Chris on the left, me on the right.
First up, Chris Keck. Chris was born the day after me in June 1967. He’s one of my oldest and dearest friends, and one of the funniest people I’ve known. That runs in his family. He's also a devoted father to four daughters, all younger than eight years old. Let that sink in. When he’s not working as a marketing manager at MediBadge in Omaha, Nebraska, he's coaching soccer, basketball, or another sport for his daughters' teams; in the school drop-off/pick-up lane; seeing a new movie at the theater; on the golf course; reading; being an uncle; or more. Likely, though, he’s working out or at thinking about it. I choose to interview Chris first because I knew he’d say yes, and because he’s one of three friends I've had for 40-plus years that help define “friendship” for me: different but the same. Look for interviews with the other two soon.
Q: We've known each other since about sixth grade when you moved to Ashland, Nebraska, where we grew up. What do recall about how we met or started to be in the same space a lot?
I don’t remember a whole lot about that, to be honest. I just kind of remember always being friends. I’m pretty sure we probably met through Tim. He lived the closest to me, and we started hanging out mostly on the walk home from school, and that’s how I got introduced to you. Kind of by osmosis maybe. The neighborhood and at the pool and the park. Then, we started playing tennis and probably did that nonstop for a few years. All those matches with Daryl, Tim, you, and me. All pretending to be McEnroe or Lendl or Bjorn Borg and so on. Maybe even a little Jimmy Connors in there. Ha. The pool and tennis, for sure.
Q: We've road tripped to Graceland together. We've both stood at the microphone Elvis used, stayed at Heartbreak Hotel multiple times, and love Memphis in general. You even had a dog named Memphis. What is it about Elvis after all these years that still makes him cool, and what's the best Elvis movie, bar none?
Elvis, I’m sure a lot of what makes him cool is that he had so much hype around him, that the legend probably is bigger than the man, but that’s probably true in many cases. Having said that, though, I mean, c’mon. He was probably one of the first to have an actual, legit entourage—the Memphis Mafia. And they could all sing. They were “yes” men for sure, and probably more than a few hangers-on, but I think he enjoyed having all his buddies around, and I think many of them actually joined in on the singing if it broke out. Probably like living in a musical. At least that’s how I imagine it. He had all the bling. He rented out a whole theater. I think the cool factor really is that he was just the first one to do all that stuff, and it was all right there for everyone to see.
Q: You’re a major movie junkie. For years, you've gone to the theater with the same one friend to see new releases. What's the movie you think of when you think about your parents, about sports, about growing up, and about being a father? Also, if a person needed to get in a good cry, what's the movie that will do it?
The movie that makes me think of my parents, I think of the first movies I went to in the theater. A couple of those that really stick with me are “The Apple Dumpling Gang” and one of the “Herbie The Love Bug” movies. We went to see Herbie in Norfolk, Nebraska, and when we came out after the movie, there was an actual Herbie Beetle parked right at the curb. I was probably six or seven.
Sports, oh man, there are a bunch. “Breaking Away” was probably the first one that I remember, and I’ve always enjoyed it. “Vision Quest” might be my favorite, though. All the Rocky’s are in there, except 5, but I’m not sure those are true "sports" movies.
Growing up has to be “Star Wars.” That movie changed everything about going to the movies, at least for me. When it opened, my dad drove me all the way to Omaha from Norfolk to see it at the Indian Hills theater. I saw all of them there, actually. But those first three movies covered from sixth grade to my senior year in high school, and I had to see those. That’s nerdy I know, but I still watch them today.
A favorite movie about growing up, though, is “Stand By Me.” There’s a scene where they are all running across the train bridge and Jerry O’Connell’s character, the heavy-set kid, is literally crawling across this bridge when the train is coming. That is exactly me. I was walking across the train bridge over the Salt Creek, and I don’t remember for sure who I was with, I want to say you and Tim, but I am really afraid of heights. I was crawling across that damn bridge and probably crying a little bit, too. Every time I see that movie, I think about that. We were probably going somewhere to shoot BB guns or something.
