Grandpa, meet Wyatt!

Meet Wyatt Browning Smith, first child of Ryan and Megan Smith. Wyatt was born at 4:00 p.m. on January 29, 2009. He weighed in at 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and is 19.5 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well, as is proud papa Ryan.

Wyatt is my second grandchild and my first grandson, and I have to say that I'm really digging being a grandpa. Here's a pic of me with my new little buddy. I'll post some better quality pics when I get them.

He's a cute little guy. The baby hat, which they put on all newborns, gives him an adorable Hobbit-like quality. Who does he look like? Hard to tell. Frankly, Megan and Ryan look enough alike that he's probably a pretty even blend of both of them. But time will tell. That's one of the fun things about watching a baby grow.

So far as I know, he's the first Wyatt in the family. But it sounds great with Smith, doesn't it? And Browning is a family name that's been handed down as a middle name for generations. The Brownings were residents of the Jamestown colony in the early 1600s (as was John Smith, come to think of it!). They participated in the westward movement in the 1800s, and several Browning women broke through gender barriers in medicine and law in the early 1900s. A "can do" bunch, and no doubt Wyatt will continue this legacy.

Wyatt Browning Smith. Rock solid name, don't you think?

More to come soon. I just had to share the news!

What a Day!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009... what a day! It's been more than 24 hours since Barack Obama's innauguration, and I'm still kind of stunned by it all. Regardless of your political leanings, this was one for the history books.

I'll never forget when the Berlin wall came down in November 1989. I lived for a time in Germany in the 1970s and visited Berlin on several occasions. I got to see the wall and the "no man's land" that separated East and West first hand. One of the most sobering experiences of my life. My German friends honestly believed the wall would never come down in their lifetimes. When it did, we were all stunned, absolutely speechless. Yesterday was like that for me. Walls came down in the midst of chaotic and uncertain times. Like that bright day in Berlin nearly 20 years ago, hope shone through.

Whatever your political affiliation, pray for our President and all of our political leaders. They, we, our country and our world surely need it. Oh, and if you receive any incendiary emails... you know, the ones that trash this leader or that, typically with a caustic, sarcastic or holier-than-thou tone... don't forward them to me. I'm open to discuss anything, but I'm done with those things.

I was talking with my new boss at HP the other day, and we got onto the subject of people he admired. He said that he particuarly admired people who've built something, who prevailed through good times and bad to create something of lasting value. I've been thinking about that comment a lot today. We've got a shot to do that, if we can come together, drop the rhetoric and negativity, and get down to building a brighter future.

All the best,
Dave

Bach's Mass in B Minor

I was priviledged to go along with Kent Reed to a performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor in Berkeley yesterday evening. Kent is the timpanist with the American Bach Soloists, performers of baroque and early classical music using period instruments... the instruments (or copies thereof) that were played at the time the music was composed.

Bach's B Minor Mass is a compilation of elements penned earlier in the composer's career. Surprisingly, there is no record of the piece having been performed in its entirety in Bach's lifetime, though his son, C.P.E. Bach, conducted a perfomance of it in 1786. The piece was virtually forgotten until the mid-1800's, around a century after the composer's death.

Kent told me if you were to make a list of the greatest choral pieces every composed, this would rank right up at the very top. And from what I heard last night, he's right. I'm no expert... far from it... but from the opening strains, I was transfixed.

I think it's amazing that something we now consider so transcendent in its beauty was essentially passed over by the generation that first heard it.

On a separate but related note, I was so very impressed by the performers... my friend, Kent, included... who devote themselves to giving the rest of us a glimpse of what it must have been like to have heard this music performed in its day. Kent's timpani, for example, are English-made and from about 1840. They are tuned by hand knobs, not by pedals like modern timpani. The trumpets and french horns of the period have no valves at all; the musicians play the scales using only lip control. The oldest instrument was an upright bass from the late 1600's... over three centuries old!

If you ever get the chance to hear period instruments, do it. And if you can ever hear Bach's B Minor Mass, that's a must-do as well.

My Fathering Goals

Interesting what you find when you look through old files. Here are my fathering goals from 1997. Megan was just finishing up her sophomore year in high school, and Dana her eighth grade year. I don't recall where I got them. Maybe from a book, or an email that someone sent me.

In any case, looking back, these are still the goals I would choose if I were a new father, and I share them with you.

