The Last Hurrah . . .

Well, I am almost done~  Ashley is coming tomorrow and I will be moving from my cell to the hotel with him :).  So, I don't plan to do a lot of blogging, but catching up with Ashley, finishing my classes and showing him a few sites in Boston.

I think based on my experiences of the past few days, it may be time to go~

Late yesterday, after classes ended, I went to look at a few things I wanted to see in Cambridge before I left.  I made my way up Mass Avenue to the Christ Church.  It is the oldest church in Cambridge and was used as officer's quarters during the Revolutionary War.  Henry Cabot Lodge worshipped there as did General and Mrs. George Washington when they were in Boston during the War.  I sat in the pew that was Washington's pew.  It is a beautiful church (see picture) and even has a bullet hole in the vestibule from the War.  The church invites the public into pray, so I did just that.  It was a great place to talk with the Father.   I wish I had discovered it sooner.

After going to the church, I came through Cambridge only to find all of it blocked to auto traffic and some of it blocked to foot traffic.  Apparently, there had been a shooting right in the middle of the Harvard dorms and the shooter was on the loose.  Police were running everywhere -- back alleys, rooftops and stairways.  I decided to get out of Dodge quick and go back to HBS.

Today after class, I went to sit in the sun for a few minutes and observed 10 young men jumping off the bridge into the Charles River.  Honestly, it is the first time I had seen anyone in that water.  My first thought was it must be some kind of "Exams are over, time to graduate, let's jump in the water."  My second thought was "I hope they don't kill themselves as that would be a real waste of an expensive education."  My third thought was, "I am so happy to be going home that I might could jump in, too!"

Afterwards, I wandered over to Harvard Yard -- it's really a thing to behold with all the trees, flowers and azaleas blooming.  To my surprise, there was a demonstration in progress.  Since I have never been to a demonstration, I thought I should check it out.  To the best I could understand, it was Harvard hourly employees protesting wage cuts.  They had signs and microphones and lots of police and "official" looking Harvard people standing around.  I found it all quite interesting.

So within 3 days, I have been near a shooting - I would have been right on top of it had I not stopped to pray, boys jumping off a high bridge into the water and a demonstration.  I don't think I have missed anything and I can go home now.

This morning, I was in the lounge as the manager responsible for shipping our items back home was giving instructions to the day laborers he had hired for the job.  I don't think these kids were from Harvard or MIT.  Yesterday, was international shipping and today was domestic.  So, I overhear him say, "Let me ask you a question.  Is United Arab Emirates a country or a company?"  A girl raised her hand and said, "oh that one was my fault, I thought it was a company."  I am really glad my boxes only have to make it to Atlanta.

So, I am spending my last night in my dorm at HBS.  Today, I prepared my last case study.  Friday, will be my last lecture and by noon on Friday, I will be on to graduation and soon to be on my way home. I went for my last wandering to Harvard Yard, my last walk down Brattle Street, my last visit to the COOP (Harvard Campus Store), my last time to study in Baker Library, my last time to see white rice for awhile in Kresege Dining Hall, my last visit to Harvard Square, my last walk by Harold the homeless man who turned 58 today.

Along the way, I have learned more than I could have ever hoped to or imagined - immeasurably more.  The most important thing I learned was how much I am truly loved by all of you.  Your support and encouragement to me has meant the world to me.  I learned that I don't like being by myself all the time, but that by myself is a really wonderful way to fellowship with God.  I learned many, many intellectual things -- and the learning has whetted my appetite to discover more in everything available to me.  When I came here, I thought I was an expert on sizing people up.  I learned in the real world, people are more complicated than that. I learned that the world really is a very big place and that people come in many varieties, but everyone of us was fearfully and wonderfully made differently.  I have had a season (literally) to reflect on who I am, where I am going and if I still have a second half of my life to go, how I wish to live it.  I had the opportunity to have two springs this year -- one in Atlanta before I came and one in May here at HBS.  Spring is a time of new life and transformation.  Such has this spring been those things for me.  It has been my own unique walk on my unique path of this journey of life.  Harvard's motto is Veritas (see picture) which is means "truth." I spent my spring in a season of knowing, believing, walking and living in the Truth.  Every ideal precious to me has been challenged in the last 8 weeks, but knowing the way, the truth and the life has made the challenges much more bearable. I am thankful to God for ordaining my days, thankful to Chick-fil-A for giving the opportunity and thankful to you, my friends and family for letting me pour out words, bothtrivial and significant, to all of you and receive so much love and many blessings from you all.

