Circle of Life...all in one day

Friday, July 15, I attended a funeral, a wedding and a baby shower. I experienced a full range of emotions and a deeper level of introspection…much more than a typical Friday.

Baby Shower
The morning started with a ‘food day’ celebrating the pending arrival of baby Levi. Everything from cheesey-bacon-tator tots, a breakfast casserole, monkey bread, the token healthy fruit tray and of course, cupcakes with the plastic safety pin topper. I had a really interesting conversation with Amy, the expectant mother, about what a true miracle it is that a woman’s body can conceive and grow a baby to term…everything from eye lashes to fingernails and the ability to laugh and cry. While I will never have this life experience, I can certainly appreciate the magnitude.

It makes me think…a newborn baby represents the possibilities that life offers. Maybe little Levi will be the next president of the United States or beat Michael Phelps’ Olympic gold medal record in swimming or invent the next generation’s iPod or simply be a good man who loves his family, is happy and enjoys life to the fullest.

Babies start with a clean slate. Babies aren’t born with racism or homophobia. They don’t know how to bully or gossip. Their laughter is pure joy. They are more curious about the cardboard box than the expensive designer toy. As they grow older their imagination has the ability to turn a blanket into a secret castle. When you ask them what they want to be when they grow up they say “a baseball player, a fireman AND a doctor”…no limits, everything is possible.

Funeral
Mid-morning I left the office to attend my first Jewish funeral service. The funeral was for my friend Sandy’s father who had passed away at the age of 95. I was raised Catholic so I’m most familiar with a full funeral mass. (I know this is dorky but I Googled “jewish funeral service” to see what to expect.) The temple was a simple room compared to many Catholic Churches with their mosaics, stained glass windows and statues. But the acoustics were perfect to hear Rabbi Amy Feder officiate the service.

The minimal service had a comforting flow of poignant readings, quotes, commentary and songs. The Rabbi’s voice was simply beautiful unaccompanied by an organ or piano as I’m used to. The verses she sang had this ancient rhythm that drew me into their rituals and traditions. And when the Rabbi spoke, she displayed emotion and passion unlike Catholic priests and lectors who tend to read in a robotic monotone. As sad as funerals can be, I appreciate the gift it is to share this experience with a close friend.

Sandy’s brother spoke and the rabbi read letters from Sandy and her sister to their father. It’s inspiring to hear the love and admiration for a man who deeply touched many lives. Sometimes people discount your grief of someone who dies at an advanced age…”oh he lived a long life” or “it was time.” I think this makes the grief more profound because you have more years of memories and experiences with the person who is now gone.

It makes me think…have I lived my life creating the memories and experiences that I will be satisfied with at the end? Have I taken advantage of all those possibilities that lie before me when I was born?

Wedding
I hurriedly left the office to commute through rush-hour traffic to get to the 5:30 wedding ceremony of my cousin Jared. I think weddings are the ultimate act of optimism. More marriages end in divorces than last ‘till death do us part’…so anyone who is willing to stand up in front of their closest friends and families and make this commitment knowing the odds are against them has to be filled with optimism that their relationship is different.

It makes me think...when you’re sitting in church you can’t help but reflect on your own life, your own hopes and your own relationships. Watching two people who are truly in love is inspiring. I like that feeling of optimism.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the funeral service they brought the casket over to the family for a final moment before the procession out of the temple. My heart broke as Sandy’s mom sobbed, calling out to her husband with such pain her voice. Her grief was palpable in the room. They had been together 68 years, what a gift. Life and all of its experiences, good and bad, is a gift. And it’s days like this that remind you to appreciate it.

and PS: wow what a crazy thought filled Friday!

What's below the surface?

I recently had dinner in south St. Louis city at Crusoe’s (deeeelicious Mayfair dressing btw) and as I was walking to my car I noticed the old cobblestones showing through the asphalt on a side street. It made me wonder about the story beneath the surface. What historical figures may have ridden down that same road in a horse drawn carriage? Or who were the men charged with the back-breaking labor of laying those bricks by hand years and years ago.

My next door neighbor has lived there for 25+ years. He told me that at different times in its history my house was a crack house and a whore house! So now visions of Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds singing and dancing come to mind…but it’s one of the reasons I love my house…there’s over 100 years of stories to be told.