For a good cry, “Marley and Me” was horrible. It was a good movie, but there is no getting around it. So, see it by yourself or with someone who will understand. I think the book was worse. My most recent dog, Memphis, was a yellow lab. Whenever there are animals and something goes bad it gets me. There have been several that have caught me off guard, too. Most recently was probably “Coco.” It’s an animated one, and I thought it would be fun to watch with the girls. And then I was explaining things, and I was upset and happy all at the same time; it was sort of a mess.
I tend to avoid those movies with that potential when me and my buddy go see a movie. We tend to stick to the action or comedy genres. Being a father to girls, it has to be “Father of the Bride.” I don't know why, probably because that’s what everyone mentions when they find out that I have four girls. “Oh man, you better start saving for the weddings.” I like Steve Martin, too, and I’m sure there are others, but that’s the one that just pops in my head.
Q: How would characterize what the 1970s and 1980s were like for you and I growing up compared to the world our kids are now navigating? I mean, you legitimately rolled the Dig Dug game at the Gas N' Shop when we were 12 or 13, and we all stood watching like we were helping you. Where do kids today get that kind of innocent fun and camaraderie?
I remember being outside a lot. There was the whole “when the street lights came on” thing, but that just got us back to the yard. Then, it was “kick the can” or something until it was time to go to bed. Even in the winter, it was constantly outside, and I remember digging in the big snowdrifts that the plows would make and making a snow fort or sledding nonstop. And my parents weren’t out there watching, either. If you wiped out on your bike or skateboard, you really had to evaluate the situation. Did you go inside and report the accident? Or did you soldier on? Unless it was broken or bleeding really badly, you took a second or two and got back to it.
If you went home to check in, that could bring about all sorts of interruptions to the day. There would be questions like, “How high was this ramp that you jumped off?” Or, “What did you think you were doing? If Blaine jumped off a bridge, would you?” And no one really knows or wants the answer to that question. When we were a little older, we would go to the arcade, or like you mentioned, Dig Dug was at Gas N’ Shop, and we would just go. I’m not even sure I specifically asked to go. We just got on our bikes and rode there. I’m not sure when parents then started worrying, like seriously worrying. Maybe if I wasn’t home to eat.
Today, and I’m guilty of this for sure, there's a lot more hovering going on. My girls will go out to play on the swing set, and I’m there watching, making sure it’s all OK. When they fall or something, I do try to not just dote on them if it’s just a fall. Kind of need to learn the difference between a little pain and true injury. But, still, I’m there to push them on the swing and all of that. Even if they’re out in the driveway with chalk, one of us is out there watching. I think they get that camaraderie at school, or we set up a lot of play dates. Then, if I know where they are, I try to just let them be.
My oldest is almost eight, so she isn’t able to just go anywhere unless we take her somewhere, so that’s a big difference, too. Back in the day, you just hopped on your bike, and you were gone. Either to the pool or just riding around. You know, thinking about it, I don’t know if living where we live if it will ever be like that. Maybe when they get into high school, and I have no idea what that looks like in a few years, but once a kid has her own transportation or has a friend with transportation, I think it opens up some options. But the hanging out at the arcade with your buddies and eating chips and getting the biggest Coke they have and all that . . . man, I’m not sure they’ll get to experience that. Sure, I’ll do it with them tomorrow if they want, but I think those days might be over. Playing with someone long distance on the Xbox or PlayStation isn’t the same. Not even close.
Q: You've lived in Omaha for decades, but we grew up in a small town of about 2,000 people, where I now live again. What do you miss about life in a small town? As a bonus, describe what it is was like working at The Dairy Cone in the early 1980s and the role you played in the great Frosty Treat vs. Dairy Cone wars.
I miss less busy streets and knowing everyone, or just about everyone. I know people in Omaha and have many friends, but it’s not the same. I miss the grocery store being a few blocks away. I miss the downtown. I really like seeing pictures of downtown Ashland on social media. I miss the school, too. We had a dirt parking lot back then, and I think we had 50 or so in our class. The high schools here are big. Lots of kids. Nothing wrong with that, and I’m sure there are advantages, but that’s a lot of people in one class. My wife comes from a small town in Iowa that is similar in size, and her experiences are the same ones I had.
