We cleared out of the woods by 8:30 a.m., and walked the two miles back up the sandy road to the main highway again.  Then we continued south on Highway 87 for about 7 miles to a town called Tar Heel.  There we stopped for a breakfast at a grocery store: chocolate milk, bananas and breakfast rolls for $1.75.  We decided to pass up Wilmington, as it would be an extra day’s ride, so we turned south on Highway 131 to Bladenborough, where we finished off the bananas.  Continuing south on Highway 131 brought us into Whiteville, and on our way we met and talked to an old farmer.  He told us about his younger days of hopping trains and such, and he insisted that we take a couple of dollars that he wanted us to have.  In Whiteville we stopped and ate at a Hardees for $5.00, and we were very tired from fighting a headwind all day long.  After dinner, we stopped at a huge Methodist Church and asked the minister if we could sleep there.  He said OK, and that’s where we are now.  We walked over to the downtown area and bought some natural cereal to munch on.  There we thought of a plan to check out the Intercoastal Waterway, and try to sail down to Florida, and maybe all the way to Key West.  Looking at the map shows that Route 17 rarely stays by the coast anyway, and this way we could see the ocean every day.  It would be a lot easier than riding all the way to Florida as well.  Anyway, it’s worth a try.

(Editorial comment:  We were anxious to see the ocean, and this leg of our journey was quite different than the previous two.  We were becoming quite pragmatic, and the idealism of the trip had already worn off.  We were now down to $329.86, and we began to think of various options.  A sailing adventure to Florida sounded like a good idea, and the map between Charleston, South Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida didn’t look very promising.  It was the ocean we wanted to see, and our wallets that were starting to feel pretty light. Somewhere along the way we would have to compromise.)

(Editorial comment 36 years later: For us this was a one-way trip, hopefully to somewhere on the west coast.  The original route I planned beforehand generically took us to the east coast in the fall of 1976, down to the Gulf coast for the winter and towards the northwest in spring and summer the following year – and we were following the same general route because the approaching winter was closing in fast behind us. We originally had planned to leave earlier in the year, but two things set our timeline back by weeks: we had to finish the summer as Marine Patrol Deputy Sheriffs just to have any money for the trip at all, and because of the unexpected last minute requirement to have all four of my wisdom teeth pulled just prior to starting the trip. Bruce and I had a combined total of $1000 for our bicycle adventure, less all the money we spent on equipment for the trip, and at this point we were using up what we had much quicker than we originally anticipated.  The idea of catching a ship bound for Key West is a perfect example of why I call this a ‘bicycle adventure’ and not a ‘bicycle trip’ – we weren’t purists – but much like the original settlers leaving on wagon trains to the west, at least I was bound for anywhere…and we were just living in the moment!)

Book Two

Nurturing Organizational Growth

(Copyright 2000, Mark D. Jones, All Rights Reserved)

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Chapter One – Part Three

A gardener’s challenges are normally up front and obvious, with the disarray usually taken in through a quick scan of the property.  There can still be hidden difficulties that remain out of view, such as buried rubbish piles, old building materials or polluted soil; but for the most part the task ahead is clearly seen.  This may or may not be the case in organizations, where things are rarely black and white – or as they appear to be – but instead fade into many shades of gray.  Of course rubbish is still rubbish, a mess is always a mess and trash is…well, trash of course; and it doesn’t take a genius to call a spade a spade.  That is only the tip of the iceberg so to speak, as there are often many layers that need cleaning out.  A good “spring cleaning” is never a bad place to start in order to open all the windows and let the fresh air in.  In an organization, there are at least four layers to sift through beyond the obvious visual environment that your eyes readily see; much like an archeologist searching for buried clues:

The first layer beyond the visible I call the hidden environment, which is everything that resides in drawers, cabinets, closets and found stuffed behind doors and under desks. Mountains of loose papers, disorganized clutter and just generally – stuff.  The ‘stuff’ becomes a blizzard of distractions that prevent you from focusing on the job at hand, which is to get to the bottom of the organization and clean your way to the top, all the while looking for clues that will help you sort out what to do with this organization once it’s cleaned up.

