I’ve always been more struck by the title of Bob Dylan’s “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry” than the song itself. The title always seemed more poignant to me.
Four years ago in 2003 - it seems much longer than that - Rick Klau advertised a Howard Dean house party. Rick was concerned about where the country was headed under President George Bush and, as he would later tell me and others, he wanted a good answer for his kids when they asked what he had done during this troubled time in American history.
With similar concerns, I was shopping early for a presidential candidate, seeking to get actively involved in the process for the first time in my life. I was concerned about electability, having enough of a local organization that I could make a real impact with others and the issues. Howard Dean was not perfect in my eyes, but he seemed moderate enough to win, and his stance on health care looked like it offered real progress.
A complete history of what happened would be way too long, but lets just say Rick had to delay the fundraiser - but he hooked me on helping the campaign with prospects of future success (and, let’s admit it, beer). He struck me as someone that knew what he was doing, with extremely good instincts and intelligence. Rick and his wife Robin, who is also extremely intelligent, were a lot of fun. We did a lot of serious, hard work in the Dean campaign - but fun was why so many people got involved, and stayed involved. We had a great time in DuPage. Rick and Robin came to be trusted friends.
Our friendship is one reason that I’m sad to see Rick and Robin go. I’ve learned a lot from both of them, although I’ve spent more time with (and thus learned more) from Rick. I don’t know how you thank someone who’s made a major contribution to the person you are today - but this blog, three years of effort and counting, likely would have never happened without Rick’s encouragement (not to mention backend support). Rick recognized blogging material in my emails, and whatever good I may have accomplished in past few years here is in no small measure thanks to him.
Without getting sappy, let me end by saying as much as I’ve learned from Rick and Robin - I still think there’s more to learn. One of the things they’ve taught me is to always leave the audience hungry for more. It’s not a lesson I’ve internalized as well as I should - but that doesn’t make it less valuable. I’m sure Rick will be amazing at his new job - he’s that good. It will also, I’m sure, be an amazing opportunity for him and his family to grow and learn. They deserve it - and I wish Rick, Robin and their family well as they move to California.
Not long ago Rick was #3 on Google - and pretty proud of it. Today Rick is part of Google. “There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” Enough said.
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