this post is inspired by daylight savings time.

however, the following (the quote, not the preamble) was shared with me by one of my “Uncle Bob’s“, via email recently.

this particular Uncle Bob is the husband of my Mom’s (Mom is currently deceased) best friend, and my Godmother, Phyllis. he is certainly an inspiration with his commitment to riding and charity at the age of eighty-seven (87). he travels around the country riding for a number of charities.

Uncle Bob is relevant, and current.

wisdom just tells.

this particular and unique Bob is not to be confused with my other two storied Uncle Bob’s you might know about.

that short list includes, Robert “Sonny” Cork /1 ↓, my Dad’s brother, whom is also currently deceased (relative to my Mom), and Bob Cork, from the “other side of the family” (I call him my “Earth-Two” Uncle), whom is a great story-teller, but currently losing a battle with dementia. NOTE: Dementia, in this case reminds me of a Muslim maxim, “the punishment is in the promise and the promise is in the punishment”. Bob can recount, and often does, his stories – which are rich and meaningful – but he is forgetting almost everything else.

I can’t tell you this was actually said, but I do think it sounds reasonable:

“When told the reason for daylight savings time, an old and wise Indian allegedly said, ‘Only the government would try and lead you to believe that we could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it on to the bottom of the same blanket, and some how have a longer blanket’ “.

Uncle Bob, whom was a very successful financial executive, added one comment:

“and then embark on a 10 billion dollar media blitz to try to convince us that it really does make the blanket longer”.

I wish I could call my Earth-Two Uncle Bob and share all of this with him. I know he would pause only for a moment and then come up with some corollary Indian tale that weaves all of this together in a brilliant tapestry that adds to life. we are all part of that.

that made me think of a series shared at North Point Community Church called Mosaic. ↑ this image is from that. look at the pieces. each separately told it’s own story. together, they told a completely different one with a whole different, and much richer, t meaning.

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

NOTE: the reference to “earth two” is relative to the DC Universe, and not to be confused with a past and ill-fated television show, that was lame.

1/ ↑ In my Dad’s family, all the kids were nicknamed, “Sis”, “Sonny”, “Bud”, and “Babe”.

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Andrew Collins recently advised me that somebody much more astute than myself evidently came up with the maxim (proverb, gnome, aphorism, apothegm, sententia):

“men are always happy if nothing is wrong, and women are only happy when everything is okay (or, fine).”

that one recently stopped me in my tracks because it helps make everything clear. it adeptly sets the stage for “happy wife, happy life” – which is (a truism) happens to be the key to everyone being happy. especially if you agree with the above apparent wisdom (which is a manner of speaking, if not seeing the world).

having said that, this morning as I was trying to leave the house, my wife froze me in my tracks with the question:

“are you sure you want to wear that t-shirt to work?”

I knew she meant that she didn’t want me to wear that t-shirt, anywhere.

and, details aside, it likely means I’m not going to get the new(ish) truck that I want.

more on this, and all that, later.

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

…oh, and Happy Easter (thank you, God for all the above).

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

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5. Brian Cork Pondering Edith Wharton
6. Brian Cork Acknowledging Congressman Dennis Kucinich
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Last week I found myself driving Haley Anne to summer soccer practice recently and faced with something of a challenge.

We were in my Ford F-150 (also known as the: “big black bad-ass soccer and dog truck”). And, it’s currently my vehicle of choice. Rowdy can sit comfortably in the back, or ride shot-gun. And, there are always soccer balls bouncing around in the back. It’s insight into my life and priorities. It’s cool and formidable, but also practical (it could pull the boat, in a pinch).

We witnessed a yellow Ferrari navigate a corner in good form and amidst a spray of gravel.

Haley Anne turned to me and asked why I didn’t drive a Ferrari (I do drive a Porsche, but she is apparently aware of the difference). “You can afford it can’t you?”, was the secondary question.

I almost told her that I am seriously considering a Volvo Cross Country Station Wagon (and, it’s true, I am).

The question that ended-up dropping out of my face was: “whom do you think has more money, the fellow with a Honda, or the fellow with a Ferrari?”

See… I thought this was a rather sage question. It was certain to set the stage for a ground-breaking dialogue between my beloved daughter and myself that would further establish our bond while I appeared wise, and she my able student.

I’ll pause here and admit that a quick image of Bill Pope popped into my head. I found my heart in my throat (I sure do miss my red-headed-Errol-Flynn-type-friend). I was also quickly thinking this was a good time to get her ready for the news that we are seriously considering a move from the big beautiful house in Milton (Alpharetta) to a more sensible home in the Crabapple area (I’m trying to send a message to my community – more about that later).

It’s still a great question, for obvious reasons. And, it raises so many fascinating ideas around wealth management, good stewardship, and self-image.

But, all that aside, I got a simple shrug with a: “who cares Daddy. Why can’t we have a Ferrari?”

I’m already thinking this is a great challenge (isn’t character always best when challenged?). What steps does this alert me to, and prepare me for, to curb her views around materialism? A defining Authentic Life moment and possibly a Kobayashi Maru.

…sigh. Lift me up, and stay tuned.

Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

Brian Patrick Cork

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