The second layer is the framework of the organization itself, the structure upon which everything else hangs.  The frame, called an organizational chart, may very well have evolved over time into something that no longer serves even the idea that formed it in the first place.  Awkward and twisted, it may provide clues as to why the organization is not performing up to expectations, or why managers function as they do.  Although the chart is just a diagram on paper, it represents real territory and power to those that control the key positions within it.  Of even greater importance to you though is the informal organizational chart, which doesn’t exist on paper.  It represents and outlines who has influence and persuasion, both in positive and negative ways, and whose ear they influence without any formal lines drawn up on paper.  This may take a while to map out, but it’s critical that you understand the power base in your organization.  If you fail to do so, all of your future actions may be misguided, blocked, or at a very minimum, watered down.

The next level of ‘stuff’ is information locked away in old and out of date binders and electronic databases.  Reams and reams of useless information may exist that is out of date, collected without purpose and organized in ways that provide no meaning to anyone that might attempt to interpret it.  It could take a very long time to wade through the data only to find that it is of little use.  You may have to work off current numbers for a while, defined in your own way and distilled from good data, until you can assess the company’s overall health.  This is absolutely critical – you must have good numbers from which to base your decisions upon.  Get the numbers wrong, for example believing your organization is profitable when it’s not, and you could lead your organization from bad to worse – to everyone’s detriment, including your own!

The fourth and final level of ‘stuff’ that clogs the organization is what may or may not be in the employee’s minds.  I’m not talking about lower production level employees, but managers and senior managers.  They may be working with out of date information and knowledge, complete misinformation, and/or totally useless information that will confuse and overwhelm you in your task to get to the bottom of the organization’s processes.  It may very well be that the managers, knowing that they are the problems themselves, will attempt to sidetrack and negate your efforts to chop away at the jungle of overgrowth. This deception program is designed to protect their jobs and prevent you from doing yours – at the expense of the organization.

