superb!

He had made thousands of smooth landings in his years as a pilot for Pan Am.  But today he was nervous.  Today he was flying a full plane, and in first class were a group of Russian Naval Intelligence officers traveling from Washington D.C. to New York City.  As they began the descent, George decided this was going to be the smoothest landing those officers had ever experienced.  He worked the controls and guided the plane down until the wheels slid onto the runway.  A "mother's kiss" landing, as it was known to the pilots.  Gentle as a whisper.  When the plane reached the gate and stopped, George took his place at the cockpit door to nod at the passengers.

The Russian Naval Intelligence officers were soon at the door.  The stewardess greeted them and then turned to their leader.  "What did you think of our landing today?" she asked him.

In his deep Russian accent, the man boomed one word.  "SUPERB!" and walked off the plane.  George felt the word echoing through the plane and in his ears all day.  SUPERB!  He loved that word. "Marked to the highest degree by grandeur, excellence, brilliance, or competence."  He loved how he felt when the word was directed at him.  George decided he wanted to use that word regularly.  To find people and actions around him that merited that word.  Every day.  And so he began to look, and notice and pronounce SUPERB! whenever he could.

One day it was the service he received in a diner.  One his check stub he wrote a one word note to the waitress.  SUPERB!  The next day a plane's mechanic heard the word.  The next day it was proclaimed to anyone listening about the subway's efficiency.  And then a sunrise....

George told me this story this week.  Right after our hospice had been rewarded with a loud SUPERB!  The Russian officers had flow with George in 1971.  For over 40 years George has been looking for excellence.  And finding it all around him.

I shared this story with my team the next morning.  I talked about how many times they do amazing work in private.  For one patient, or one family member.  I reminded them of their value and asked them to hear that Russian officer in their minds, looking over their shoulder and exclaiming "SUPERB!"

And then I began my awareness of the superb all around me, to remind me of all there is to be thankful for.

like today -
a toasty heater in my bathroom, cutting the cold
two hot air balloons floating in the crisp, autumn sky as we drove to school
the buzz of coworkers, full of friendly chatter around our long, work table
Urban Burrito's delicious Bonehead salad and a diet coke
speed dial.  And a crystal clear connection that instantly links me to California
the efficiency of the Bilo grocery clerk
the laughter of my three men playing football in the leaves.

SUPERB! indeed.