As the elevator doors opened, I saw the smoke billowing in the distance through the wide windows facing south behind the receptionist’s desk. It was the morning of September 11, 2001.As I take a few moments today to commemorate and contemplate, my thoughts begin with the memory of where I was and those first and following moments, hours and days.

When I started my business 18 years ago, all I had to know was how to talk to people, use a phone and be able to mail CDs in stamped, self-addressed envelopes to people too far away to meet in person. It was much simpler then and I don’t think I'm alone in having to stay on top of a rapidly changing business landscape. 

I don’t know how I fell into such luck to be your Tuesday blogger – rather than any other day of the week.  Being your Tuesday blogger means that every year I get to tell you all about our golf outing.  

This past weekend, we celebrated my mother-in-law’s, Marion’s,  ninetieth year of life. It was an incredible celebration bringing together family, from near and far, as well as people with whom she has maintained friendships with for over eighty years.  

Just over a week ago, I attended another show with Marisa. If not for that week’s proud parent moment covered last Sunday, today’s blog would have appeared that day.

America once thrived on a spirit of working together for the greater good. When people wanted change, it came from individuals banding together, mostly within the law. The America I grew up in was built on freedom, shared purpose, diversity, compassion, law-abiding, and peace. It was okay to disagree and argue, so long as we ultimately compromised and moved forward.   Today, fear is wielded as a tool of control to exploit our institutions for self-interest. Our challenge appears simple to me: choose unity and a greater purpose, or lose what once made us strong.

I am a long time Football Giants fan.  In 1956, I attended the 47-7 NFL title game victory over the Chicago Bears at Yankee Stadium, when the Giants wore sneakers on an icy field. I returned two years later to witness Pat Summerall's 49 yard game winning field goal into the snow against the Cleveland Browns and, two weeks later, suffered the "Greatest Game Ever Played", when the Baltimore Colts defeated the Giants 23-17 in overtime (I still believe Gifford made the first down and that they should have gone for it on 4th down). 

Generally speaking, we like choices and options.And one choice we face almost daily is whether to pay by credit card or cash. (Whether influenced by the ubiquitous added fee or not.)There’s an ice cream shop in Edgartown that is “cash only”.