Day 4 November 3

Today was my best friend's birthday. I live in Chicago and she lives in North Carolina. Every year, I try to be one of the first people to wish her a Happy Birthday. I called about 9:00 am her time, and sang Happy Birthday. I waited until 9:00 am to make sure that she is up. She was thrilled. I always joke that I will keep looking for a day job, because my singing isn't that great.

I learned today that a friend of mine is moving to China. We arranged to have lunch together, and I told her that I want to give her a canvas tote bag with one of Tom's Chicago skyline photographs on it as a remembrance. I figured that it would be a nice souvenir, and it would pack easily. I also wanted to pay for lunch, and she said that she had wanted to take me to lunch. Sometimes we have to be able to graciously receive things from other people.

For example, my Dad would never let us take him and my Mom to dinner. He would always have to pay. Because of that, when my student interns wanted to take me to lunch at the end of their internship, I accepted their gift of lunch to me.

It can be hard for a boss or a parent to receive a gift from their "junior". In those cases, we have to gently let them know how important it is for us, the "junior" to be able to give to them. And, that it is just as important for them to accept the gift, dinner, etc. graciously from their "junior".