Today is Flashback Friday, and I just had to share these photos of my basement from 1979. My kids think I’m a liar when I say we used to roller skate in the basement. They have so many toys and things down here that it’s hard to imagine it being open and empty enough to have a roller rink.
POW!!! And then there’s more….
POW!! POW!! Do you see that smile?
The first photo is my cousin Craig, grown up now to be a distinguished and successful (and one of the coolest I’ve ever met) businessman, and the second is my cousin Robin who grew up to work at the DMV. Hmmm. That doesn’t quite fit. Well, at least it isn’t the IRS.
I have to tell you a story about Robin. When I was a big time property manager (and I use that term loosely), I used to have to visit one of my properties way up in Waukegan. When I would be coming home (or back to the office), I drove past the DMV where she worked. One day I stopped in just to see her in action and say hello. You’ve been at the DMV. It’s sad, and grey, and the people working can be kinda…. well….. let’s just say abrupt. The people there to get a license aren’t any better. They’re irritable, and cranky, and bored, and somewhat annoyed because they are spending a perfectly sunny and otherwise pleasant day in the stale, colorless storefront that is the DMV. I remember thinking what a miserable place it seemed to be to have to work day after day. Not that I was super impressed with my full time gig at that point, either, but still. There was not one color in the place, not on the carpet, or the walls, or the seating. The blinds were mostly drawn on the windows, the people were expressionless, if they weren’t downright surly looking. I made a quick scan of the place to see if I could spot Robin without having to make too big of a deal by asking one of the unhappy greeters. Let’s just say it wasn’t too hard. Here is my happy, sunny, hippy cousin back behind a counter in the corner. Unmistakable. Beautiful blonde hair done up in a twist, big old smile on her face, laughing of course, wearing a fuzzy bright pink sweater to boot! She seriously shone like the sun in that place. There is no doubt that she was making the process a little bit brighter for the lucky ones who had to be helped in that corner of the DMV that day! I’m hoping she’s rubbed off a bit on her coworkers by now, but I’m not holding my breath.
Happy Friday everyone, I hope we all get to enjoy a bit of sunshine this weekend, even if it’s at the DMV.