Within the five separate dimensions of this environmental ‘jungle,’ from the visual clear down to the mental, there are nuggets of information and meaning that you must latch onto if you are to successfully complete your task.  These nuggets, as valuable to you as gold, will be found at all organizational levels, and are literally the keys to your success – short of razing the entire organization and starting out fresh by building a new one from scratch.

~~~~~~~~~~

“…helping individuals, organizations and businesses creatively solve their challenges…”

We slept in until about 8:30 a.m., and then packed and got everything ready to go.  We waited for Dave to come home for lunch, and then we all went out for submarine sandwiches, and afterwards said goodbye to Dave, Bob and Jim when they had to go back to the base.  We got the bikes ready, said goodbye to Bren and Chad, and Bren kissed us each goodbye at the door and wished us a safe journey.  We walked the bikes over to Bragg Road and then rode into town.  The two week stay had really spoiled us, and it was very hard to get back into the swing of things again.  We got lost trying to find Highway 87 in Fayetteville, but finally we were on our way, riding Highway 87 towards the coast.  We had a very strong headwind that didn’t do us any good at all. Today we made it as far as the dam and locks on Cape Fear River, which is about 23 miles NW of Elizabethtown.  We walked about two miles down a sandy road in order to look out over the locks, and after spending some time there we returned and found a service road that went back into the woods and pitched our tent for the night.  There are, “No Trespassing” signs for these woods, but I don’t think anyone will bother us tonight.  We opened a can of peaches and ate them for dinner.  Bruce found mold in his mess kit, from a damp sponge that was left there during the past two weeks.  That’s all that I can think of for now.  It’s about 5:30 p.m., and it is getting dark.  Time to go to bed.

(Editorial Comment, 36 Years Later:  I’ll never forget the kiss Bren gave me at the door before wishing us a, ‘safe journey.’  I was a very late bloomer, and at the young and innocent age of 20, hers was my first heartfelt kiss on my lips other than my mom’s when I was little growing up.  I remember the worried concern in her eye as she wished us a safe journey and initiated each kiss, as if sending us into an unknown danger and uncertain future.  She would have been right on both accounts, as we were about to continue our journey into the unknown.  The scene continues to play in my mind, as if she was an Elf Princess sending Bilbo or Frodo off with a kiss on a perilous journey from the pages of one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous stories…)

Chapter Two, Part Five

(Copyright 1984, Mark D. Jones, All Rights Reserved)

“Well Jonathan, have you ever seen anything as beautiful as this before in all your years? I doubt that if you lived to be a hundred you would ever see a prettier place than this valley!  Not many know about it, just the eagles mostly.  The riders won’t bother us up here, or at least they haven’t before.  I don’t think they know about it, but we’ll have more time to talk about that later.  Well, what do you think, lad?”

“Sir, I think it’s very beautiful, but it doesn’t look very much like Ohio.  Will we be able to go home soon, or are we going to stay here for a while first?”

“Ohio.  Son, you’re a lot further from Ohio than you might think, and it won’t be an easy task to get home from here.  We’ll talk more about that when we get to my cabin, which isn’t far now.  It’s just on the other side of the valley from here.  While you’re with me you’ll be safe and in good hands, Jonathan – rest assured – I’ll take good care of you. Unfortunately, I won’t always be with you, and it will be a very long journey home for you.  Rest easy now, Jonathan, and we’ll discuss these things after dinner once there’s time.”

Off he went, walking stick in hand, setting a pace that reflected neither his age nor the distance they had already covered that day.  Jonathan had just noticed that they hadn’t eaten lunch, and it was already mid-afternoon.  The old man seemed to be in a hurry to reach the cabin by nightfall.  Jonathan looked nervously around from his perch atop Majeka, thinking that maybe they had been in more danger than he had previously thought.  High above them, two eagles rode the thermals silently on outstretched wings. He looked nervously around at the towering, mountain peaks surrounding the valley, and wondered who else might be watching them, as they started out across the valley towards the lake.

It had always seemed to Jonathan that life itself was an adventure, and now there was no doubt in his mind as the three of them set off across the valley.  It was indeed a beautiful place, full of majesty and grandeur.  All around him were the towering heights of mountain peaks, and the sensation of a vast openness and distance that surrounded him, letting him see for miles across the mountain valley.

The farmlands of Ohio had never given him the same feelings as these.  He had only been able to catch glimpses of the horizon before, over corn fields and between tree lines, and mostly after climbing to the top of a tree – but the view was nothing like this!  It seemed as though the distant peaks were miles and miles away, which in reality they were.  How many miles, he had no idea.  Once, Jonathan had climbed up a water tower with a friend of his and looked out over the city of Hampton.  That experience was the only thing that he could relate to the view before him now – he was overwhelmed – but there were no water towers anywhere to be seen in these parts…

