Congrats on the medal tonight!

I got an email last night from Cam.

> From: Cam Rink
> To: Jay Karr
> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:51:33 +0000
> Subject: olympics
>
> We all agree - you look like the swimmer Vanderkay (sp?)... Congrats on the medal tonight!

There are a couple mysteries here:

1) Who is the "we" in reference?

Whoever it is, there's apparently some critical mass.  My receipt of the communication must have been an action item outcome from a board meeting.  OR, he means he and his wife, Kristi, and their new(ish) baby, Campbell.

Either way, I have to take this seriously.

2) Why do I naturally object to comparisons like this?

I think it comes down to a simple but powerful term: terminal uniqueness.  I think this originated in the 12-step circles but the concept is universal.  As we go through life, we feel that our situation is completely different than everyone else, that no one else could possible understand what it's like to walk in my shoes.  Terminal comes into play because it holds you back.  I'd go as far as to say that there's an even smarter implicit concept at play as the single most un-unique characteristic of life is that it will end, regardless of what you do.

I came to grips with my own ununiqueness some time ago.  Just as Google helped to teach me how to eliminate rust from a stainless steel kitchen sink, it has also tought me that someone, somewhere has already had that completely insane thought, totally weird idea for a product and even better, provided an answer to the question I didn't ask.

And, there's something absolutely comforting about that.  I'm happy to take the ego hit, to know that I'm not alone.

Oh, here's a shot of Peter Vanderkaay.