Thursday, October 30, 2008

The Good Kind of Pride

Usually when I think of the word "pride" it has bad connotations. The opposite of humility obviously. Today I felt a different sense of pride, "the good kind of pride." 

Today was the culmination of a lot of hard work for my company. To give you a short background, my company works to bring new businesses and economic growth to our community by creating and retaining jobs. I know, it's something I'm still figuring out too. My boss has been with our company for over 20 years so he really knows what's up and that's great for our community. I've learned a lot from him. We also have an excellent relationship with the state of Indiana economic development people and our local elected officials which allows us to offer a lot of incentives to attract new companies we might not otherwise be able to offer. 

So back to today. A few months ago we brought a company to town to look at an empty building, a symbolic building in our community that closed in 2004 ending nearly 1,000 good paying jobs. Since then there has been a lot of bitterness in our community because of those lost jobs and the fact that they never came back. Some people made the best of it and went back to school or started their own companies. Some people didn't and have held onto their bitterness. 

Anyways, this company, a plastics manufacturer who makes containers for everything from automotive to food packaging, came from Wisconsin because this specific building had high ceilings, big enough for their equipment. Go figure that something like high ceilings would come into play here. They aren't just for mansions anymore apparently. The company also liked our low cost of utilities since it takes a lot of heat for them to melt and mold the plastics they use. 

Finally, after weeks of pins and needles working on the lease and waiting for the company president to make his decision, the final call to move their entire operation from Wisconsin to our community was made yesterday which set off a flurry of activity around our office and the city today. We needed a podium and a stage and a big banner. We needed to send out announcements to the media and public to attend the event. We needed to arrange for Indiana's Governor Mitch Daniels to fly his helicopter in. (Incidentally I was named the state trooper liaison which really only meant showing the guy around the building to make sure it was safe for the governor, but everyone joked that I should get my own badge). Luckily the old adage "many hands make light work" proved true and we pulled off a great event today. 

Over 500 people showed up which made the representative from the company get a little choked up when he made his remarks. He honestly was so overcome by the outpouring of support and gratitude the community gave him. It made me really proud of the people who showed up and supported him and his company. The governor was there of course, being his usual down to earth self stopping to hear people's stories and meet them. He is so genuine. I also finally got to meet him for the first time and upon finding out I was a Taylor grad he expressed high praise for Taylor students, some of whom he has hired. 

But aside from all the hype and the tv cameras and the governor, here's the thing that really got me about today. First, this company will most likely bring close to 400 jobs to our community. I can't even begin to explain to you how important that is. They will be spread out over several years, but even so, the fact that they picked us to create those jobs in the first place is outstanding. And these are good paying jobs with a starting wage around $16/hour. Heck, that's more than I make! 

The other personally fulfilling thing for me was that I finally saw a bigger picture of what I work for day in and day out. I saw real people this company will help. I got to feel the energy in the room as people celebrated this company breathing new life into an old, "dinosaur" building. I saw the hope of fulfilling work for someone else. I am able to help them get there. 

Throughout the time we've been bringing this company here I've gotten to know four guys who basically oversee the empty building, clean it, run security, that sort of thing. Paul, Larry, Jim, and Dave are not the cleanest, most well kept sorts of guys you've ever met. They're rough and have missing teeth and smoke inside the building, but they're funny and friendly and I genuinely like them. As I've talked with them they've all shared how they each worked at the former company, some upwards of 40 years. Imagine being in your 50s and losing the only job you've probably ever known since high school. Larry shared with me how his wife went through lung cancer while he was laid off and it made him crazy and brought them closer. Jim warned me to wear my long underwear when I came to the plant today because it was so cold in there. These four guys represent a hard working spirit that doesn't want to give up. Interacting with them put a face to the people we try to help when we recruit companies to come here. I want to remember them when my days are long and my tasks are tedious. There's a bigger goal out there than just me and it was good to be reminded of that today. 

I genuinely swelled with good pride today to see my community come together and celebrate the rebirth of this symbolic building. I hope it's a pride that spreads across our community and even beyond Indiana. 

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Tastes of Fall

We turned on our furnace today so I suppose that means fall is really here. It's not that I'm in denial, I actually enjoy fall time, but it's suddenly more upon me than I realized. 

Other things that signify fall has arrived:
  • A closet full of "new" clothes (more like I forgot I had those sweaters from last year)
  • Having to wear a coat outside
  • A box of scarves, hats, and gloves beside the door
  • Gorgeous changing leaves
  • A need for warm tea during the day
  • Frost on my car windshield in the early mornings going to work 
  • A sudden longing for stews and soups 
  • Store shelves stocked with Halloween candy and yes, Christmas decorations already
  • Prolonged thinking about the cycles of life and nature -- how things die and lie dormant through the winter only to be greeted again by new life in the springtime 
Going along with some of those things, here are a few favorite fall photos. 

Beautiful changing leaves on Crooked Lake in Angola

Good friends are always in season. Taylor girls weekend away in Angola

My first stew of the season -- a new recipe called Hearty Butternut Squash Stew made with apples, butternut squash, and leftover pork. It was really good and hearty

My VERY happy husband eating his new favorite butternut squash stew. He loved it. Gosh it's nice to have a husband who loves my cooking! I know there's a lot more to a marriage, but that definitely helps. :) 

Our friendly front door pumpkin from Victory Acres Farm

The yummy apples on our front yard tree

Monday, October 13, 2008

The Chicago Marathon

We went to Chicago this weekend to cheer on my cousin Kendall in his first ever marathon. 26.2 miles. Wow. It was intense! He did great though and finished under his goal time of 5 hours. We were all really proud of him. 