The mountains in the distance were much higher than the ones that defined the valley they were in now.  In front of him the valley began to narrow in the distance and merge into the majestic snow covered peaks before them.  Smaller mountains bordered this valley, with snow tipped peaks glistening in the sunlight.  Individual trees climbed the sides of the valley towards the peaks, disappearing completely well short of the snowline. Behind them was the massive rock face they had just come through, where melting mountain snows tumbled over the waterfall that masked the valley’s entrance only moments ago.  The base of the waterfall was hidden behind trees when viewed from a distance, before tumbling down the mountainside in a fast flowing, turbulent mountain stream – giving Jonathan the impression that they had passed through a solid wall of rock.

The sound of running water echoed throughout the valley.  Everywhere it seemed there were little trickles of water, snowmelt from the previous winter’s snowpack.  Grass and moss covered the trail they followed to the valley floor, indicating to Jonathan the path was seldom traveled. Fields of small wildflowers added to the picturesque scene surrounding them.  The trickles of water combined into little creeks and then streams, meandering down through rocks and across fields until finally reaching the lake  in the distance.  Snowmelt was feeding the upper portion of the falls at the moment, and the narrow passageway they had just come through was no doubt a spillway for when the lake overflowed.  Jonathan figured that in the early spring the entrance into the valley became a raging flood of water pouring through the narrow passageway – which is what must of created it in the first place.  In fact, the valley was only accessible in late-summer and early fall, when heavy snows would begin transforming it once again into a fortress of snow and ice.

Making their way across the valley, Jonathan could see that around the lake was a small grove of trees that stood in a little wood to themselves, as if patiently waiting their turns for a drink at the water’s edge.  They were tall and thin, with branches covered in leaves that fluttered simultaneously in the breeze.  The same trees were found clustered in small groups around the valley, desperately clinging to the steep mountain slopes. Jonathan thought they looked like Aspens, but couldn’t be certain, as he had never seen an Aspen tree in Ohio before.  Dotted around the valley were also small, windblown pine trees, twisted by the wind and heavy winter snows.  Jonathan was quick to notice the valley’s abundant animal life as well: birds, rabbits, ground squirrels and mountain goats, as well as the howl of a lone wolf carried by the wind from a great distance away – as well as the same two eagles soaring and ever watchful, high above them.  In the lake before him, the reflection of towering mountain peaks shimmered and danced in the ripples created by the breeze, appearing to Jonathan as if they were only an illusion or a mirage – unreal and forbidding – yet, at the same time calling out his name.

]]> http://livelovethinkexist.com/2012/05/19/jonathans-dream-an-adventure-novel-chapter-two-part-five/feed/ 0 livelovethinkexist http://livelovethinkexist.com/2012/05/15/sam-the-tugboat-and-the-big-surprise/ http://livelovethinkexist.com/2012/05/15/sam-the-tugboat-and-the-big-surprise/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 23:03:24 +0000 livelovethinkexist http://livelovethinkexist.com/?p=20928 ]]> Sam the Tugboat and the Big Surprise!

(Copyright 2012, Mark D. Jones, All Rights Reserved)

Fred anxiously scanned beyond the Beach Harbor Marina and the Port of Beach Harbor into the open ocean, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sam returning from his morning’s work of keeping the waters in and around The City of Beach Harbor safe.  Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity to him, Fred saw the reassuring silhouette of Sam on the horizon making his way back to port.  Fred issued a reassuring sigh and placed his binoculars down beside him where they were always at the ready, knowing that Sam was running only a few minutes late for his scheduled docking back at the marina.

Relieved after what seemed to be hours of anxious waiting, Fred sipped his coffee and returned to reading The Beach Harbor Morning News, while keeping one eye trained on the waters of the marina, port and shoreline.  Beside him were copies of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal to read throughout the day from his office overlooking the Beach Harbor Marina, where he was responsible for the safety of everyone both in and around the water.  Fred had a commanding view of the water and the city park behind him through large picture windows, allowing him to keep an eye on the Beach Harbor Family Picnic Grounds and Beach as well as the waters of the marina and port.

In front of him was a color weather and navigation radar that let Fred pinpoint boats and ships in distress, as well as approaching storms that might threaten the coastline.  On both sides of the radar were mounted emergency phones and radios that gave Fred access to all the help and assistance he might ever need in case of an emergency, and luckily – Sam would have called it a blessing – there had been no major accidents in the 30 years he and Sam had been keeping a protective watch over the citizens and visitors to the waters, beach and picnic grounds of Beach Harbor.

