I believe it starts with my oldest son, Jeff. If you've been keeping up with the blog, you all know that he has spent the summer with me in LA. He interned with our CFO helping install QuickBooks in our accounting department. I will say that Jeff has helped me connect to my younger side by acting as, what I will term, a portal to youth. Even before he came to LA he had a bunch of his friends alerted, and they all invited me to become their "friend" as soon as I had a FaceBook page. I wonder why they want to add me to their social network, but as one of Jeff's buddies says, "Age is just a number, man." Yes, but my number is much, much bigger than theirs.
I will also say that work is a huge influence in building my Eldub persona as well. Eveyone at the company (except the CFO, CMO and me) are young. That is the world of start-ups. I even hired a couple of youngsters as Ops analysts recently. Spencer and Shiran are both 20-somethings that I have been able to build personal and professional relationships with.
But at work, that "youth portal" is definitely Cindy, or PJ, as she is known by to her friends. She very quickly had me involved in her posse, dragging me around LA for various events. Between Jeff and Cindy I found myself involved with a bunch of 20-somethings. We just "hang out"...dinner, movies, wii, brunch, the zoo, aquarium, Guitar Hero, and more dinners. I enjoy their company, and I hope they enjoy mine. Cindy is the social director of her group of friends. Let's see...that list is pretty long now. Cindy is the ringleader; she is overly-generous with her friends, and cares a great deal about each of them. Cindy works with me, and is the most responsible person I know. Next is Lexi. While she is only 23, she has the wisdom and maturity of someone very much older. Her dream is to get into Med School so she can do Pediatric AIDS/HIV work. I think the next group has to be done all together...they are the second ring out (if you believe in bullseye relationships)...here goes: Jisun-Joanne-Ricky-Chelsea-Matt-Jocelyn-John-Jena-Michaela. I have spent less time with them, but don't have less fun with them though. I enjoy hearing Jisun and Joanne make fun of their Asian fathers...but then have to remind them that I am the same age as their fathers, oh, and I happen to be Asian too. Ricky, John and Matt are extremely fun, and seem genuinely interested in consuming as much alcohol as they can...hmmm, I wonder if I was like that at their ages too. Chelsea has dreams of becoming a jazz singer. She has the style, grace and talent...just needs to be discovered. Micheala is the best hugger on the planet. Her hugs tell others that she loves and cares about them...even if she is meeting you for the first time. Can you get that from a hug? Definitely yes. Jocelyn is classically beautiful. I think she looks like Uma Thurman, but she is sweeter and funnier. Jena just left the US to study dance in Ireland...talented? Absolutely!
What I enjoy is that they seem to want to include me in their events and antics. I hope I am not trying too hard to act their age, I am just hoping my youth is coming across as more of a mindset. Our discussions are responsible, mature and interesting. I think the most interesting observation is that our discussions are free of topics that are focused on adult conversation topics with a tone of "responsibility"...meaning they aren't linked to discussions about bills, raising kids, taking the car in for tune-ups, etc. Maybe that is the key...I dunno. I need to ponder on that a little more. I hope they find me funny, interesting to talk to, and wise. Maybe they want my perspective on things...who knows?
I do wonder all the time, if I am THAT guy, or the "creepster" that tries to hang out with younger people, pretending, looking , and trying to be young again. They assure me that I am not, but when I meet some of their parents, it feels like that to me. But creepsters have ulterior motives, and I don't. I am just having fun with fun people that happen to be half my age. OUCH!
Here is a revelation for me...until my move to LA, I worried about the future with Millennials leading the way. I thought they were a bunch of spoiled children that didn't know what hard work and sacrifice meant. I am so very wrong. These kids are amazing...talented, unafraid to try things, start their own businesses, find their passions and try to earn a living through them, and setting and meeting goals. I am impressed by each one of them for different reasons, and realize that at their age I didn't dream the way they do. I wasn't as optimistic about my future as they are with theirs. And hopeful...these kids are full of hope. Yes, they may be impatient for wealth, status and might put too much value in material things, but overall, I am impressed.
My second life also got validation from a very strange place...from the pulpit. My FaceBook friend, Jeff Berryman also happens to be my minister in Seattle, and his sermon 3 weeks ago was about how little we know about this group of "consumers." Millennials don't discover religion the same way as previous generations. He was advocating that some of us older people get to know some younger ones.
So there it is...my purpose for this newly developed life in LA. I have to use these relationships for God's glory, not my own. Okay, forensic discussion over.
Can we be friends on FaceBook? Look me up...Larry Wu of Seattle.
Chow!
