Reflections on a Cruise Across the Atlantic to Europe

7 days on a nice cruise ship can either be boring or great.... For me it was great. I had things to do, there were interesting things to do provided by the ship and of course the FOOD!

Some thoughts.

Courtesy begets Courtesy! With a ship crew that was unfailing courteous, upbeat and willing to go out of their way to help... rubbed off on all and we all benefited!

We visited Ireland, France and Great Britain. I was struck by the fact that this world is very nice. The spring had come to these countries and there were green and colorful.

Also, those countries are very expensive with the weak dollar!... In Ireland and France it was not as bad (Euros) as England (Pounds)

We spent three nights in London at a hotel within walking distance to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. One of my heros is Winston Churchill and we did Churchill up right! The most interesting is the Cabinet War Rooms. This is a restored underground bunker where Churchill ran the war.

I was struck by the grandeur of the buildings. Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul Cathedral.... all larger than life and magnificent!

One last item... Cruise ships are not friendly to the waist line!

More thoughts later.

On Imus, The Rutgers Girls and The Duke Trio

There are a number of things I have learned... among them...

1. The Rutgers girls are not the hard and mature as they might be if they are hurt and defined by an insignificant talk show host. They have been called "Hos" by any number of black rappers many times... and that is ok.

2. Imus learned that certain people can say stuff, certain people cannot.

3. Apologies are never the end if you say something politically incorrect, it is only the beginning.

4. An election is more important than doing justice and the right think to some. (But justice apparently prevailed, but after much damage by a no standards public servant.

A Friend Dies

My friend died. He and we had known just before Christmas that that would be his last Christmas on this earth. He had spend a life lived well. At the end he was ready. He was ready to meet his maker and was happy to do so. I was privileged to speak at his service. Below are those remarks:

This church has given me many benefits…. It has given me a lot or good friends and great role models That list is long, but at the top of that list is Clay.

I called him my mentor… in my faith, my life, my business. The first time I stepped into this church Clay invited me to the Upper Room SS class.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that class…. Clay and Jane started that class 30 some years ago. Along with Jane and Steve Sorensen I am trying to keep it going. It has become a powerful influence in our lives. A great support for all the troubles members have had in the last year. I think the Bible tells us that troubles make us stronger! I think it has. That class has produced many blessing thanks to Clay and Jane.

I would call up Clay and say that your mentoree needs help!

I think he took me on as a challenge, a reclamation project and spend the later part of his life rounding off my edges!

I was talking to Steve Sorenson earlier this week, after Clay’s passing and he said… He was one of a kind! Indeed he was.

Clay lived a godly life. One of the unique parts of Clay’s witness was that he lived the Beatitudes…. Not just the Beatitudes, the entire Sermon on the Mount. If there is anything that is the antithesis to the modern world it is the Beatitudes. Clay lived them, and by his life again proved God’s way is right, the world’s way is wrong.

If you have been in the Terry Kitchen you have seen a little plaque…. Blessed are the Peacemakers.

Clay was a peacemaker.

I first saw it in closing real estate deals. Some buyers and sellers don’t quit negotiating when the contract is signed… They negotiate until the money changes hands and they walk out the lawyer’s door. Clay understood this and I saw him make peace many times and save the deal.

A personal a story, it was typical of his efforts to “round off my edges”.

When I was on the Elders board, I had an issue about something that the church wasn’t doing, or should do. I wrote out my idea, explained the benefits outlined my arguments. Answered all the objections. I t was a masterpiece in my mind.

Of course I let Clay read it first. He did. No comment on the “masterpiece” instead he told me a story.

A long time client of the law firm up and left.

“I was upset, I was angry… after all we had done for them! I wrote a letter outlining my thoughts and arguments. It was typed and laid on my desk for my signature. I read it over and promptly wadded it up and threw it in the basket and moved on.”

And that is where my “masterpiece” went. Another step in my education by Clay.

I remember I gave him some advice on a problem he had and his proposed solution. I said “Clay, don’t do it!” No story, you might consider, no softness…. Just “Don’t do it!” What can I say, I’m not Clay Terry!

What is the saying?: "I’ve met Clay Terry and I am no Clay Terry."

Whether it was a breakfast at Perkins, just sitting on my back porch watching the lake or the golfers on the 18^th, playing golf, running my remote control sailboat… they were just something to drape our conversations over.

He was always there for me. I hope I was always there for him during these last few difficult months.

The last time I talked to Clay about this service he wanted it to be joyous. The sadness overwhelms our joy, but we have much to be joyous about as we celebrate this Godly man and the godly family he led.

As I was thinking about this, my wife Carol told me a little fun story…

Context: We are dealing with a man convinced there is a minimum daily requirement of about two large handfuls of Cheetos.

Their paths crossed in Publix. As they talked Carol looked over the basket… Crackers, cheese dip, cookies, ice cream bars and of course Cheetos. He puts on a sheepish grin and says… “Jane sent me shopping!”

And another treasure…

Carol’s birthday party the day after she got out of the hospital. Clay and Charlie DuBois sang happy birthday in that Norwegian accent or speech impediment accent. I understand this is a Terry family tradition. Fortunately I have a video clip of that and I think that it will be a staple of Carol’s birthdays from here on!

Let me tell you of a joyous time for Clay and me.

Clay liked to play golf. But golf and Clay were not a natural fit. Paul and Chris (sons) are pretty good golfers, but they did not get it from their dad.

Five weeks ago yesterday he called up to see if I was accepting visitors that day. (That’s what I usually said to him!) He said lets hit a few balls on the driving range… then retire to your porch.

So we did. Clay brought a few clubs and I got a few clubs including my new driver. I love that new driver…. Big head, light as a feather and has a wonderful crack when I hit it and it has corrected my power “fade”. David Crews would say slice!

So we hit a few balls and he turns to me and says…. I just brought my clubs for show, now I want that new driver. Clay loved it too. I think mainly with that big head you could not miss the ball!!!

He hit one… CRACK… right down the middle. As good as any I have seen him hit! Wow… where did that come from? Then again. Then one more time. Perfect….

He looks at me with that slight smile and says…. I can’t do any better than that. Let’s go to the porch and have something to drink.

Golfers… can it get any better than that. Perhaps the last time he swung a club to crack it dead on the screws, dead down the middle and as long as ever!

Can it get any better than two good friends sharing that moment?

Joyous…. I’ll remember that little joy forever.

Each of you have a little joy from Clay. So remember Clay and that little joy.

In the last days, I think Clay said to God…. I’ve done my best…. Let’s go sit on your back porch!