Working at the Dairy Cone was my first real job instead of delivering papers. It was pretty fun, and yes, probably a little competitive with Frosty Treat. My sister, Cathy, worked there. So, there was probably some back and forth with that. And sure, there was the Frosty burger, and that was probably more popular than the Dairy Cone’s beef burger sandwich, but the Dairy Cone had something called a “Big Red,” which was my favorite. Double cheeseburger with bacon and all the stuff on it. Neither place served Coke if I remember right, so I had nowhere to go for that.
Q: You're a great golfer, you wrestled and played football in high school. You get up around 5 a.m. to work out or do it at lunch day in and out. At one time, you were a certified personal trainer, and now you're getting your young daughters active. You even convinced me to lift weights in your garage when we were like 15 so we could get jacked. You still have “Muscle & Fitness” magazines from then. You have an Arnold Schwarzenegger poster in your weight room at home. You really know your stuff in terms of eating healthy, pros and cons of different workouts, setting meaningful long-term goals, and more. Tell me why people should be getting active during this strange COVID-19 time we’re living through, both for physical and mental reasons?
I think the obvious answer is that being active is a big part of being healthy. Diet is another big part, and probably more important, but if you can do anything at all to keep some activity, then hopefully that enhances your body’s ability to fight things like colds and flu and viruses. I’m not suggesting at all that a person wouldn’t get sick just because they are active. However, maybe someone can hold off some of those “underlying conditions” or things that are a large part of the conversation these days.
Everyone, me included, is stressed in some way because of this pandemic. Maybe you don’t think you’ll get it, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t affecting you. Jobs are being lost, businesses are closing, friends and family are separated, it’s all stressful at some point. I think being active gives you an outlet to work off some of that stress. If you’ve got a little extra time, go for a walk or do a few push-ups or air squats. If you’ve got kids, do it with them. If you’ve got a buddy or family member that needs encouragement, FaceTime with him or set up a Zoom meeting and lead an exercise session, and then drink some wine or a beer afterward.
It doesn’t have to be about winning the Crossfit Games. The point is to release a little pressure and do your body some good, especially at first. Just move a little bit, and then do it every day. Maybe by the end of this you will have a habit. You can build on that or don’t, but if you’ve got yourself walking 20 to 30 minutes a day, at the beginning of May, congratulations you’re on your way.
Q: You have four young daughters and three sisters. We talk a lot about our experiences living with a lot of girls at once—the sleepless nights worrying, the protective juices always flowing, having children later in life (me at 40 and you beyond that), and more. Tell me about being a brother to three younger sisters, and also, what do appreciate about women now that you didn't when we were, say, 21?
Oh man, that’s a question that has so many answers. Having three younger sisters, hmm. I’ve always thought that I’m glad I was the oldest, and if I had to choose another spot in the birth order it would have been the youngest. In the middle, I think would have just been messier. I don’t know why I think that. Probably based on completely inaccurate and made up stuff in my head. Being the oldest, though, whether you’re a male or female is probably similar in most cases. You’re the first one through everything. Like the really early curfews and just not being able to go to stuff when, of course, “all the other kids were going.” You know exactly what I mean. I always figured if I was the youngest, then they would probably just ignore me.
Being the only boy was nice because we had the girls’ bathroom and the boys’ bathroom. Think curling irons and hair everywhere vs. a more minimalist approach. Also, I had my own bedroom. Problem with being the only male or having no brothers is I have nothing to compare it to. I have friends who had only brothers, and in those cases, it seems it was definitely better to be the oldest. I was the chauffeur a lot of times, which was curious to me because I rode my bike everywhere before I was 16 and then all of a sudden, the sisters need a ride everywhere. Listen, I had to walk up the hill both ways to school, so why do they get a ride? You know, that kind of thing.
With my youngest sister, I moved home to stay with her during her senior year of high school. My parents moved back to Norfolk, but Andy didn’t want to change schools understandably, so I came home and lived there while she finished. So, that created a sort of guardian situation, I guess. Although I wouldn’t call it that really. I was mostly there to make sure she had someone else with her and to help with the house stuff and make sure there was food and all of that. I guess that doesn’t really have anything to do with the fact that she was a sister really, but I’m sure it had some influence on me as far as women in general go. And I guess that’s kind of the whole thing.
