Monthly Archives: May 2011

Articles, Family

Lloyd Pickett, Jr.

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By Jon Hilton

I have been blessed to have had a relationship with all of my grandparents and six of my great-grandparents.  This article is about my Mother’s Father, Lloyd Pickett, Jr., or Grandpa to all of his grandchildren.  Today he is on my mind and I can’t help thinking about all of the good things he did for me in my life.   I wanted to let him know that he was appreciated and will be missed for what he did and who he was.    Here’s to Grandpa Pickett, Lloyd Pickett, Jr.

Jon Hilton, Lloyd Pickett, Jr. at the races in 1976
l-r:Jamie Hilton, Grammie Pickett, Grandpa Pickett and Me. Looking at the horse. I was probably talking to it, I often did that, they never talked back.

When we were growing up, every summer for a week or two our parents let us go stay with Grammie and Grandpa, and for most of that time they lived in New Gloucester, Maine.  Staying at their place was awesome for a kid.  My Grandfather trained and raced horses for a living.  These were Standard Bred Horses and this was harness racing.  That means they used a cart.   I always have had a fascination with the horses and the races.  Grandpa could tell me, “We gotta get up at 6 and you are going to shovel horse crap for three hours.” , and I would have had trouble sleeping because I was so excited.  My brothers and I followed him around and soaked in the atmosphere  and the lifestyle that my grandparents lived.   What ever Grandpa liked, we liked.  What ever Grandpa did, we did.   Some of my best memories of him were when we would jog the horses.  We would get to take turns riding on the jog cart with him and we would follow the circular track listening to the rhythmic clip-clop, clip-clop of the horses hooves.  Grandpa would often hum and sing along to the beat of the horses hooves as we moved around the track.  I can’t remember the tune, but I can remember the song, and feel the sound in my memory.

I also loved race day.  When a horse was racing, we would get to go to Scarborough Downs and watch.  I didn’t know anything about gambling then, but I really loved being at the track.  My brothers and I would get to race around and watch the horses and make bets with each other.  We would wait for Grandpa to bring his horse out to warm up and watch him roll around the track, and yell and wave at him, even though Grammie always told us, he wasn’t supposed to wave back.   Then if he won we would get to go into the winner’s circle and get out picture taken.   It was awesome.   Then on the way home, if we were good, we would usually stop at McDonald’s, and what kid didn’t like that?  I remember this mostly because Grandpa always called shakes, frapes, I never really understood why.  Also to this day, if I go to McDonalds and eat inside, I have to sit where I can see my vehicle, because Grandpa always did this to make sure nobody was messing with the horses.  I don’t have any horses but I still follow this practice to the letter.

At Grammie’s insistance, probably to get us out of her hair for a little while, we would also play a lot while we were there.  We went fishing in the river behind their place, we played baseball, whiffle ball, rode bikes and we even had races of our own around the track.  It was about a half a mile, I am often in awe of the things we did for fun, today it would be punishment for kids to participate in activities  like that but we really did love it.  Grandpa used to be a great baseball player back in the old days,(he told us this),  so when we were throwing the ball around, he would come out and play catch with us.  He never used a glove…..I always liked that.

Inevitably the time would slip by, and soon my parents would return to collect us so that we could continue on our summer at home.  I always loved those times and the memories of them are stored away to be recalled with a smile and a warm feeling, when I think of my Grandfather and what he meant to me as a boy growing up in Maine.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I can be stubborn.  Grandpa has been stubborn his whole life.  He always refused to let anyone tell him what to do at any time.  When he wanted to do something, he did it.  As I write this it sounds a lot more like me than I thought.   The past few years, as his health has been failing, he has been clinging to life with an iron grip, you have to envy.  He underwent cancer surgery, when the doctors told him it would kill him.  He had a pace-maker put in, even though the doctors said it probably would kill him.  He has been trying to cling to every second of life that he can.   My Grandmother Pickett, was just the opposite, when she felt it was her time to go, she said good-bye to her children and peacefully passed on.  Grammie knew it was her time and really seemed to be at peace with it.  Grandpa is not going that way, he is not going anywhere without a fight.  I admire that in him, and even though I know that eventually he will lose that battle, every time he fights back it is a testament to the toughness inherent in our collective heritage.

As time has gone by, and I have been wrapped up in the happenings of my own life, I am regretful that I didn’t see Grandpa more over the past few years.  It always seemed that circumstance or distance was in the way.  When we lived relatively near each other, I was too busy to find the time to visit.  The one thing that I have learned is that I was never that busy.