Dave

DB's Fathering Goals
March 1997

1. Frequently affirm her strengths, unique talents and value. Celebrate her successes, large and small.


2. Lovingly encourage her and sacrificially support her in her areas of weakness.
   
3. Remind her patiently; don't lecture her. You, too, are still growing.


4. Keep your promises, and help her keep hers.
   
5. Do not force your agenda or life goals on her, but help her discover her dreams and God's plans for her life.
   
6. Teach her that success is not measured by grades, popularity, looks, wealth, power or worldly achievements. Only what we do for the Kingdom of God will last.
   
7. Forgive completely; apologize quickly and sincerely.


8. Pray continually for her, and frequently with her.
   
9. Teach her how to walk a life of faith, first by example, then with words. This foundation of faith will give guidance in uncertain times, strength in hard times, and perspective in good times.
   
10. When in doubt, ask "What would Jesus do?"

Restoration

Ryan and Megan bought an old dresser that we're fixing up to be used as a changing table for Baby Smith. It's been a long time since I've don't this kind of work, but I used to do a lot way back when. Here's a reflection from those days...

Restoration

I have to do something with this old dresser
Painting it yet again won't do any good
It has been painted over one too many times already
No, it has to be stripped down to the wood
And restored from the ground up

So I brush on a chemical gel to strip the paint
Man, this stuff is caustic
I'm glad the dresser doesn't feel pain
Because this would surely hurt

I wipe off the gel and meticulously scrape the stuff
Out of the cracks

Well, what do you know?
Solid cherry wood
Dovetail joints
Inlay on the top and on the drawer fronts

After an entire afternoon of cleaning and sanding
I stand back and admire the thing
Four hours ago it was trash
Now it is a treasure!

That's the difference between covering and restoring
Covering is quick and easy
It hides the damage and the blemishes
But only for a while
Until the thing is destroyed from within

Restoration is slow and tiresome
Stripping away the layers is painful
And repairing damage is hard, hard work
But it is God's way of turning
Trash into treasure!

I Get So Busy I Forget I'm In Love With You

No sooner had the Christmas merchandise and decorations been removed from stores than the Valentine's Day stuff started rolling in. Valentine's Day is still over a month away, but it got me thinking about the state of my own heart.

I've been going through some changes at work (new manager, new assignments... that sort of thing) and so I've been more than usually "me" focused lately. Needless to say, this has trickled over into my personal life.

When I got married, I promised to love, honor, stand beside, etc. In short, I signed up to serve Trudi in love. I don't recall hearing... and have yet to hear at anybody else's wedding... anything about making sure I got what I needed out of the deal. And yet, I think that's been how I've been acting lately.

For the umpteenth time, I'm re-realizing that "me-ism" is death to love. It's the antithesis of how things should be. Oh, sure, the opposite is also true: you can't be the only one who gives. But me-ism is, at least for me, the easier rut to get stuck in.

I'm reminded of a song by Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul & Mary) called "By Surprise" that has a great line:

I know it sounds funny, but it's true
I get so busy I forget I'm in love with you
And every now and then

We need to get away to get close again

Missing the mark in love isn't necessarily deliberate. Oftentimes I just let things slide. Or as the song says, I forget I'm in love. Over time, I can get way off course. Getting back on course can sometimes be a simple as remembering. Thinking about those early days, what first attracted (and continues to attract) me to Trudi, reminds my why I fell in love in the first place. And that reminds me that I'm still in love and encourages me to get back to a you-centered love: honoring, serving... cherishing the love of my life. From the big decisions in life down to the everyday little things like making the bed in the morning (which is important to her) or fixing a margarita just the way she likes it.

For those who want to know: 1 ounce each of tequila, water, fresh lime juice and agave nectar (more or less of each to taste).

The Carthage Jail

Unless you've read a bit about the history of the Mormons, you wouldn't know about the Carthage jail in Carthage, IL. It was there that Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion, and his brother Hyrum met their deaths at the hands of a mob. The rest, as they say, is history.

One branch of my family tree, the Brownings, played a small role in that history. The jail was built between 1839 and 1841 and was used as a jail for 25 years. It was then sold to a Mr. Peterson, who owned it for about 12 years, then sold it to my great-great-grandfather James M. Browning, who used it as a residence. He remodeled it extensively, removing the bars from the windows, moving the kitchen and various interior walls. After his death, his wife sold it to the Mormon church. It was then restored to its current condition (see photo) and is now being used as a tourist attraction.