As far as appreciation goes between 21 and now, it has to be that I had no idea how lucky I was then. Without the women I’ve had in my life, both family and friends, I wouldn't be who I am today. Maybe that’s an obvious statement, but from sisters and mom to workplace bosses, co-workers, and managers, etc., women have always been the larger influence on me. Not all men, but many of the men I have worked with over the years, well, it’s not the same. There is some competitiveness and some stupid shit there that just isn’t there with the women I’ve worked with.
I like to think it was growing up in a houseful of women that gave me the ability to interact, be friends with, not be competitive with, women that helped with all of that. I don’t know, you’d have to ask some of them, but I feel like for the most part, I’ve gotten along very well with women in general, and I think that’s because of how I grew up. Unfortunately for them maybe, they all had to put up with me while I figured it out. Now, that might just be complete BS, I don’t know, but that’s how I see it, and when I look at my life through that lens, it explains many things about the male friends I’ve made, and more importantly, not made over the years and how my life with my sisters has affected that. Again, you might have to ask for someone else’s perspective, but today, raising four little girls, the influence a father does have on them is always top of mind. And having children later in life has probably helped in that regard. I’m not saying I won’t really mess them up when it’s all over, but if I do, I’ll be totally aware of it.
Q: You're one of the funniest, dry-witted, sarcastic people I know. First, who and what do you attribute your sense of humor to, and, second, who is the funniest person you've known and why?
My dad is most likely where most of that sense of humor comes from. I really like it when people are laughing or happy, and awkward silence just gets me. So, several years of saying the wrong thing at the right time or the wrong time has helped develop my sense of humor, too. It’s also the way I cope with most things. Now, not everyone appreciates that, but that doesn’t mean I stop trying. My wife can probably attest to that. The funniest person I know is my sister, Cathy. She is very quick and tells great stories. I think I do OK, but she’s pretty much the master. This is hard for me to admit, too.
Q: Since I've known you, you've always worked to educate yourself in one way or another, and you're always seeking knowledge. What's a topic that has you intrigued now to learn more about and why? And who are some of the people who have influenced your learning in a profound way?
I think the most recent thing for me is the theology of some religions. I was raised in the Christian faith, and I converted to Catholicism after I got married. You learn doctrine and many of the traditions and other rituals, the “religion” of that faith, and I’m sure that there is some theology mixed in there, but either I wasn’t ready to care about that part or I wasn’t paying attention. But for me, I like to know where the doctrine came from. Who decided it should be this way or why is something done the way it’s done.
My dad was probably the biggest influence, and we talked about it a lot before he died—not in the "how do we worship" sense or really even about the typical stuff. Really, just how certain things came to be and what he had learned, and some of that got me interested in finding out more about it. Also, several of the Catholic priests I’ve met over the years have been really great. I haven’t had a whole lot of conversations, but if I had a question, they have always been great with an answer and discussion. And totally not what I had expected.
Q: Final question, what's the best and worst part about knowing me?
Dude, that’s tough to quantify or qualify? Best part, you’re always available if I need to talk something through or vent or send a joke to. You know where I’m coming from. You let me send you stuff about lifting and training, even when I’m geeking out over something. Same with movies and TV. Not everyone would put up with that. 42 years of memories is a big part of that. You provide a much-needed perspective for me many times.
Worst part: Daryl, Tim, and I visited you in North Platte one year, and I thought we were going to hit the town. We ended up climbing up a sandy hill called Sioux Lookout. I think I still have sand in my eyes from that night. Really, it might be that even though you’ll listen to me complain, I don’t think I get the sympathy I might otherwise get. Just as a for instance, I had a hernia a couple of years ago. I tell you about it, and you’re like, “Well that’s too bad. Have I mentioned I don’t have a colon?” And then there’s Snyder Industries. I’ll just leave it at that.
[He’s right about my poor response. Very sorry, dude. I did say, though, my friends are much smarter than me. Not sorry about Snyder’s, though. Working there toughened you up for the world. Ha.]
