After receiving Connie’s invitation to contribute to Speed’s birthday book I had days of mind maps running through my head. Speed in the center with legs stretching out in various directions. The 70’s and IAPS, Pontiac and teaming with Bob Good, planting at the farm and growing friendships with the Bobs. Book club morphing into Stratford, and then into Toronto and New York. Travels extending to Walloon, Glen Arbor, the Millennium, California, and finally London and Guernsey. Cross country skiing, tennis, and golf. Great food, fine wine, many laughs – some tough moments and a loving friendship that has spanned most of my adult life. I could pick any one of those legs and write a book.

But there are two Speed Things that have had a profound and lasting impact and for which I will always be grateful. When Katie and Matt where little, you advised them to always pay themselves first. Do you remember that? Ten percent of whatever they received -- through gifts, wages, allowances, whatever – should go into their savings. Although they were maybe only five and seven at the time, they both took those three or four sentences to heart and have rigorously applied them. As they approach their 50’s that advice has served them well, and it is a practice they have instilled in their own children. We all laugh about Speed being the absolute best financial advisor! And Betsy will not infrequently remind me that she “has lots of money”.

Then there is The Levels of Conflict: An “Ah-ha” moment in my life and a constant companion in my personal and professional history. To listen to the language, to consider the options, to pull in the resources…. I cannot think of anything that has been more useful, more instructive, more productive, and more impactful for me over the past 50 years. Time and time and time again I’ve asked myself, “What’s the language like? How do we lower the stakes? What’s the best strategy? Who should the players be?” For someone who grew up with terrible models of dealing with conflict, this has been like a Golden Rule for me.

As you celebrate this momentous birthday, Speed, I celebrate you with deep respect and wide love. How wondrous it is to have shared all these years and adventures with you! How lucky I feel to have had you in my life. The big question now is where will we play golf this winter????

XOXO and the happiest of birthdays!

Kristi