Purpose...

 
Sometimes we do things for a purpose...Back in late March (2012) I was with a colleague in Fresno, Art Dyson (http://arthurdyson.com). Art and I have been involved in a high school master plan, programming and design in Fresno, CA. The project started in late 2010 and is now through Schematic Design. There have been many, many community and committee meetings, all of which Art and I have either lead or participated in. Art is great community supporter, as evidenced by his many awards and certificates. You can see a list on his web site. Although not nearly as active as Art, I too believe in supporting the community, no matter where you live and no matter what you do. I believe that one of the keys to the success of our educational system is in the support the school community gives to its schools by volunteering. In March, I noticed Art was sporting longer hair and forming a pony tail. I recalled that not too long ago he had a similar doo, but then it was, one day, shorter. Upon questioning, Art informed me that he was on his second pony tail, all in support of Locks of Love. (http://locksoflove.org) There are so many things that I can't do, but one thing I can do is grow hair. There is a restriction on grey hair, but they do accept white hair and that is what I have. Thanks Mom. I'm not a hap-hazard kind of person. I generally think things out, analyze the potential outcome and strategize about the best approach and then implement. However, there are times when I abandon all of this and just do something. Was this one of those times.? I remember a community member at one of the high school planning meetings asked about my now increasing in length very white hair, she was kind, and said it was "going to look good, once it grew out". Oh and how about the reactions from my buddies at home...simply put they can't stop giving me a hard time. (perhaps they are jealous, if you know what I mean). As I step into Starbucks for coffee, into my favorite neighborhood cafe, or restaurant, or as I walk through the airport, I get lots of looks...or at least it feels like I do. So, you might ask by now, whats the point? I really believe that everything we do in life is for a purpose, consciously or unconsciously. As an Architect who programs, plans and designs public buildings and in particular schools, I carry a great deal of responsibility. Listening and understanding how people work, learn, deliver educational programs and other public services is critical to designing effective and efficient facilities. Architects are in a position to be the first line of defense when it comes to spending the public money on facilities. On purpose we need to be committed to early definitions, early visioning, and creating public facilities that are relevant, promote program success and are long term attributes to the community. We can not afford to be hap-hazard. So, in thinking about the decision to move ahead with the long hair, it was not a hap-hazard decision. It was a decision made based on a purpose. Sometimes, when making these kinds of purposeful decisions you need to be prepared to take the heat. I'm prepared.

Moving ON 2...

This week I experienced another example of having to move on. A very difficult part of life is facing the fact that we are not going to live forever and sometimes the end is sudden and tragic.

A number of years ago I was introduced to a very special friend, Harvey.  He is the brother in law of a great friend. I first met Harvey in Olympia, Washington. At the time I was on my first year as a Board Member for Morningside (www.morningsideservices.com) a non-profit organization that provides assistance to physically and mentally handicap adults. Harvey was a client off and on and had a very interesting reputation with the organization; a good reputation, one of respect and concern for his privacy.  Harvey usually was not too far behind in moving with his family to wherever they were going. His sister, his niece and his brother in law have been his care takers, making sure that he always had a roof over his head and food in his stomach. Speaking of food Harvey always let you know that food, music and church were his most important components of life. He never turned down an invitation to his favorite local buffet. 

When Harvey moved to Stockton CA, to join his family, I visited his apartment. I was introduced to his second passion, music. Harvey had a record collection of thousands of 33's, 45's, and 78's. He knew everyone of the songs, the albums and the singers or bands on everyone of the records, and in some cases he could sing and or play the song for you. He loved karaoke; he was often heard practicing in his apartment. He visited the local record establishments in Stockton looking for music he did not have, he was never that successful, as his collection typically out did most anyone’s. Gospel Music became Harvey's number one passion.

The last move for Harvey was back to Olympia, WA. It is interesting how life has its connections. After a number of months, his family had a new opportunity outside the area, but felt Harvey was well connected in Olympia with his friends, church and some work relationships and so this time Harvey was not to move. They began to look for a spot to ensure Harvey a comfortable place to live that also included some care. My wife and I knew of a family that had built a place where their son was staying. My wife, when on a mission, is diligent, and she approached the family and sure enough they had a spot for Harvey. It was a great spot with built in friends, a care taker that provided the "mom" needs and the independence that Harvey always wanted. His family would visit Olympia at least once a month to make sure he was doing ok and to discuss any needs. He was well taken care of.

Harvey was always looking for interesting job opportunities. He worked a few hours a week at the Olympia Co-op and at the Food Bank, where he was "in-charge" of bagging and roller carts, and talking to customers. He had, in just the past few weeks, secured a job at Home Depot; oh he was so excited about going to work at Home Depot. 

I have to tell you that I was on the phone with Harvey's brother in law last Thursday and we happen to get into a conversation concerning Harvey. The very next day I received a very frantic call, Harvey had been hit by a car in Olympia and was in surgery. The outlook was not good.

On Monday of this week I had a chance to visit Harvey in his hospital room. He was unconscious, and had been so since the accident. Harvey died the next day at high noon, three days short of his 52 birthday.

He was and will continue to be one of the most unique individuals that I have ever encountered. It has been my privilege to know him and to call him my friend.

His family now has the responsibility to MOVE ON. Harvey would insist. Life is so demanding, I read this very interesting statement from the Dalai Lama.....

“Every one of us is getting older, which is a natural process. Time is constantly moving on, second by second. Nothing can stop it, but what we can do is use our time properly; that is in our hands. Whether we believe in a spiritual tradition or not, we need to use our time meaningfully. If over days, weeks, months and years, we have used our time in a meaningful way – when our last day comes, we'll be happy, we'll have no regrets.”

I’m sure Harvey has no regrets!

Moving ON!

There are so many good things that I have been involved with over the last 12 years; From large projects such as the Stanford Linear Accelerator phase two buildings, to the 8 classroom pods for seven different schools in the Fresno Unified School District. I have been lucky enough to work with some great people; people who have the same overall philosophy that I have...we do school planning and design to better the environment for learning for both the students and the teachers. And if it is not a school project, it is still an environment that people occupy, raise a family, grow old, drink and dine, have conversations and work. As architects we affect every segment of the population, poor, rich, young and old. 

Over the course of this last week I have contemplated where do I go from here? The last three years has been intense; building an educational studio and finding projects to plan and design in an almost none existent economy.  I leave behind some great talent, some great friends and some terrific projects. I love what I do; I enjoy having the opportunity to create environments that people can be excited about and I love working with great people. 

I have a strong connection to the beginning of a project, the program development, the definition stage. Where the base line of a project is set. Too many times this stage does not get the attention that it should. Time and time over I have seen a better end product when stakeholders have spent the time to thoroughly define spaces and functional relationship before design begins. Put down the "pencils" don't start drawing solutions until you have defined the issues. As I develop this blog, I hope whomever is looking on will add to my comments. You don't have to agree...just carry on a decent conversation!


Graphic: Pinned from Pinterest.com 
Original Quote from cherrybam.com