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| Chris on the left, me on the right. |
First up, Chris Keck. Chris was born the day after me in June 1967. He’s one of my oldest and dearest friends, and one of the funniest people I’ve known. That runs in his family. He's also a devoted father to four daughters, all younger than eight years old. Let that sink in. When he’s not working as a marketing manager at MediBadge in Omaha, Nebraska, he's coaching soccer, basketball, or another sport for his daughters' teams; in the school drop-off/pick-up lane; seeing a new movie at the theater; on the golf course; reading; being an uncle; or more. Likely, though, he’s working out or at thinking about it. I choose to interview Chris first because I knew he’d say yes, and because he’s one of three friends I've had for 40-plus years that help define “friendship” for me: different but the same. Look for interviews with the other two soon.
Q: We've known each other since about sixth grade when you moved to Ashland, Nebraska, where we grew up. What do recall about how we met or started to be in the same space a lot?
I don’t remember a whole lot about that, to be honest. I just kind of remember always being friends. I’m pretty sure we probably met through Tim. He lived the closest to me, and we started hanging out mostly on the walk home from school, and that’s how I got introduced to you. Kind of by osmosis maybe. The neighborhood and at the pool and the park. Then, we started playing tennis and probably did that nonstop for a few years. All those matches with Daryl, Tim, you, and me. All pretending to be McEnroe or Lendl or Bjorn Borg and so on. Maybe even a little Jimmy Connors in there. Ha. The pool and tennis, for sure.
Q: We've road tripped to Graceland together. We've both stood at the microphone Elvis used, stayed at Heartbreak Hotel multiple times, and love Memphis in general. You even had a dog named Memphis. What is it about Elvis after all these years that still makes him cool, and what's the best Elvis movie, bar none?
Elvis, I’m sure a lot of what makes him cool is that he had so much hype around him, that the legend probably is bigger than the man, but that’s probably true in many cases. Having said that, though, I mean, c’mon. He was probably one of the first to have an actual, legit entourage—the Memphis Mafia. And they could all sing. They were “yes” men for sure, and probably more than a few hangers-on, but I think he enjoyed having all his buddies around, and I think many of them actually joined in on the singing if it broke out. Probably like living in a musical. At least that’s how I imagine it. He had all the bling. He rented out a whole theater. I think the cool factor really is that he was just the first one to do all that stuff, and it was all right there for everyone to see.
Q: You’re a major movie junkie. For years, you've gone to the theater with the same one friend to see new releases. What's the movie you think of when you think about your parents, about sports, about growing up, and about being a father? Also, if a person needed to get in a good cry, what's the movie that will do it?
The movie that makes me think of my parents, I think of the first movies I went to in the theater. A couple of those that really stick with me are “The Apple Dumpling Gang” and one of the “Herbie The Love Bug” movies. We went to see Herbie in Norfolk, Nebraska, and when we came out after the movie, there was an actual Herbie Beetle parked right at the curb. I was probably six or seven.
Sports, oh man, there are a bunch. “Breaking Away” was probably the first one that I remember, and I’ve always enjoyed it. “Vision Quest” might be my favorite, though. All the Rocky’s are in there, except 5, but I’m not sure those are true "sports" movies.
Growing up has to be “Star Wars.” That movie changed everything about going to the movies, at least for me. When it opened, my dad drove me all the way to Omaha from Norfolk to see it at the Indian Hills theater. I saw all of them there, actually. But those first three movies covered from sixth grade to my senior year in high school, and I had to see those. That’s nerdy I know, but I still watch them today.
A favorite movie about growing up, though, is “Stand By Me.” There’s a scene where they are all running across the train bridge and Jerry O’Connell’s character, the heavy-set kid, is literally crawling across this bridge when the train is coming. That is exactly me. I was walking across the train bridge over the Salt Creek, and I don’t remember for sure who I was with, I want to say you and Tim, but I am really afraid of heights. I was crawling across that damn bridge and probably crying a little bit, too. Every time I see that movie, I think about that. We were probably going somewhere to shoot BB guns or something.
For a good cry, “Marley and Me” was horrible. It was a good movie, but there is no getting around it. So, see it by yourself or with someone who will understand. I think the book was worse. My most recent dog, Memphis, was a yellow lab. Whenever there are animals and something goes bad it gets me. There have been several that have caught me off guard, too. Most recently was probably “Coco.” It’s an animated one, and I thought it would be fun to watch with the girls. And then I was explaining things, and I was upset and happy all at the same time; it was sort of a mess.