"Now to Him that is able to do immeasurably more than we could hope or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen."

Veritas,

Dee Ann

Happy Birthday, Trey! Double Digits!

Technically, Trey will be 10 on June 8 and I will be home! However, for those who have summer birthdays and can remember back to those young years, after school is out, it's hard to get friends together for a birthday party, so Trey had his today at ESPN Zone. Ashley, Trenton, Kelsey (Trenton's girlfriend) and Trevor hosted the party of nine boys! Yes, I know, it's another one that I owe Ashley! (And Trenton, Kelsey and Trevor, too! - thanks for helping, guys.)

This time next week, I will be at home, getting ready to get into my own bed, big enough for me AND Ashley. I cannot imagine the adjustment back to a bigger space.

This past week, and this weekend, especially has been one wild ride! Some people wear callouses on their knees from praying. I have walked the treads bare on my running shoes (really!) walking and talking to God. I have a "Life's Good" t-shirt with the saying on it: "All who wander are not lost." That is no longer true for me. I try to walk everyday here, rain or shine. A lot of days, I walk instead of eating dinner, and sometimes I walk very early in the morning. I also try to make an adventure of it and sense I have a pretty good orientation of Cambridge (as long as I know which direction the river is) I am ok. Thursday, around dinner time I was wandering and talking a lot to God -- we have so much to talk about these days. I looked up and realized that I had wandered a long way. I had outwalked Harvard's vast campus, past Radcliffe, and probably almost to MIT. I wasn't really lost, because I knew I was in Cambridge, but I didn't know exactly where I was. As a little aside, there was a woman walking a chihuahua and the wind was blowing about 25 mph or so -- very windy here a lot. That poor little dog kept getting lifted off the ground! Good thing she was on a leash! Anyway, I thought about that shirt and after all the wandering I had done for 7 weeks and always finding my way back, I wasn't really sure which way the river was. I could have asked someone, but I figured I would eventually work my way back from whence I came, and eventually I did. Some of you know that I am very directionally challenged and probably should not wander off and not pay attention, take a map, or leave a trail of bread crumbs.

By the way, this started as a simple journey to buy a new toothbrush. I learned something else after 7 weeks -- CVS has an upstairs!!! I could not for the life of me understand why they did not have typical things CVS carries -- it was all upstairs. That would have been handy sooner. I learned how long it takes to use up things since I have been the only one to be using them. A toothbrush (well, I am the only one whoever uses mine, I think) takes a month. I started my third one. A large tube of toothpaste last 2 months, assuming about 4 brushings a day. Dental floss - one month. Hair gel - six weeks. Deodorant -- still on original container. Toilet paper - 4 days. I guess that is more than you need to know!!

On Friday, I went out to wander another neighborhood closer to campus. It is a really beautiful, in a old Buckhead kind of way, neighborhood really more like the West Paces area. I walked about 4 miles each way. As I was walking down the street, a nicely dressed man was walking home from the market. (He was much smaller than me -- I had already sized up that I could take him if I had to) I don't remember what occurred that he started talking to me, but we were walking almost next to each other, crossing streets at the same times, together. Turns out he is a former tennis pro and played in the Rolex tournament in Atlanta at one time. He asked me how I liked Cambridge, and I said that it was beautiful, but I am having a hard time getting used to the people not being overly friendly. He said that they are once you get to know them, but they are not very open people initially. Some of you know about me picking up pennies on the ground and how I consider that to be a thing between me and God. As this man and I walked, he reached down, picked up a penny, and said, "I believe this is for you." Needless to say, chills went up my spine. Shortly thereafter, he announced that it was his street and wished me well. And then he walked off and sort of disappeared into the trees that lined the street. I had thought, "I wonder if I just entertained an angel unaware?"