An interesting little tidbit, eh? While one branch of the Browning family was Mormon (see my earlier reference to the gunsmith John Browning), I don't believe that James M. Browning was. In my collection of family documents I've not found any specific reference to his faith. But we are blessed to have the family Bible he passed down to his children, and that book speaks of a faith that I and my family embrace. Thank you, great-great-grandfather!

A Discovery From The Family Archives

Over the Christmas holiday, Dana and I brought out the family Bible and a stack of papers filled with background on one branch of my family tree: the Brownings. All of us love family lore, but Dana is especially enthralled with family history. We had a lot of fun reading the various notes and letters, some of which had some truly interesting tidbits about our ancestors.

My full name is David Browning Barnes. I was named after David Milton Browning, my great grandfather, or more specifically my father's maternal grandfather. The Browning clan is made up of rugged individuals, and David was a prime example.

Another example is my earliest American ancestor, William Browning. Born in England in 1586, he landed in Virginia near the mouth of the James river in... get this... 1619! This was a year before the Mayflower landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts. (Side note: one branch of Trudi's family tree has been in America far longer than that... the Cherokees!) Needless to say, forging a life under those conditions took some guts. William evidently made a good go of it; he was an active member of the Jamestown colony and owned 650 acres of land. Here's a photo of the Jamestown colony today.

The Brownings were part of the westward migration in the 19th century. A number of them were Mormons who settled in Utah, among them John Browning, the famous gunmaker. I'll tell you about an interesting story about the link between the Brownings and the Mormons soon.

Things I'd Like To Do In 2009

They say New Year's resolutions are made to be broken, so I'll just call them "things I'd like to do in 2009." Here's my incomplete list:

• Take some bass lessons. I'm a pretty basic bass player, and I'd love to improve my skills, and maybe learn some new ones, like playing "walking" bass lines.
• Play guitar more. I didn't play guitar much last year and I miss it.
• Learn Spanish. I took a Spanish class in 2008 and would like to continue to study it. Right now I can order in a restaurant, greet people, and talk about the weather but beyond that, forget it.
• Continue to exercise. This past year I got into the habit of going to the Y and getting some exercise on a regular basis. It's paid off: I feel better, and my blood pressure and cholesterol are just fine.
• Lose the 5 pounds I gained in 2008 and lose another 5 pounds. In order to do that, I need to get a little more "South Beach-y." The South Beach diet helped me change my eating habits and get my "vital signs" where they should be.
• Read more. In the last half of '08 I started reading more than I usually do, and I enjoyed it a lot. I want to continue that in 2009.
• Get to know my grandkids. Lori you've met. I'm looking forward to watching her grow. My grandson is coming in early February. I'm so excited to meet him!
• Keep growing at work. It's easy for me to go from task to task and not spend as much time as I should thinking long term, where I'd like to take my career.
• Be more positive. Those who know me know that I tend to be a worst-case-scenario guy. I don't think it's upbringing; it's just how I'm wired. I've made some progress rerouting my wiring this past year. Gotta continue that in 2009.

That'll do for now. How about you?

Happy New Year!

2008 is now behind us and what a year it has been. The economic downturn hit so many people so hard and will continue to challenge us in 2009 and beyond. On the political front.... wow. Unbelievable.

Personally, 2008 was a big one for me. First, it was the year I became a grandfather. The beautiful New Year's baby you see here is none other than granddaughter Lori Hernandez. Her arrival on April 24th changed everything. It took me a while to get into the grandpa groove, but I'm in it now, and it's great.

Another highlight for me in 2008 was to see Trudi continue to grow as an artist. She produced some really nice pastels, several of which she turned into cards (Snapfish is so cool!). She is the best thing in my life, and every year that goes by only reinforces that.

I'm also thankful for my friends, who blessed my life this past year more than they know. Too many great visits to even remember. Went to the opera a number of times, which was tons of fun (and brought some "cul-cha" into my life!). I would like to have had more music jam sessions and "guy movie nights," but the ones we did have were great. And I got to play bass at church a bunch, and that was really special.

Professionally, 2008 was a good year, too. I learned a lot and, I think, grew a lot. HP is full of good people, and I was blessed to have worked with the best of the bunch. No, seriously, I mean that. And I'm hopeful that I'll get to continue to work with them in 2009.

New Year's resolutions? Yeah, I have a few, and I'll tell you about them soon.

But in the meantime, Happy New Year, y'all!