I tend to avoid those movies with that potential when me and my buddy go see a movie. We tend to stick to the action or comedy genres. Being a father to girls, it has to be “Father of the Bride.” I don't know why, probably because that’s what everyone mentions when they find out that I have four girls. “Oh man, you better start saving for the weddings.” I like Steve Martin, too, and I’m sure there are others, but that’s the one that just pops in my head.
Q: How would characterize what the 1970s and 1980s were like for you and I growing up compared to the world our kids are now navigating? I mean, you legitimately rolled the Dig Dug game at the Gas N' Shop when we were 12 or 13, and we all stood watching like we were helping you. Where do kids today get that kind of innocent fun and camaraderie?
I remember being outside a lot. There was the whole “when the street lights came on” thing, but that just got us back to the yard. Then, it was “kick the can” or something until it was time to go to bed. Even in the winter, it was constantly outside, and I remember digging in the big snowdrifts that the plows would make and making a snow fort or sledding nonstop. And my parents weren’t out there watching, either. If you wiped out on your bike or skateboard, you really had to evaluate the situation. Did you go inside and report the accident? Or did you soldier on? Unless it was broken or bleeding really badly, you took a second or two and got back to it.
If you went home to check in, that could bring about all sorts of interruptions to the day. There would be questions like, “How high was this ramp that you jumped off?” Or, “What did you think you were doing? If Blaine jumped off a bridge, would you?” And no one really knows or wants the answer to that question. When we were a little older, we would go to the arcade, or like you mentioned, Dig Dug was at Gas N’ Shop, and we would just go. I’m not even sure I specifically asked to go. We just got on our bikes and rode there. I’m not sure when parents then started worrying, like seriously worrying. Maybe if I wasn’t home to eat.
Today, and I’m guilty of this for sure, there's a lot more hovering going on. My girls will go out to play on the swing set, and I’m there watching, making sure it’s all OK. When they fall or something, I do try to not just dote on them if it’s just a fall. Kind of need to learn the difference between a little pain and true injury. But, still, I’m there to push them on the swing and all of that. Even if they’re out in the driveway with chalk, one of us is out there watching. I think they get that camaraderie at school, or we set up a lot of play dates. Then, if I know where they are, I try to just let them be.
My oldest is almost eight, so she isn’t able to just go anywhere unless we take her somewhere, so that’s a big difference, too. Back in the day, you just hopped on your bike, and you were gone. Either to the pool or just riding around. You know, thinking about it, I don’t know if living where we live if it will ever be like that. Maybe when they get into high school, and I have no idea what that looks like in a few years, but once a kid has her own transportation or has a friend with transportation, I think it opens up some options. But the hanging out at the arcade with your buddies and eating chips and getting the biggest Coke they have and all that . . . man, I’m not sure they’ll get to experience that. Sure, I’ll do it with them tomorrow if they want, but I think those days might be over. Playing with someone long distance on the Xbox or PlayStation isn’t the same. Not even close.
Q: You've lived in Omaha for decades, but we grew up in a small town of about 2,000 people, where I now live again. What do you miss about life in a small town? As a bonus, describe what it is was like working at The Dairy Cone in the early 1980s and the role you played in the great Frosty Treat vs. Dairy Cone wars.
I miss less busy streets and knowing everyone, or just about everyone. I know people in Omaha and have many friends, but it’s not the same. I miss the grocery store being a few blocks away. I miss the downtown. I really like seeing pictures of downtown Ashland on social media. I miss the school, too. We had a dirt parking lot back then, and I think we had 50 or so in our class. The high schools here are big. Lots of kids. Nothing wrong with that, and I’m sure there are advantages, but that’s a lot of people in one class. My wife comes from a small town in Iowa that is similar in size, and her experiences are the same ones I had.
Working at the Dairy Cone was my first real job instead of delivering papers. It was pretty fun, and yes, probably a little competitive with Frosty Treat. My sister, Cathy, worked there. So, there was probably some back and forth with that. And sure, there was the Frosty burger, and that was probably more popular than the Dairy Cone’s beef burger sandwich, but the Dairy Cone had something called a “Big Red,” which was my favorite. Double cheeseburger with bacon and all the stuff on it. Neither place served Coke if I remember right, so I had nowhere to go for that.
