| 12.17.07|
Merry Monday!
I have known Wes since August 1980 when I was an 18 year old freshman and he was a savvy 19 year old sophomore at our alma mater, Pitzer College. We have a great relationship that has rarely, if ever, been tested; there have been some moments that have come close—as there are in all friendships—but we always have come back to our common ground of sports and humor. Our disagreements are usually over pitchers (he thinks Nolan Ryan is overrated, I revere him); the Wave (I’m a no, he’s a yes); touchdown dances (he laughs at them, I say hand the ref the ball) and the finer points of a good cookie (we agree, crunchy outside but soft and chewy inside). We very much agree that it is important to laugh and give reasons for others to laugh as well.
Wes and I do not talk much. Nor do we email much. Forget text messaging, Wes cannot figure out how to get the messages. But we are in touch. We voice mail, constantly. For whatever reason whenever one of us tries to call the other we end up with voicemail and leave lengthy messages—about trivial things that seem idiotic to others but we know will make the other guy laugh. For instance, we are somewhat obsessed with how Southern Californians decorate their cars. This started with the Lakers car flags after their last championship. We would call each other with sightings that would up the ante—Wes saw one car with a flag with 0.8 and Derek Fisher’s number commemorating his heroic last second shot that won a game. I countered with a car with four LA Sparks flags, and so on. You understand how it is, sometimes you see or hear something and it just reminds you of one of your friends and you think about calling them. With Wes and me, we have no filter, we call on the spot. Our wives are used to us in mid-conversation with them all of a sudden chuckling and hitting the speed dial and leaving a message, “Hold on honey. ‘Hey Wes, found the all time best license plate. It says ‘No. 1 Fan’ with a Colts license plate frame. Guy can change his license plate frames and always be a front-runner. Genius! Say hey to Laila and the girls.” And so it has gone and will go for decades. Voicemail messages out of the blue that make us pause, listen and laugh.
Last Monday morning, my phone rang about 7:30, I just missed answering before it went to voice mail. I chuckled, called ID said it was Wes – I put the phone down and knew I would have a good message in a few minutes. I was right, Wes had left a great message. A message so great that it can change the way all of us approach our lives.
Wes is in sales. His company makes various food products that are sold to Smart N Final, CostCo and other stores. Wes has always been in sales, even in college he was always trying to sell us on something—a party, a game, a wager, a trip. Upbeat and looking to the positive we can always count on him to provide some angle that makes us laugh and say, “Sure, why not?” His message Monday had me saying, “Yes!” and I hope you will too.
This is what Wes was selling yesterday: “Merry Monday!”
Wes thinks that Monday has a bad rap and people buy into it too readily. He wants to help people have a better Monday by wishing them a “Merry Monday!” I agree with him. We are coming off a weekend and facing five days of work, school, extracurricular events, and just plain “stuff”. We need a positive outlook to start our week and give us the positive perspective we need to make the week successful, fun and productive. I think “Merry Monday!” greetings will help. So after Wes’ message last Monday I spent the day wishing people a “Merry Monday!” starting with my kids when they came into breakfast; they laughed and said I was silly. I tried it with my smart, witty, beautiful, loving, etc., etc. spouse—“Merry Monday!” and got a “Well okay!” response and a smile. It was working!
On the phone, at work, at lunch, I greeted people with a “Merry Monday!” Almost every time the response was a chuckle, smile or a very quizzical but pleasant look—it was working! Wes’ idea of wishing everyone “Merry Monday!” could catch on! I left him a message about my positive responses and that I would continue the “Merry Monday!” greeting as it made me and others happier.
It seems, however, that not everyone was catching the positive vibe from the “Merry Monday!” greeting. Tuesday morning Wes left a voicemail that his “Merry Monday!” was met with Grinch like comments and looks. Few if any of his “Merry Monday!” greetings appeared to turn any Ebeneezers from “Bah-humbug” to “Merry Monday!” attitudes. Evidently Wes was not so merry by the end of Monday. But I say press on to my friend and to you. “Merry Monday!” your family at breakfast, your co-workers when you get into work, your boss, your boss’ boss. Wes, do not give up! “Merry Monday!” until they eagerly await your sales call each Monday! You too. Yes you, the one reading this! “Merry Monday!” someone…now!
“Merry Monday!” Mayor Foster! Have a great week making Long Beach even greater!
“Merry Monday!” Councilwoman Schipske! Have a great week listening to your constituents and blogging about it!
“Merry Monday!” Bill Pearl! Have a great week keeping us informed with your LBReport!
“Merry Monday!” Brian Gimmillaro! Have great week recruiting outstanding young women to come to The Beach!
“Merry Monday!” Tom Hennessey! Enjoy your week of “retirement!”
“Merry Monday!” Senora Padilla! Have great week teaching Jenna and the other kindergartners!
“Merry Monday!” Diane DeWalshe! Have a great week with everyone at Community Hospital!
“Merry Monday!” John Morris! I know you will have lots of people to “Merry Monday!” today!
“Merry Monday!” Judy Ross! Have a great week with other non-profit folks through the Partnership!
“Merry Monday!” Mike Murray! Can you hear me now?!? Ha!
“Merry Monday!” Colleen Bentley! Have a great week connecting leaders!
“Merry Monday!” Leslie! Have a great week being a great wife and mother and friend!
“Merry Monday!” Blaire and Jenna! I’ll have a great week just watching you laugh and giggle!
“Merry Monday!” Long Beach! Have a great week!
“Merry Monday! Wes! Thanks for giving us “Merry Monday!” and brightening days and weeks of people you will never know or meet but will be smiling because of your simple and fun idea!
“Merry Monday!” from My Front Porch to yours!
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