Airborne.  Prior to this tour of duty in Afghanistan, way up in the mountains near the Pakistan border.  I truly believe Jeff is, as the Army says, “defending freedom.”  His — and theirs — is a sacred trust.  I honor and salute them.

Jeff came into town last evening on a mission of visiting family and friends.  He stopped by my office this afternoon.  What a thrill to see a young man, strong, confident, conversant (and incredibly good looking) stand before me.  Gone is that more youthful and unconventional garb that he left behind; today he stood before me with black slacks, a black dress shirt and a neat necktie looking like a million bucks.

I salute you, Sergeant Jeffrey Amundsen.  Thanks for your service to our nation; and thanks for being my son, of whom I am proud.

Thankful; really thankful

I am truly thankful this year.

Thinking back to my father’s last Thanksgiving, which was his birthday in 1984, I remember him taking an unusually reflective tone before we said grace before that meal.  John Amundsen hearkened back to some 30+ years earlier when he had successfully dodged a cancer bullet.  A few operations, two more children (I’m one of them), several grandchildren (he loved them all dearly) and retirement from a wonderful flying career later and he stood on his 73rd birthday to give thanks.  He expressed heartfelt appreciation for all of us; he expressed thanks to God for all his many blessings.

I was a bit more reserved with my emotions then.  I didn’t realize what a marked day that would be in my mind.  Indeed, Dad seemed to be in fine health.  Neither he nor the rest of us had any idea that in six months a bulge in his aorta would need surgery.  Nor, on the eve of that surgery, did we have any idea that the operation to repair the aorta would go tragically wrong.  It was about then that I discovered I had a lot more emotions than I had ever allowed myself to admit.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving 26 years later here in 2010.  Much has happened in these intervening years.  In addition to my father’s death in 1985, my mother passed in 2001 and many other family and friends have met their reward.  Add to that a couple twists in my career path, family changes, two sets of Change of Address forms, and — in my case — a couple good medical scares this year and I realized around the dinner table that I, too, have lots to be thankful for.

I’m certainly thankful for my wife of almost eight years, Wendy.  She’s in the white shirt in the center of this picture.  I’m thankful for my son Jonathan, 29, at the right edge of this photo (the one with the full plate) and my daughter Stephanie, 27, who couldn’t attend dinner because of work.  We gave thanks around the table for my son Jeffrey, 25, who serves our nation in Afghanistan.  It’s cold there and we pray for his safe return.  Also at the table was step-son Kody, 23, and his friend Gwen (she’s in the lower left).  Also at the table but not pictured are Rowdy and Kristina, newlywed son-in-law and step-daughter.  The great meal was worthy of thanksgiving, but the blessings of life are worth so much more.

I Love Small Weddings

Rod and Carol will soon marry at my home

One of my joys is helping couples celebrate important moments.  I’m glad that in a few weeks, I will be able to conduct a small wedding for Rod and Carol in my living room.  I really like Rod’s haircut and I’m looking forward to meeting both of them.