Q: You're a great golfer, you wrestled and played football in high school. You get up around 5 a.m. to work out or do it at lunch day in and out. At one time, you were a certified personal trainer, and now you're getting your young daughters active. You even convinced me to lift weights in your garage when we were like 15 so we could get jacked. You still have “Muscle & Fitness” magazines from then. You have an Arnold Schwarzenegger poster in your weight room at home. You really know your stuff in terms of eating healthy, pros and cons of different workouts, setting meaningful long-term goals, and more. Tell me why people should be getting active during this strange COVID-19 time we’re living through, both for physical and mental reasons?
I think the obvious answer is that being active is a big part of being healthy. Diet is another big part, and probably more important, but if you can do anything at all to keep some activity, then hopefully that enhances your body’s ability to fight things like colds and flu and viruses. I’m not suggesting at all that a person wouldn’t get sick just because they are active. However, maybe someone can hold off some of those “underlying conditions” or things that are a large part of the conversation these days.
I think the obvious answer is that being active is a big part of being healthy. Diet is another big part, and probably more important, but if you can do anything at all to keep some activity, then hopefully that enhances your body’s ability to fight things like colds and flu and viruses. I’m not suggesting at all that a person wouldn’t get sick just because they are active. However, maybe someone can hold off some of those “underlying conditions” or things that are a large part of the conversation these days.
Everyone, me included, is stressed in some way because of this pandemic. Maybe you don’t think you’ll get it, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t affecting you. Jobs are being lost, businesses are closing, friends and family are separated, it’s all stressful at some point. I think being active gives you an outlet to work off some of that stress. If you’ve got a little extra time, go for a walk or do a few push-ups or air squats. If you’ve got kids, do it with them. If you’ve got a buddy or family member that needs encouragement, FaceTime with him or set up a Zoom meeting and lead an exercise session, and then drink some wine or a beer afterward.
It doesn’t have to be about winning the Crossfit Games. The point is to release a little pressure and do your body some good, especially at first. Just move a little bit, and then do it every day. Maybe by the end of this you will have a habit. You can build on that or don’t, but if you’ve got yourself walking 20 to 30 minutes a day, at the beginning of May, congratulations you’re on your way.
Q: You have four young daughters and three sisters. We talk a lot about our experiences living with a lot of girls at once—the sleepless nights worrying, the protective juices always flowing, having children later in life (me at 40 and you beyond that), and more. Tell me about being a brother to three younger sisters, and also, what do appreciate about women now that you didn't when we were, say, 21?
Oh man, that’s a question that has so many answers. Having three younger sisters, hmm. I’ve always thought that I’m glad I was the oldest, and if I had to choose another spot in the birth order it would have been the youngest. In the middle, I think would have just been messier. I don’t know why I think that. Probably based on completely inaccurate and made up stuff in my head. Being the oldest, though, whether you’re a male or female is probably similar in most cases. You’re the first one through everything. Like the really early curfews and just not being able to go to stuff when, of course, “all the other kids were going.” You know exactly what I mean. I always figured if I was the youngest, then they would probably just ignore me.
Being the only boy was nice because we had the girls’ bathroom and the boys’ bathroom. Think curling irons and hair everywhere vs. a more minimalist approach. Also, I had my own bedroom. Problem with being the only male or having no brothers is I have nothing to compare it to. I have friends who had only brothers, and in those cases, it seems it was definitely better to be the oldest. I was the chauffeur a lot of times, which was curious to me because I rode my bike everywhere before I was 16 and then all of a sudden, the sisters need a ride everywhere. Listen, I had to walk up the hill both ways to school, so why do they get a ride? You know, that kind of thing.
With my youngest sister, I moved home to stay with her during her senior year of high school. My parents moved back to Norfolk, but Andy didn’t want to change schools understandably, so I came home and lived there while she finished. So, that created a sort of guardian situation, I guess. Although I wouldn’t call it that really. I was mostly there to make sure she had someone else with her and to help with the house stuff and make sure there was food and all of that. I guess that doesn’t really have anything to do with the fact that she was a sister really, but I’m sure it had some influence on me as far as women in general go. And I guess that’s kind of the whole thing.