This morning was unusual as an official from the city called to ask when Sam was scheduled to dock back at the marina, and as always, Fred provided him with the previously scheduled time – but with Sam’s delay in returning Fred was anxious indeed – because a number of cars were already arriving in the marina’s parking lot and people were beginning to line the dock area reserved for Sam.  In fact, on the dock a sign read, “Sam the Tugboat – Beach Harbor’s Favorite Son!”

Sam was always embarrassed by that sign, honoring him a decade ago after having faithfully served The City of Beach Harbor for 20 years without a major accident on his watch.  Fred glanced down at his coffee cup and read the inscription that said, “To Fred – For Keeping Us Safe and Sound for 20 Years!”  A little smile appeared at the corners of Fred’s mouth as he recalled that day ten years ago, equally embarrassed with the fuss and bother, but still proud of their achievement over all those years.  Only when he looked at the date under the inscription did he realize that today was exactly 10 years later to the day! Fred swiveled in his chair to see more and more people gathering on the docks, as well as families and children walking across the grass of the family picnic grounds towards the marina.  Only then did it dawn on Fred what might be happening…

The radio crackled in the background and Fred heard the familiar, “Toooot! Toooot! Toooot!” over the radio as Sam announced to Fred that he was approaching the shipping channels into the Port of Beach Harbor.  Sam was the most thoughtful of tugboats, and always kept Fred posted on his position like a well oiled clock.  That’s what left Fred anxious earlier, while awaiting news of Sam’s position.

Just then the radio crackled to life again, “Sam the Tugboat to Port of Beach Harbor, entering shipping lane Alpha for a 1530 gate time at point Delta.”  Fred smiled as he picked up his binoculars and immediately saw Sam approaching point Alpha in the distance, knowing the shipping lanes in and around the port like the back of his hand.

The Harbor Master replied, “Welcome back, Sam, it looks like you have a welcoming committee waiting for you over at the marina!”

Turning in his chair to survey the growing crowd again, Fred smiled knowing that Sam was in for a very big surprise!  A very big surprise, indeed!  :)

As Sam slowly and carefully maneuvered his way through the Port of Beach Harbor into the confined waters of the Beach Harbor Marina, he kept a vigilant eye on the waters and shoreline, because after all, Sam’s job of protecting Beach Harbor was never finished – even as he approached the dock!  Fred climbed down the stairs from his office perched above the marina, and prepared the ropes at dockside to properly secure Sam in his mooring after docking.  In the meantime, Fred directed everyone to stay safely back on the sidewalk until he completely secured Sam at the dock, amazed at what looked to be over a hundred people lining the sidewalk to catch a glimpse of Sam’s arrival!

Sam saw the crowd gathering on the sidewalk and gave them his famous, “Toooot! Toooot! Toooot!” as he pulled alongside the dock where Fred was standing to meet him, and after all, even though Sam didn’t know why they were all waiting for him, he loved people and wanted to make them happy – especially the children!  Finally, once Fred gave Sam the ‘thumbs-up’ indicating everything was secure, Sam throttled off his large diesel engines and ‘powered down’ for the morning.  Of course, Sam was always ‘on call’ in case of any emergency that required his assistance, and with Fred’s help he could start his engines and set off to help in mere moments!  But for now everything was quiet in Beach Harbor, except for the crowd now walking out onto the dock towards him!

Sam knew the docks were strong enough to support everyone, so he wasn’t anxious that over a hundred people were lining the docks at the moment, although he still cast a wary eye to ensure all the families and children were safe and sound.  Fred talked to the Mayor of Beach Harbor and to a handful of dignitaries for a few moments, before leading them up the narrow gangplank onto Sam’s deck.

Sam was a spic ‘n span Tugboat, always freshly washed with his brass polished and gleaming in the sunlight – and how Sam loved visitors! As everyone gathered around the wheelhouse, the Mayor unrolled a small scroll and began to read aloud for everyone to hear:

“To the Citizens, visitors and friends of The City of Beach Harbor – under the power vested in me as Mayor, I do hereby proclaim on this glorious summer day, that it is awarded to Sam the Tugboat, the Favorite Son of everyone in Beach Harbor, this Ribbon and Medal of Gratitude for having preserved the safety and security of Beach Harbor for 30 consecutive years!  Signed by my hand on this day, and sealed in wax with the shield of The City of Beach Harbor as evidence of your duty, honor and commitment to your friends – we congratulate you, Sam!”

“In like manner, we award this Ribbon and Medal of Gratitude to Fred, for all the same reasons mentioned, and provide him with a new coffee cup, inscribed, ‘To Fred – For Keeping Us Safe and Sound for 30 Years – Thank You!”

Suddenly the crowd erupted in applause, and all the attention caused both Sam and Fred to blush!  Just then a familiar sound filled the air:

“Toooot! Toooot! Toooot!”

Because we all know that Sam loved to have visitors – especially children!  :)