Here are a few pics of the weekend....

Rob and I about to board the El. We stayed with our friends Luke and Sarah in their very cool downtown condo Saturday night. 

We're waiting for Kendall to come by around mile 5. I was trying to get a picture from the front of us but there were so many people running it was impossible!

A random picture of people running around mile 9. 

Mattias with his pom-pom and peanut butter sandwich cheering daddy on

Kendall on a pit stop getting advil from Heather around mile 9

Marco being so patient in Chinatown! The boys held up so well even with being trucked all over the city. The piggybacks probably helped... :) 

More pom-poms! Waiting for daddy to go by at mile 22 in Chinatown

At the end of the race! Finally all reunited

Over 44,000 people ran the race this weekend, a sight I will not soon forget. The amazing thing was there were so many different kinds of people -- racially, gender, age, body types, different countries, you name it. Some people were running for a cause -- World Vision, leukemia, diabetes, breast cancer, again, you name it. Everyone running had a story. It was very cool to see so many people coming together for a reason and pushing themselves so hard. It definitely didn't make me ever want to run a marathon, but it was inspiring. 

Monday, October 6, 2008

Top 10 on Summer

Now that fall is officially here, I wanted to take a minute and reflect on the best parts of this past summer. So here we go, David Letterman style. 

Number 10: Ice cream. Nothing says summer like ice cream. Ok, really, Ivanhoes can be eaten at any time of the year (the pumpkin shake is my new fav right now) but summer is obviously the best time. 

Number 9: Festivals and garage sales. They were everywhere this summer! We particularly enjoyed First Fridays in downtown Marion, the Upland Strawberry Festival, Van Buren Popcorn Festival, and Octoberfest this past weekend, also in Marion. I know we missed a bunch, but the tenderloins and sweet tea we had at all those were plenty to last all summer. Plus, we made some money and saw some great sights at our own Labor Day weekend garage sale. Can't beat the garage sales in mid-summer Indiana!

Number 8: Morning walks with Miriam and Lisa. Yes, they were early, but the sunrises and the great conversations were beautiful. Upland in the middle of summer is so peaceful, particularly in the early mornings and it was always a great way to start off the day. Now that it's getting colder...well, needless to say it's a bit harder to get out of bed.....

Number 7: Being warm. I am writing this blog under a blanket right now because our house is COLD! I love those summer days when you can walk outside and the temperature is just right. I also like those days that are really, really hot. (I know not everyone will agree with me there) But I just like to be warm. Period.

Number 6: Decorating our little house. What a treat to finally have a home to decorate! Thanks in huge part to my mom coming for four days in July our house finally has some furniture and wall decorations. I love it. I love finding new pieces to add to the whole look. I know our material possessions do not define us on earth and we can't take them with us, but it's so nice to have a home that feels like us and is so nicely decorated. 

Number 5: Our flowers. I had both the joy and discouragement this summer of plantings. First, to my sheer delight the morning glory seeds I planted grew strong and tall against our arbor. We were also blessed by the plantings of black eyed susans, purple cone flowers, and lilies by our landlords last spring. What a wonderful treat to have those flowers greeting us every morning! I loved it. My discouragement was in my herb pots. Not so much luck there and hopefully better luck next year. 

Number 4: The knowledge of a HOME. Last year not having a permanent home was a real struggle for me. I know it's nothing compared to being homeless, but not having a place to call your own while waiting to get married and make a home with that person was really hard for me. Finally, this summer I felt like I had a home with Rob. What an incredible feeling. To come HOME everyday, to a place that is safe and ours (by paying the rent every month of course) is such a good feeling. Also making that home with him and making it a place we want to come home to and hang out in is really great. 

Number 3: Our CSA farm, Victory Acres. I cannot say enough good about being part of a CSA farm. Wow, where do I even start? For just over $200 we got (and are still receiving!) 20 weeks of fresh, organic, local produce of all varieties. There were some weeks this summer we couldn't eat it fast enough. What an incredible blessing to be so close to such an amazing farm and be living and eating in a way that pleases the Lord. I think now that fall is here I'm going to have to learn how to cook all over again without all my fresh veggies! We definitely ate like kings and queens this summer. 

Number 2: As always, being with our family and friends. Particularly right before we were married, during our wedding weekend, and then right after the wedding (our weekend in Chicago with Ash and Noel in particular) and several times at family weddings since then. We were so blessed by how many people came all the way out to PA for our wedding. They truly made our day so special. 

Number 1: How could I say anything else but our wedding and honeymoon?! I couldn't. We had such a special day on June 29th and I couldn't have asked for anything more. Since that day we've been experiencing the incredible joy and intimacy of marriage and it is so sweet. I am beyond blessed to get to spend each day with my best friend. I know there will be many more summers to come that are even sweeter. 

Don't get me wrong, I love fall. I think the richness of Indiana's landscape this time of year is so magnificent. Every day on our drive to and from work I wish I had a camera to attempt to capture the beauty of the weeds, flowers, fields, sky, and trees. I am not so much a fan of the cold setting in, but I know it is all part of this cycle of life we live in and it is still good. 

So as my husband would say, "adios verano" and hello fall. Welcome to a new season.