I’ve been observing people through different eyes lately…trying to see what’s below the surface. The woman who won’t leave the house without her Coach purse with giant C’s all over that screams to everyone that she spent $400; the loud-talker who has nothing substantial to report in a meeting but talks louder than everyone to make you think what he says is important; the handsome pathological liar guy who makes up outlandish stories to impress you; the quiet friend with the big blue eyes who is never the center of attention but is always observing everyone and everything…what are they hiding? What do they know? Who hurt them in their past? What are they afraid of?

I may work with some of these people…they may be my friends...and as I navigate the relationships it makes life a lot more interesting trying to connect with what’s below the surface.

Life in the city

I really do love living in an urban area. I love my 100+year old historical home. It’s geographically desirable in relation to my social life. My neighborhood is a melting pot of humanity. Cherokee street has become a Little Mexico. I’m very close to the South Grand neighborhood which has a heavy influence from Asian Americans. And of course African American and Caucasian.

I inherited my mother’s talking gene which means I tend to strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. So here are a few stories from my life in the city.

“I’m on the disability”
I was pumping gas at the local Conoco. A young African American man was at the opposite pump. He was driving an SUV with the fancy, shiny rims. I struck up a conversation with him by complimenting his fun plaid shorts. His friend limps up to the pump…an older man walking with a cane. He joins the conversation.

Man: “Hey baby, how you doing?”
Me: “Good thanks, how’re you?”
Man: “Good baby, do you have a boyfriend?”
Me: “Yes, thanks, I’m dating someone.”
Man: “Aw come on baby, I’m on the disability. Do you know what you get on the disability? Baby, I could take care of you.”….

“Blackbox”
I finished my grocery shopping at Save-A-Lot and went to rent a movie at the Redbox. There were two African American fellas hanging out on the sidewalk. They were rapping and beat boxing as I walked up. The same guy from the first story is one of the men but he doesn’t recognize me. And he’s lost the limp and the cane. He initiates the conversation.

Man 1: “Hey baby, you want to buy a DVD?”
Me: “No thanks, I just want to rent.”
Man 1: “Come on baby, we’re just trying to make buck” (or something like that)
Man 2: “Forget the Redbox, baby I’m the Black Box”

Are you kidding me? That is hilarious and brilliant! As a marketer I could not ignore a tag line that clever!

Me: “Blackbox!? That is awesome. Ok what do you have?”
Man 2: “Resident Evil Trilogy, Saw IV, My Bloody Valentine”…then they both pause, look up, look at me and kind of laugh and say something like “she’s not into that …what else do we have?”

I end up buying “Grown Ups” from my local Blackbox. Love this neighborhood!

“Stamps”
This happened this week. I ran into Save-A-Lot after my workout. A woman stopped me in the parking lot.

Woman: “Hey baby, can I ask you a question?”
Me: “Sure”
Woman: “Would you like to buy some stamps? I can sell you X# of books for $X.”
I can’t remember the exact amount or dollars. I just said “no thank you, I don’t need any stamps.”

As I walked away she said “no... Food Stamps!”

My friend Fern, who happens to be African American, calls me the “whitest girl on earth.” I think this last story confirms that.

Life is really just one big, unpredictable hike

For the second major hike of my life, I chose a 4-8pm timeslot so I could experience the red rock as the sun was setting. Of course I hired Tom Reich and his dog Summit again since I had such an exhilarating first hike with them.

We drove to the Bell Rock access point. I saw several families with small children coming out so I was reassured this hike would be within my skill level. Several women were even wearing flip flops…are you kidding me?!

Immediately the incline felt very steep, I could feel my heart rate race and I was breathing heavily. The hike was very different from my first trail that wound through the trees and up the mountain on a clearly marked trail. This one was more wide open slide rock and felt more like rock climbing than hiking (at least in my beginner hiking mind). We got to a stopping point so I could get a drink of water and I was shocked at how far we had come in such a short time in both horizontal and vertical distance. Breathtaking view once again.

At this point the ‘hike’ looked like a giant vertical rock and I was petrified! With nothing to hold onto how the hell was I getting my 45 year old @$$ up there! I stopped and told Jim I couldn’t do it. There was a couple right behind us so I let them go ahead. Once I saw them navigate the rock I was mildly reassured that I could do it. It just felt nearly impossible at that point. I’ve never encountered anything like that. No place for your hands to grab onto to help pull you up or simply for balance. No ropes, caribeners, no safety net. And in my mind, it seemed too easy to lose your balance and fall backwards and tumble down hundreds of feet over the rocky terrain!