After seven weeks, I suddenly had a very social weekend and I have have been busily packing books and clothes for home and trying to finish my last case studies for the coming week. Wish I could tell you everything, but just one more. Today, I went to get my nails done -- no I didn't have time, but I am about to rejoin civilization as I know it and I need to be looking good. As I was sitting at the drying table, a woman sat down next to me. She was wearing a Harvard jacket and with a very nice Southern accent asked me (since I had on an HBS shirt) if I was attending a class. Actually, she was two seats over. There was a young woman named Kelly, with spiked purple hair and those ear things that make holes the size of dimes and several rings hanging off her nose and eyebrows. The woman talking to me was named Adalaide. She is from NW Arkansas and knows Jim B., our CFA Operator there. She is attending a year-long program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and she runs a very large non-profit benefiting and supporting rights of children. So, we decided to go have lunch. Hey, if I can't talk to the people in my living group, I will just start talking to strangers. Anyway, she listened -- the first person since I have been here -- to listen to the whole Kenya Project story and act really interested. Turns out what her organization does is get grants for non-profits that help children and some of her big donors are people like Walmart and Coca-cola. She would like to go to Kenya! Her husband is a broadcaster for the Arkansas Razorbacks Football program and they do a charity event each year at the football stadium before their spring game that brings in about 50,000 people. I could go on and on, but you get my drift. I have been looking for that particular moment when it would all match up and who knew it would be because I went to get my nails done.

They had a big party here Friday night. We have a guy in the class who works for Bacardi and he brought in his products by the cases, including the Bacardi girls. About 150 people came and by the looks of the pictures posted on the web, it looks like it might have been more popular than Chick-fil-A day here. However, I will say, to my knowledge, no one threw up after eating CFA or had to wear sunglasses to class the next day. I went for my obligatory 30 minutes, beat several people in Guitar Hero and left. I joined the Asians (really I was the only non Asian) who were having a birthday party for Yok. Yok's boss had sent a beautiful bday cake and they invited me to join in. So I did. After cake, they turned on karaoke on the big screen and began singing in one of the Asian languages (unsure which) and taught me the traditional dances. It looks a little like the Hula without all the wiggling. Then they did their version of the Conga line around the living group table and I joined right in! I figured it had to be better than joining in the other party. The other party got out of hand and I understand that one of the men was wearing the skimpy little Bacardi girl black dress. I don't know what the girl who had been in dress he was wearing. I was in bed by 10. Oh and the Asians went up to the party and took the birthday cake after I left. There are pictures on the internet of my classmates smearing it all over each other.

I have to get back to my Japan, Nissan, Barack Obama, and Merck case studies. Tomorrow will be here before I know it. And then it will be Tuesday. And then it will be Wednesday. And Ashley will be here!!!!!

Love and miss you all~

Dee Ann

You Did It . . . And I Am So GRATEFUL!

To all my wonderful friends and family,

It's official -- out of the 164 members of AMP 176 -- I received (by far) the most cards, letters and packages. Everyone in the program office wants to work for CFA!!

And you all are so creative!! Tiffiney and marketing friends, thank you so much for "sock monkey." He was a hit! Brandon - thank you so much for the the container of snacks! Lisa C., your package rocked and I am especially grateful for the cd's -- I laughed when I read the title of the Mercy Me cd - "Coming Up to Breathe" and that is exactly what is happening to me now -- I am about to come up to breathe. Katie C., Katie N. and Meredith -- your flower cookies are beautiful -- I might even share them with some really nice people!

