Conducting graveside services today for Clarence Van Dyke Jr.

No idea if he’s related to the other Van Dyke.

Do know he was a longshoreman for over 30 years and retired with the highest ranking honors of seniority.

I’m told he loved telling stories of how he would take the girl that would become his wife of 54 years on dates (on horseback)  - back when cokes were five cents and movies were 50 cents.

Those certainly were the days . . .

Though it seems like more of a monumental task than it actually is, I’ve gone 2 weeks without my signature White Chocolate Hazelnut Mocha in the morning and 1 week without a single Dr. Pepper.

That’s right . . . not even one single drop of nectar from the gods.

Believe it or not going without the Dr. Pepper has been a bigger deal than going without Coffee.

I’m under no illusion that I will never again drink a Dr. Pepper or have a coffee drink.

I just felt like it was a good way to work individual self-discipline.

Many people go without more important things on a daily basis.

When “give us this day our daily bread” is so far off your radar screen that you give it no thought whatsoever you have to find some way to tell yourself no.

We’ve seen a couple episodes of undercover boss and have been quite impressed with the show.

I hope it’s not another case of manufactured reality.

It does give me an idea.

I’m not going to shave for a couple of weeks and show up to work undercover.

Keep an eye out for the video.

The kids had different spring break weeks this year – who planned that?

The boys decided to take advantage of the time off and go fishing.

Want to guess who planned that?

I enjoy Easter Sunday – the energy and enthusiasm – the expectation and license to be creative.

Our installment of paint with the preacher went very well (i thought).

Our timing was right on – which is a credit to the painter not the preacher.

I so enjoy working with our resident artist.  I enjoy the freedom of artistic expression and the way the scene unfolds before your eyes.

I also can’t help but wonder the difference it would make if next Sunday we all showed up with the same enthusiasm, energy, expectation and license to be creative.