Jim could feel my anxiety and he offered to hold my hand going up this route, offered a different, less vertical climb or we could turn around and go back down. I opted to push myself to try the vertical climb. Of course my heart was racing and I was probably cursing the craziness in my mind but we proceeded up the rock. We went a couple more levels and then I had to stop. Because now I’m thinking about how are we going to get down!

I felt good about pushing myself that far but I didn’t need to add to the extreme hiking adventure I was experiencing! Jim was terrific coming back down. At several points we sat down to scoot down the rock at steeper drops. Bell Rock had humbled me and I owned my nerdiness and scooted down with pride!

At one point, Jim took off his hiking sandals so his bare feet could absorb the vortex energy. Really? If he can hike down in bare feet, I can certainly hike down without crying like a little baby.

In retrospect, my view of easy/beginner hiking at the beginning of this trip envisioned simple, clearly marked, zig-zagging trails up and down mountains. I did not imagine slide rocks or the big river rocks. I did not plan to cross a creek barefoot. I did not envision vertical climbs. I did not envision the near paralyzing fear and crazy racing heart pounding in my chest. There’s a metaphor to life in here somewhere. Jim’s definition of easy might be a little warped because of his experience. Life can’t be all easy hikes with clearly marked trails. You have to get your heart and blood racing every once-in-awhile…makes you feel like you’re really alive. And yes there will be situations that seem to paralyze you with fear. But when you conquer the creek, the big river rocks or the vertical climb… you feel satisfied and proud. And you feel the possibility...



and PS...the photo is looking down the vertical. It's MUCH steeper in real life!

Best Sedona Hiking Guide

Jim Reich is your man! I first found him on Trip Advisor where he received rave reviews. As I continued my online research, his site sedonahikingadventures.com kept coming up. His hikes are not ‘cookie cutter’ hikes for large groups of tourists, they are customized to your skill level, taste and interest.

I emailed him the week before I arrived to see what his availability might be. We spoke on the phone and based on our rapport, I booked two hikes with him. I explained that I was in decent shape but wanted an ‘easy’ hike and wanted his dog, Summit to join us.

Jim picked me up at my hotel and he gave me a brief driving tour of several hikes near my condo that I could conquer on my own later in the week. We stopped at Euro Deli (Omg delicious sandwiches!) to get our lunch to eat on the trail.

We began our hike around 10:30. We started up the Wilson trail, a nice, comfortable but challenging incline. My new Merrell hiking shoes handled the trail and the red rocks nicely….no blisters! All along the way Jim narrated what peaks we could see, the history of the name, how to hike to the top etc. He was patient when I needed to stop for a drink of water and to catch my breath. My eyes were so focused on the trail, looking down to make sure I didn’t miss step, I had to purposely choose to stop, to breathe, take in the view and to appreciate the beauty. Parts of the trail were narrow and on the edge of a steep drop if I slipped or lost my concentration. Jim carried his own camera so he could help document my hike. I should have counted how many times I said “WOW”! Breathtaking, stunning, amazing, awesome are some of the words that come to mind that still don’t do the red rocks justice!

We ended the first trail back at the parking lot and continued down towards a creek for lunch and swimming. At this point I was already fatigued and hungry…and anyone who knows me, knows that I only get crabby when I’m tired or hungry and now I’m both!

We took a simple trail down to the creek area then Jim explained we needed to hike a little further up the flood plan over these big river rocks to get to our secluded spot he had named “Dave’s Rock”. As we are walking, climbing and jumping from rock to rock, I wonder out loud, “Jim do you consider this an easy hike?!” It was a fantastic work-out and challenge to my balance skills but I was fatigued and hungry for lunch! And secretly in my head I was thinking “are you effing kidding me? I’m paying this guy to effing torture me!”

Then we get to a point where we have to cross the creek to get to Dave’s rock. I was not prepared with water shoes so Jim carried my shoes and backpack. I was close to losing it at this point. I joke that I am a delicate flower. I’m not an out-doorsy girl who hikes all the time. I had a spa pedicure a few days before the trip. And now I’m crossing a creek barefoot with my OPI Pink Flamenco toes! Are you kidding me?!

Jim was extremely patient and supportive the whole way. He kept reassuring me I was going great and it was going to be worth it. I’m sure I cursed outloud the whole way but I arrived safely across the creek and climbed up on Dave’s rock for lunch.