I appreciated all of you in my life before this experience, but I have to tell you that I do so even more. I can only pray that I will be the kind of encouragers to others that you all have been to me. I have to tell you, even under ordinary conditions, I would have needed encouragement, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, I am not sure I could have made it without your encouragement. I haven't been hugged (except cyber hugs) since I was home 4 weeks ago! One cannot live well without hugs! So . . .
I am looking forward to returning to the land of hugs and incredibly wonderful people!

Love and Blessings . . . and many thanks~

Dee Ann

Oh, I Forgot!!

I forgot to tell you two important things:

1. On Sunday morning (Mother's Day), I went to Dunkin' Donuts to get my coffee (they are really big up here), and as I was ordering the woman, hopefully not too much younger than me said she wanted to by me coffee as a random act of kindness. She said she did not have any children, but she could see I was a mother (?) and she wanted to honor me. Faith in humanity in Boston is restored!

2. Secondly, some of you know about my "Pennies from Heaven" and how I connect the coins I find to affirmation from God that I am on the right path. Today, I found a $10 bill in the street! He is with me!!

More blessings,

Dee Ann

400 Pages Later

Today, I took my 400th page of notes!  I have calculated by next week that I will have read 180 or so case studies and read 14 books and I think I have been to about 12 optional lectures that have been offered.

I know I have been out of touch.  This has been our heaviest work load week, and I have been busy!  We also had 4 extra optional lectures.  Speaking of which, Bill George spoke today.  Some of you heard him at Willowcreek and may be familiar with his books, Authentic Leadership, True North and Finding Your True North.  I have heard Bill speak before and I have read his books, but compared to the focus of so many other courses here, Bill was a breath of fresh air today as he talked about the selection of leaders.  He said, "We have begun to select leaders for their charisma, instead of their character; for their style over their substance; and for their image over integrity."  Most importantly, he talked about resiliency, and it finally dawned on me that resiliency is the most enduring quality I have worked on and been challenge to achieve while at HBS.  This has been a diabolical situation:  the best academic experience of my life, while at the same time, the worst living situation of my life.  But without the challenge, what would I have learned (well, probably a lot, but my character might not have grown so much!)?  Never have I been put in a situation that so challenged the core of who I am, my values and my principles.  I never thought I would be placed in a situation that I would say, "you are drunk and I will not remain here and listen to your vulgarity."  (A member of my Living Group)  But at the same time, I have learned so much about how to stand up for myself and my beliefs-not wear them on my sleeve, by any means, but being prepared to live them out when challenged by unethical or immoral behavior.  And more than anything, it has given me appreciation for all the blessings in my life -- for the kind of family I have; for the kind of friends I have; for the community in which I live; and for a job in an organization with vision and mission of impacting  people (and I work with great people).  Tonight, I realized, that when this is over next week, some of these people will have none of these things to return to, but I will and I am grateful.

This past Sunday, I circled back to Boston to see Paul Revere's house.  (See pics)  It was built in the late 1600's and was originally restored in 1908.  I also went to the cemetery where he and a number of revolutionary heroes are buried -- (why do we visit cemeteries and look at grave sites?).  Funny thing here is that when I tell the international's (except for the Aussie who runs the girl's school) that I went to Paul Revere's house, they say, "who is he?"  Oh, except for the Brits -- they remember perfectly.  I visited other famous buildings of the revolution and it was awe inspiring.  

Saturday, I went with 7 guys to the Red Sox game.  Another American and I were the only ones who had ever seen a baseball game.  It was nearly a four hour game and I had to explain everything that happened -- and 19 runs were scored.  Unfortunately, the Sox got whipped by the Rays, but with all those runs, we saw some great hitting, including three homers over the famous "Green Monster" at Fenway.  The ballpark and its atmosphere felt like a throwback from the 1940's.  Our international guests surely got to see a real slice of Americana.

