California Dreaming

The Sun Sets on Beautiful Malibu Beach
Another year had flown by and once again it was time for our annual sales and marketing conference in Southern California, which brought together over 5,000 world wide employees for training and stage-setting for the upcoming year. There was plenty of business to take care of during the conference, but some special fun was had before the event took place.


One of the fun activities that Kevin looks forward to each year when coming to the U.S. is target shooting. As a former marksman in the Singaporean Army, and a current reservist, Kevin is well-trained around firearms. But given that most countries around the world, including Singapore, do not allow their citizens to own or possess firearms; the U.S. remains one of the last places where people like Kevin can enjoy the sport of target shooting.



The party was made up of people who are in the music and entertainment business, which is so very typical of most living in Los Angeles. But these folks were not aspirational in their hopes of making it big, because they already had. In the rank and file of the gathering was a TV Producer, Drew, who outside of work is just in love with his new Rickenbacker guitar. Music was the common theme that bound all of us together that evening.

Nick (shown above), who was the host of the party but who is also an accomplished musician and writes the musical scores for countless TV shows, entertained us with song after song. Another partygoer, who is just getting ready to release his new album this summer, sang several of his new songs at the party for all of us to enjoy.
A truly great moment in the party was when John, one of the returning U.S. servicemen, joined in on the jam session that was taking place. He was quite good and was enjoying playing one of Nick's fantastic guitars from his exhaustive collection. When the song had ended, Nick asked John to turn the guitar over that he was playing and read the inscription. The inscription read: To John, from Nick... Hope you enjoy this guitar as much as I did
When the realization set in with John that Nick was actually giving him this guitar, his jaw dropped in astonishment. He was so thankful and was almost at a loss for words. Nick believed that it was the least he could do for someone who had risked his own life so that countless others could live free and feel safe.
It was fantastic catching up with my friend Jared. He provided so many fun opportunities for Kevin and me, not to mention letting us crash at his apartment. We made it up to him by taking him out to Ruths Chris Steakhouse, which is arguably one of the best places in America to enjoy a cut of U.S. Prime Cut Beef. The food, the fun, and the activities were all fantastic, but it was the conversation and the ability to pick up right where we had left off after not seeing each other for so long that provided the most joy.
Good friends never let distance or time get in the way. Jared and I have been best friends since we were three years old. We've been separated by continents, oceans, and time zones; but it has never impacted our friendship... and it surely never will.