And yes, Jim was right, it was totally worth it! The view again was stunning. It was only 70 degrees and very windy, so sitting on this giant sandstone red rock in the middle of the creek was perfect! (photo above shows the creek I crossed and the height we hiked down to get to the creek) My ‘italiano’ sandwich from Euro Deli was satisfying and delicious…hard baguette, salami, prosciutto, provolone, mozzarella, roasted red peppers…mmm mmmmm! Jim also brought Cactus Juice to drink, a unique blend of cactus, apple and lime juice.

After we ate, Jim moved to another rock and took his meditation pose. I simply laid back flat on the rock to stretch my back, relax and meditate. The sound of the water, birds chirping, ducks quacking, the warmth of the sun on my face and the strength and heat of the rock supporting me made for a relaxing mediation. I shut my eyes and tried to clear my mind. I lay there for what I thought was maybe 10 or 15 minutes. I opened my eyes and checked the time…it had been 40 minutes! I don’t think I fell asleep. I do feel the energy took me to a relaxing, meditative state. So perfect for my first hike in Sedona!

Vacation Planning Technology

So here I am in a Sedona coffee shop filled with locals, Java Love Café, I highly recommend. I booked this trip about a month and a half ago on an impulse. Now Sedona has been on my list for a long time but the actual decision was made one day in a half hour at lunch in my office.

As a time share owner, I have access to other properties at random times called “Getaways.” So every-once-in-awhile I search availability just for fun, to day dream and possibly plan a trip. Well, April 11, 2011, Sedona finally showed up with availability! And not just an odd date in a week’s time, Memorial Day week! (9 day vacation for only 4 vacation days :))I quickly checked flights on Southwest, they were still affordable so I booked the trip. And the research began…

I read reviews of the Sedona Summit on Trip Advisor. As I said, I’m a time share owner so I’m used to the hard sell when you check in. This place got hammered with bad reviews because of the aggressive sales people. It also had super positive reviews for the rooms, amenities and location. The picture above is one of the breath-taking views from the property. Perfect!

I love the pre-vacation anticipation and exploring the activities the destination has to offer. And as a marketer, Wow! I love SEO for this! Found this coffee shop where I’ve met the most interesting local fellas! Found the Cowboy Club restaurant where I ate snake, buffalo and cactus for the first time ever. (Touristy and crowded but fun to try the funky, weird food) Found my private hiking guide Jim from sedonahikingadventures.com online. He’s become my own personal Sedona concierge and you’ll hear more about him in my next entry. I also booked a body wrap and sunrise balloon ride thanks to the handy, dandy SEO.

And my brother-in-law’s very polite GPS lady guided me to Sedona with zero wrong turns and no stress.

Now that I’m here, I’m not completely detaching from technology. Got a phone call and a few texts on my Blackberry during my hike yesterday! So weird that I got service way out there but not in my room! That’s fine, I need time to quiet my mind, breathe deeply, feel the energy and shut this laptop down!

24K: Behind the name

24K, Reliv’s healthy energy shot, was officially launched 2.3.11 to rave reviews from the field. Sponsoring and sales are up. We can feel the momentum building. In my 20 year marketing career, I have never worked for a company with a tangible, consumer packaged good so this was a very exciting project for me personally. Name, label, pre-launch teaser campaign, launch and post-launch campaign etc. Pretty Cool!

The process began for marketing back in July of 2010 with writing a document that described the overall strategy for the product so we could begin trying to choose a name. The document detailed the target audiences, the key benefits, why our product would be different and better, and the general ‘personality’ of the product.

We began a series of brainstorming sessions around the key benefits of energy and mental clarity/focus. We cranked out hundreds of ideas. We looked at Greek mythology, we translated the words energy or focus into other languages, created acronyms, tried single letters to the nth degree and made up new words. Every time we narrowed it down to our favorites and these were submitted to legal, they were all taken. This happened over and over. Any obvious word or phrase was trademarked.

Carpe Drink’em was a team favorite that never made it to legal. It is now our trademarked name for our happy hour events!

I searched websites on Harry Potter charms, spells, characters etc for nonsense words for inspiration. I found online name generating tools that combined prefixes and random groups of letters to form nonsense words. I even found an English to Klingon translator tool. Did you know that hoSDo means ‘energy beings’ in Klingon?

Finally in October we had real samples of the product in near final formulation! We could taste it and see it. Our SVP of sales started thinking about the color of the product and thought to himself that this stuff is pure gold! This turned into 24K. Then he asked his dad (aka our Chief Science Officer who also formulated the product) how many active ingredients were in the product…thank you Dr. Carl! 24 active ingredients and four months later we had a name!