Monday, April 02, 2007

Look Out It’s The Cops…



I still say this every time I drive by a police car – I don’t know where dad ever picked this one up (Maybe I don't want to know), but it is definitely deeply etched in my mind.

So Saturday night I had the great privilege and honour of being the Master of Ceremonies – for Rick Daigle’s retirement party – it was a very emotional and entertaining evening, with many co-workers, “supervisors” and friends all gathering to surround one of their own as he moves onto the more relaxing phrase of his journey – The Phrase Look Out It’s The Cops was going through my mind continually.

One of the coolest things about Saturday Night was listening to all of those assembled speak so highly of one man – and how he meant so much to each of them. When Rick got up to say a few words, it was easy to see why so many held him in such high regard, for at the one event in his career that was supposed to be all about him, he made it about those that gathered, his friends, his family, his coworkers – He said that his father had passed on the two most important words in the English language to him, early in his life – and those words were “Thank You” – he re-iterated those words, adding two of his own “Very Much”. Something that is so easy to say, so easy in fact that we often take saying it for granted. I sat there and pondered the power in those two little words – with two easy words we allow others to feel a sense of accomplishment, that they are valued and that they have helped you along your journey in some great or small way. It also shares the success of the individual with the many – and it was in this way that Rick has always made those around him feel so richly rewarded – because as he was accomplishing so many cool things, he was constantly giving others the recognition, and accepting very little. He also was able leave a job after 38 years with no regrets, as he said if he had it all to do over again – he wouldn’t change a thing, I doubt that many could/would say the same.

Rick said that his career has been a slice, here’s hoping that his golf game doesn’t go the same way.

It’s a great gift to be able to make others feel special about themselves – not many can pull it off, but when you can – it’s Magic – sort of like Saturday Night…

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