Friday night, I went to the Boston Pops and they were really awesome.  Trevor, you would have loved it!

And that's about all the fun I have had, except, of course, the fun of learning.

I am on the home stretch with a few challenges around me, so please keep praying~

A few more lessons to ponder:

"Leadership is an intense journey into your own soul."

"Fail often in order to succeed sooner."

CEO Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase about buying Bear Stearns:  "Buying a house and buying a house on fire is two different things."

I am sure there is more -- but the best I could come up with tonight~

Lots of love~

Dee Ann

A Few Learnings for the Day . . .

I am supposed to be studying, but I wanted to share of few of my deeper moments with you from the last couple of days. Maybe they will speak to you as well.

"If you tell the truth, it's part of your past. If you tell a lie, it is part of your future."

"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."

"Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. don't think that you've lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is the right time."

"Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat."

"It is pardonable to be defeated, but not to be surprised."

Love and Blessings,

Dee Ann

Enron, Iceland, Italy, Gucci and More Indian Food

Dear Friends,
There is so much I just wish that I could tell you, but I dare not on a public blog. We will have a great time swapping stories when I return.

It's been an outstanding academic week. Among our case studies were, as mentioned above, Enron, Iceland, Italy, Gucci, FBI, Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and Microsoft, just to name a few. Our Columbia case was a video role playing simulation. It made me glad that I don't have to make life and death decisions everyday (although some of our candidates probably feel like they are). The Deputy Director of the FBI and Director of Intelligence for M15 in the UK spoke as part of the FBI case. That's one of the things I can't put on the blog, but it was fascinating!

As you can guess by the title, we had more Indian food tonight -- the whole Indian population of AMP came to our Living Group for dinner tonight. They are really a bunch of nice guys and they still talk about eating CFA. They love the cows! I had to pretend I was eating the food, but I really couldn't stand it -- it was authentic spicy Indian food. You should smell our hallway! I have my windows open and the fan going. It was a very kind gesture, and one of our living group is a very hospitable Indian man that enjoys sharing the culture of his country, and I have great appreciation for that, even if I don't like the food.

Tomorrow night, I am headed to hear the Boston Pops. If you happened to see Movin' Out on Broadway (I did), the guy who was the lead and sang all the Billy Joel songs is performing Billy Joel with the Pops. I am sure it will be delightful. I am really stretching here, as I really want to pour out all the juicy stuff to you!

Ok, I had a couple of revelations today, and I especially want Michael L. to pay attention, since he is moving here in August.

First of all, I think I know why no one to speaks to anyone passing on the street:

1. In the winter time, if you pull down your scarf to speak, your spit will freeze on your lips.

2. In the spring time, as windy as it is here, if you open your mouth, you risk a bug flying into your mouth and lodging itself between your middle teeth. (Don't you wonder how I know that?)

The other important thing is to plan to walk everywhere -- whatever you do -- don't drive. The closest thing I have seen to violence here has involved road rage, and it happens everyday. These people can communicate more with their horns and fingers than anywhere I have ever been! Besides, if you walk, you get there faster anyway. I outwalk the traffic all the time.

As of tomorrow, I will be 3/4 of my way through this course. If you are saying, "that went by fast," you should have been here. If only days at the beach would last so long. They have a special time system here and each day is 96 hours or so. There are beautiful clocks on buildings all over HBS and Harvard and I try to watch to see them move, and I am sure they only move one numeral every true eight hours.

It's been a ride and I am thankful to God for giving me an opportunity to learn so much about me and about this crazy world we live in (people from 45 countries in my class!), globally and right here in Boston. I wouldn't have missed it, but as my friend Mark says, I am looking forward to it "being in my rear view mirror."

Thanks for your love and support~ I am lifted by angels everyday,

Love,

Dee Ann