Hat tip to author Judith Viorst and her book which I read to my children many years ago.
Thank Goodness December, 2014 is behind me. I’ve never had a tougher public month in my life and the day of my Censure was an absolute low point. The month sounds like one of Garrison Keillor’s “worst case scenarios” only without the Bebopareebop Rhubarb Pie. Well that’s not quite right. During one of my penitent nights after a board meeting Loren Martell looked up at me sympathetically and I told him I used to be a “pie in the sky” fellow but was now just a “pie in the eye” guy. So, I’ve been getting some pie.
Here’s a brief review. The mistakes began in the last days of November. I inadvertently mentioned the putative sale price of the Central property publicly thinking that only the buyers identities were being withheld. Oops. On November 29th there was a front page Duluth News Tribune story highlighting the price and pointing the finger at me for disclosing it “inadvertantly.”
On December 1st Attorney Mary Rice showed up to explain her damning report on Art Johnston and I was geared up to put her down. I was doing well until half way through the meeting I began waltzing around like an ass determined to demonstrate how a touch could end up looking like a shove. The meeting recessed with me looking like well, an ass, for five minutes while I thought to myself. “I’ve made a huge mistake.”
December 2nd, I was on the front page again with arms upraised in the act of “pantomiming” as Richard Thomas put it. But that wasn’t my only appearance in the paper. Much to the gratification of many of my once silent, long time critics, the DNT’s editorial board tongue lashed me for giving them what their reporter had been seeking for some time – the Central property sale price. Ironic yes, but accurate. I could have killed the deal. This was also the day that I was called and told that my Mom wasn’t doing so well by coincidence.
December 5th my Mom died. It was a blessing but it was a strange and wonderful day. Following this I had a hundred detail related to settling accounts as my Mother’s legal co-conservator.
The rest of the month is something of a blur but I did attempt a three week armistice to see if I couldn’t work some peace mission with the School Board majority. No dice.
Then On December 21st My fellow Board members censured me for disclosing the price of Central on the blog and for giving the Trib our school board attorney’s notes on crucifying Art Johnston. The next day my son came home to a third front page story about me on the Trib and my censure which my fellow board members kindly delayed to Christmas so I could get over grieving for my Mom.
I’m looking forward to more of 2015. I intend to test the theory that whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
On Decemer
