patrick.net

#pocketflashlight Decades ago some brilliant advertising agency came up with a jingle for the American Express Corporation as follows:
"Don't leave home without it."
It has stuck. I never leave home without my American Express card in my metal billfold. I also never leave home without something else-a small flashlight. I spent years of my life in so-called "third world" and “frontier market" countries. Power outages were a common occurrence. Your worst nightmare was a power failure while you were in an elevator passing between floors. You also had problems with power failures in your hotel room or office. A small light made all the difference.
Yesterday I finished my swim and was doing my clean-up including my morning shower. The power failed. I "felt my way" to my slacks. I pulled out my small flashlight and turned it on. I had to help one swimmer see his combination lock so that he could get into his locker. I helped other swimmers. The flashlight helped me to get dressed and exit the locker room to the daylight.
As many of you know, I spent 8 months of my life in an African village in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It was one of the happiest times of my life. One night one of the 5'2" Xhosa tribe villagers gave me a pearl of wisdom that has stuck with me for over 30 years as follows:
"Always remember, that when the lights go out, we are all black."