As far as appreciation goes between 21 and now, it has to be that I had no idea how lucky I was then. Without the women I’ve had in my life, both family and friends, I wouldn't be who I am today. Maybe that’s an obvious statement, but from sisters and mom to workplace bosses, co-workers, and managers, etc., women have always been the larger influence on me. Not all men, but many of the men I have worked with over the years, well, it’s not the same. There is some competitiveness and some stupid shit there that just isn’t there with the women I’ve worked with.
I like to think it was growing up in a houseful of women that gave me the ability to interact, be friends with, not be competitive with, women that helped with all of that. I don’t know, you’d have to ask some of them, but I feel like for the most part, I’ve gotten along very well with women in general, and I think that’s because of how I grew up. Unfortunately for them maybe, they all had to put up with me while I figured it out. Now, that might just be complete BS, I don’t know, but that’s how I see it, and when I look at my life through that lens, it explains many things about the male friends I’ve made, and more importantly, not made over the years and how my life with my sisters has affected that. Again, you might have to ask for someone else’s perspective, but today, raising four little girls, the influence a father does have on them is always top of mind. And having children later in life has probably helped in that regard. I’m not saying I won’t really mess them up when it’s all over, but if I do, I’ll be totally aware of it.
Q: You're one of the funniest, dry-witted, sarcastic people I know. First, who and what do you attribute your sense of humor to, and, second, who is the funniest person you've known and why?
My dad is most likely where most of that sense of humor comes from. I really like it when people are laughing or happy, and awkward silence just gets me. So, several years of saying the wrong thing at the right time or the wrong time has helped develop my sense of humor, too. It’s also the way I cope with most things. Now, not everyone appreciates that, but that doesn’t mean I stop trying. My wife can probably attest to that. The funniest person I know is my sister, Cathy. She is very quick and tells great stories. I think I do OK, but she’s pretty much the master. This is hard for me to admit, too.
Q: Since I've known you, you've always worked to educate yourself in one way or another, and you're always seeking knowledge. What's a topic that has you intrigued now to learn more about and why? And who are some of the people who have influenced your learning in a profound way?
I think the most recent thing for me is the theology of some religions. I was raised in the Christian faith, and I converted to Catholicism after I got married. You learn doctrine and many of the traditions and other rituals, the “religion” of that faith, and I’m sure that there is some theology mixed in there, but either I wasn’t ready to care about that part or I wasn’t paying attention. But for me, I like to know where the doctrine came from. Who decided it should be this way or why is something done the way it’s done.
My dad was probably the biggest influence, and we talked about it a lot before he died—not in the "how do we worship" sense or really even about the typical stuff. Really, just how certain things came to be and what he had learned, and some of that got me interested in finding out more about it. Also, several of the Catholic priests I’ve met over the years have been really great. I haven’t had a whole lot of conversations, but if I had a question, they have always been great with an answer and discussion. And totally not what I had expected.
Q: Final question, what's the best and worst part about knowing me?
Dude, that’s tough to quantify or qualify? Best part, you’re always available if I need to talk something through or vent or send a joke to. You know where I’m coming from. You let me send you stuff about lifting and training, even when I’m geeking out over something. Same with movies and TV. Not everyone would put up with that. 42 years of memories is a big part of that. You provide a much-needed perspective for me many times.
Worst part: Daryl, Tim, and I visited you in North Platte one year, and I thought we were going to hit the town. We ended up climbing up a sandy hill called Sioux Lookout. I think I still have sand in my eyes from that night. Really, it might be that even though you’ll listen to me complain, I don’t think I get the sympathy I might otherwise get. Just as a for instance, I had a hernia a couple of years ago. I tell you about it, and you’re like, “Well that’s too bad. Have I mentioned I don’t have a colon?” And then there’s Snyder Industries. I’ll just leave it at that.
[He’s right about my poor response. Very sorry, dude. I did say, though, my friends are much smarter than me. Not sorry about Snyder’s, though. Working there toughened you up for the world. Ha.]
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