Why doesn’t your GPS play a “Song for Each City” as we travel across this wonderful nation? So, as we were driving from Delaware to Washington, DC - a voice request to Apple Music for a song from Hairspray was perfect:
4 days of the trip lands us in Bristol, Tennessee! We have gone 885 miles with a total Electrical Energy consumption of 285 Kilowatt Hours. Several charging stops at Tesla SuperChargers have powered us easily across 7 states (NY, NJ, PA, DE, DC, VA, TN), with great stops, visits and experiences along the way.
Afghan Family Lunch: We had the honor of meeting with a family that had to flee Afghanistan as Kabul was falling. I worked with a team of folks from our government to help get Metra Mehran and her family out of their besieged home as the city was occupied. Metra is an amazing leader - working with women in Afghanistan to advocate for their education as a fundamental right. They are now settled in Virginia, with her brother in high school. We met at an Afghan restaurant that served Halal food for an emotional and powerful lunch. Her father gave a blessing for our meal and for the safety of their relatives and neighbors back in Kabul. We ended our time together with a greeting of love and support:
Theater Renewing Across America: We have had the joy of seeing 3 different theater productions in the last few days:
Other World - an intriguing show about Gaming - that MASIE Productions helped with an early development lab in Saratoga Springs, had its world premiere in Delaware. WOW! The costumes, stories, music and graphic effects will make this a show to see in the years to come.
Catch Me If You Can: This popular musical has been updated with the intent of the original playwright, Terrence McNally and the music was arranged and adapted by our dear friend, Laura Bergquist. It is playing in DC at Arena and we saw the 2nd night of previews. WOW and OH MY! It is a moving and funny and engaging night of music and theater. Watch as it heads forward in the theater world:
Friends and Colleagues Along the Way: Visiting cities that we have not been in for two years of the Pandemic has been a wonderful chance to catch up with colleagues and friends. In Washington, DC, we had a breakfast with an amazing leader and advocate, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the daughter of Robert Kennedy and former Lt. Governor of Maryland. Kathleen is now leading the efforts of the Labor Dept to take a 2022 view of retirement policy and benefits.
Learning Stops Ahead: In a few hours, the Tesla will take us to Knoxville TN, where we will be visiting the HQ for Clayton Homes. Can’t wait to explore their approach to learning and development. Stay tuned for details.
So, good morning and we are heading West!