The WestermaNation

By Scott Westerman
31 years. 11 moves.

Early in our marriage, I flirted with a career in the Air Force. We decided against it because we didn’t want to constantly uproot our family. “Life is what happens when you make other plans.”

Our travels have taken us across Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Florida and now, New Mexico. Each stop has challenged us and enriched us.

When I first set foot on desert soil here in the Southwest, I was immediately captivated.

From the Albuquerque Sunport on a sunny day you can see for miles. The sun climbs above the majestic Sandias every morning and sinks slowly across miles of mesa every evening.  With earth tones abounding, even the smallest patch of green gets attention.

Our house was located in one of the few non-xeriscaped neighborhoods. Coming home to our small carpet of grass felt like you were witnessing photosynthesis for the first time.

The historic sights of Santa Fe, the rushing Rio Grande on the approach to Taos, the perpetual snowscape at White Sands, the cool forests of Cloudcroft  and the sedimentary promontories at the Continental Divide on the way to Farmington… These are a few of the things that will be etched in our minds.

Like our Jacksonville experience, Albuquerque is populated with a wonderful mix of lifers and newcomers. We were immediately welcomed. And with Colleen in the house, deep friendships everywhere were inevitable. Even though electronic communication will keep us in touch across the miles, we will miss the smiling faces and direct interaction.

We’re excited about returning to Michigan. Our connections there are still strong and the prospect of contributing to our home state’s renaissance energizes us.

But every time we look toward the Southwest, we will think about Albuquerque.

And smile.

What a difference a year makes!

Our annual holiday missive is late this year because several of our adventures were under the radar until just recently. Here’s a quick recap of what will go down as a pivotal year for the WestermaNation.

The most wonderful experience was Shelby’s wedding. In November, She and Mike Brethour certified their partnership in an exquisite event in Jacksonville. Like Brandon’s union with Stephanie, it was a moment that was absolutely perfect in every way. Brandon was Mike’s best man and his wife, Stephanie was the maid of honor. Shelby’s favorite high school teacher officiated at the ceremony and Gracie, Shelb’s puppy, was a full participant. It was wonderful to see so many of our friends and family, too, including Colleen’s father, who took his first airplane ride in many years to be present. We’re delighted to connect with the Brethour family, just as we have thoroughly enjoyed the Vutera clan. Read the rest of this entry »

It feels like yesterday.

It was a Sunday in August when we met, Steve Schram’s birthday. Laurie was already in his life and I was happy to sub for him at WVIC so that they could celebrate.

I was a Spartan, working my way through Michigan State University as the utility guy at the station. That meant I helped John Hanley on engineering projects, did a lot of commercial production and filled in for whomever had the day off, while holding down evening shifts on the weekends. Read the rest of this entry »

By Scott Westerman

My official duties as a Comcaster in New Mexico came to an end on October 31. Looking back, New Mexico has been one of our favorite stops. Here’s something I wrote two and a half years ago, not long after arriving.

There are no ordinary days in New Mexico. The view from Academy and Tramway is an exquisite panorama that splashes a palate of earth tones more than 40 miles distant on a clear day. Its noon, and I’m watching a thunderstorm form far off in the desert. When the pressure systems that blanket the earth collide, storms are the inevitable result. Sitting in the Albertson’s parking lot I can see their confluence. Dark cumulus clouds slowly build. In time, rain will obscure the long dormant volcanoes that mark our western horizon. Read the rest of this entry »

By Scott Westerman (scott@scottwesterman.com)

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

One of my proudest small contributions during my three year Comcast adventure has been my relationship with Frank Eliason. Frank and I were kindred spirits from the start, passionate about improving the customer experience and laser focused on finding root causes, broken processes, and areas for improvement. We often talked late into the night on our Instant Messengers about how to take our care efforts to the next level. Read the rest of this entry »

By Scott Westerman
Years ago (and I do mean years ago!) I earned my first Vice President gig. It covered a wide swath of the Midwest and among my direct reports was a manager who everyone thought was a golden boy, a man who seemed to do everything right, a rising star. I was excited to meet him.

Almost from the start things went wrong. I would say that something was “blue” and he would argue that, “no, it’s blue!” He was a very able guy, but we just couldn’t get in sync. He went on to a great leadership career and we’re still good friends, but it was my first experience with team chemistry. Read the rest of this entry »

By Scott Westerman

On Saturday Shelby married Mike.

The day went by as quickly as it took to read that first sentence. And so it seems, have the years that Shelby has been ours, “on loan from God”.

I remember the day she made her entrance, head first and wide eyed, fascinated, as ever, with the adventures that awaited her. I remember watching her sleep and wondering how I could ever sleep again, with the awesome responsibility for that small creature on my shoulders.

I remember her first words, her first steps, and the true joy she expressed when she met her brother for the first time. The magical time when I tucked her in and we talked about what we did that day. Her’s were -always- more exciting. Read the rest of this entry »

By Scott Westerman

Almost 20 years to the day after our first visit, we found ourselves in Disney World this week. We purposely returned to the Disney Caribbean Beach Resort. The first time our kids were 8 and 10. Now they are grown and gone, so Colleen and I could experience the resort as empty-nesters.

The rooms were the same size. The TVs are still analog CRT based units (Disney doesn’t make any money when you watch TV) and the only change in fixtures I noticed was a more water conserving commode. I’m sure the carpets, beds and furniture have been changed out over the years, but they had the same feel. Only the wall paper boarder had been updated with a Finding Nemo motif. Read the rest of this entry »

By Colleen Westerman
Well, it’s here…Shelby’s wedding day. One of the most important and happy days in a person’s life.

I’m not sure why I’m awake so early, most likely because I’m so excited.

I’m sitting here remembering my happy little baby girl with hardly any hair until she was 3. The little girl who knew no stranger (and still doesn’t), the jazz, tap and ballet dancer with the big smile and long legs, the volley ball player with the great serve, the amazing and talented singer and thespian. The young woman who pulled her mom out of her funk….and happily and gratefully into the ballroom dance world. The “all grown up” gorgous, smart and talented woman who I happily call one of my best friends.

I couldn’t be happier or more proud today…the day she and Mike begin their lives together.

Shelby, you are giving us a wonderful new son to love and be part of our family! Let this amazing day begin!

Happy Wedding day Shelby and Mike! We love you so much!

By Scott Westerman

When Colleen and I visited Hawaii, one of the first places we explored was the famed Waimea Bay. The Beach Boys sang about it in Surfin USA and I wanted to see, up close, how those boys and girls “with their feet full of tar and their full of sand” attacked the rollers.

They make it look easy.. But it isn’t. Read the rest of this entry »