Trades

“Leave em for Frank*.”  Dropping off my “D” and “P” Scrabble letter cufflinks at Mayor Gluba’s office, I don’t want to be presumptuous or sexist about who the next Davenport City Administrator may be.  All I know is the chances of me suiting up with D/P cufflinks in the future are such that there’s no need to cart these little good luck charms - the last time I wore them the City got $10.75 million from the State - around anymore.  Let someone else wear them in defense of, or on the offense for, my beloved Davenport.

Mayor Gluba receives the present as he receives me; warmly.  He has an assignment he’d like me to work on and I have a few weeks before heading off to be Seaside’s City Manager, so I’m happy to help.  Although, it does appear bringing personal items to leave with the City may be at cross-purposes with some of the Mayor’s work in the weeks ahead.  He’s packing up boxes of personal mementoes of eight years of service, and I’m bringing in new stuff to add to the pile.  Sorry, Mayor.

One thing I was fastidious about was being certain no one saw me carry out a box of my books, or baseballs, or diplomas from City Hall.   The lasr time I walked out of City Hall, I was tossing a baseball as I walked to the Jeep.  The end also came prophetically. 

The office stripped down to just the trusty Yamaha amp, speakers and an iPod, the playlist randomly cycled to “Left of the Dial” by the Replacements at 4:56 pm.  Throwing propriety to the wind, I cranked up the wistful will I see you again anthem and sang along lustily (you can too, click here).  John Stewart had his “Born to Run” sign off and Dave Letterman had “Everlong” echoing in the rafters as he left the stage.  They may have had Springsteen and the Fighters of Foo in person, but they didn’t have a better time leaving.  “Heading out to San Francisco, definitely not L.A.”, goes my favorite verse, and who knew at the time how true that would be.

Some trades seem a no-brainer.  Four year terms for two year terms.  All at-large versus eight wards.  The best year-round climate on the continent and stunning natural beauty.  Swanky mid-century office with enough original furnishings remaining to set the vibe.  A sandbag stockpile (here) that wouldn't last thirty seconds in Davenport.  Opportunity that appears to outstrip the challenges, and - it appears - elected gumption to match administrative initiative.  San Francisco just up the coast (Cubs there May 20 - 22) and Yosemite and Lake Tahoe as close as Chicago is to Davenport.  Have I mentioned the big blue thing?

Pacific Ocean for Mississippi River.  Monterey cypress for burr oak.  In and Out for Culvers.  Laguna Seca for Modern Woodmen Park.  Mid Century Modern for Richardsonian Romanesque.  Some trades are matters of taste.  You can’t go wrong with locally grown.

The real trade is future for past.  Or is it past for future?  It depends on your perspective.  The Seaside Council scrutinizes the professional past and decides they’d like some of that.  I’ve had enough of the past to the extent I’m giving it away to Mayor Gluba / Klipsch and looking for the future.

The past is your favorite chair, a just right pillow, your most comfortable pair of jeans, your dearest friends.  The past is trips to Whitey's, nights at camp, apple picking at Stone's and warm kettlecorn at the corn maze.  The past is a flowing memory river of briefings, whiteboards, ballgames and band concerts.  There ain’t nothing wrong with the past.  But the past does have a way of being made anew each moment.  And all rivers, ultimately, flow to the sea.  Let Frank have the D/P cufflinks. 

I'll make some S/S ones.     

* Frank Klipsch, incoming Davenport Mayor