********** Lloyd Pickett, Jr. Passed away on May 30th, 2011 at approximately 7:55 PM at the Hospice House in Auburn, Maine.  Rest In Peace Grandpa.

Jon Hilton At the track with Brandon Salway's Horse
I loved racing then and I still love it now! L to R: Kyle Salway, Jon Hilton, Brandon Salway, Trainer?, LM Christina and Leigh Fitch at Scarboro Downs, July of 2010.
Hits

Michael Scott, All Good Things Must Come To An End

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the office show, the office mug
Michael G. Scott, The Office, NBC

By Jon Hilton

As I watched the final episode of the office featuring Steve Carell, I was shocked at how much I am going to miss this character.  I have been a huge fan of the Office for quite awhile, but have always found the Michael Scott character uncomfortable to watch, he touches a side of you that you usually would never touch.  He often says and does things that make you uncomfortable, and still make you laugh because he is a caricature of the typical boss.  There are a million great quotes from Dunder Mifflin’s ex-fearless leader, which I will include below.


My favorite Michael Scott moments, 1. organizing his own birthday party at the skating rink and making everybody go even though Kevin possibly has cancer.  2. Survivorman- heading out into the wild woods of Scranton to brave the elements, Michael cuts his pantlegs off to make a hat? and then as it gets a little cooler tapes his pants back together to get warm.  He manages to stay out in the wild for approx. 2 hours before he makes it back for Creed’s birthday party.  3. Any meeting led by Michael Scott in the conference room.  Especially whensteve carell leaving the office they feature pictures.  “Why did you use the picture of Tom Hanks in Big again.”  Discrimination, homophobia, obesity, ageism, drug addiction,  have all been tackled by Michael Scott over the years.  Having sat through countless meaningless meetings, I can appreciate what he brings to the table.

Look below to read, “Somehow I Manage” , written by Michael Scott to be completed by Darryle, please enjoy the inner workings of the greatest managerial mind of our time.

Somehow I Manage By Michael Gary Scott

Chapter One: Introduction

There are all types of managers: financial managers, McDonald’s managers, Britney Spears’ manager, paper company managers, moms, baseball managers… the list goes on. Not all those people are naturally good at their jobs. Some have to work really hard at it. Others write books about it. I’m Michael Scott and this is my manual, “Somehow I Manage.” If you follow my guidelines, soon you’ll be the world’s second best manager (Sorry, I’ll always be #1. I have a mug that proves it.)

Chapter Two: Gum

Everybody likes the guy who offers them a stick of gum.

Chapter Three: Think Simple

That last chapter seemed skimpy, huh? That’s where you’re wrong pal. It was simple. And simple is good. Getting people on your side is as easy as offering them some gum. *Don’t ever give your employees Tic Tacs though, that will make you seem like a grandma.

Gum Guy is nice, laid-back and cool. He’s the type of manager who people want to hang out with after work and tell their life stories to. And you should tell them your whole life story too! That will make everyone close and happy, and happy families get more stuff done together than enemies do. Just look at Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie – they could be making awesome father/daughter movies, but instead they hate each other and barely talk. Such a missed opportunity.

Chapter Four: Equality

Treat people like equals and always make them feel good about themselves. It will pay off. For example, my ex-friend Packer once implied that my employee Phyllis wasn’t hot.

I couldn’t have that kind of negativity floating around. So I hugged Phyllis and told her I was worried about getting a boner. It made her feel wonderful. Later on that day she made two big sales. Another time I kissed a gay accountant during a meeting to show how accepting I was of his sexual orientation. He was going to quit before that, but guess what? It’s been five years since that kiss, and he’s still here.

Chapter Five: Entertain

“For some trips, high-speed rail will be faster than flying. Without the pat down.”

Who said it? Cosby? Tosh.0? Nope. Obama! Even the President tells jokes. That just goes to show how important comedy is. As a leader, people expect you to entertain them. Some managers might find this difficult because they’re busy doing other things like paperwork or employee reviews. Delegate all that boring stuff to other people so you have more time to entertain. Comedy should always take precedence over everything else because it makes people cheerful, and when they’re cheerful they work better. Someone once told me comedy is where the mind goes to tickle itself, and that couldn’t be truer. Make sure your employees’ minds are getting tickled on a daily basis. They’ll be so grateful, and so will you.