As promised, leading up to the anniversary of 9.11, here is chapter 3 of Whispering Woods, dated September 10, 2001. To read more, the book is available in paperback and ebook at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. See the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz_MPtVkiKY.
CHAPTER 3
“The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.” (Proverbs 10:22)
Phil is first out the door. Grabbing his Italian leather brief case, quickly tossing kisses like candy, he briskly walks to the Trade Center Trifecta Metro Line heading north. Shortly after, with her exclusive Oulremer silk scarf trailing, Cathy hugs and kisses, grabbing her signature Louis Vuitton tote, dons her designer sunglasses and breezes toward the same station, heading south. And so their paths diverge, as in Robert Frost’s poem, and that makes all the difference.
Predictably, their days diverge as well. Phil meets with clients, creates the broad designs his underlings translate into sketches, architectural drawings, and plans. Ultimately, Phil morphs them seamlessly and professionally into multi-million-dollar proposals. His discerning assistants screen all-but-significant projects. They are the bread-and-butter deals; his are the caviar and signature wines. Again, the Midas touch.
His Monday engineering staff meetings keep him apprised of the newest products and innovations, assuring his designs remain fresh, cost-effective, and signature unique. He pays his staff draftsmen and young architects well to keep his agency the “go-to” firm for the prime contracts, from skyscrapers and museums, to highly visible public edifices and renovations. The strategy pays handsomely. Fully booked a full two years into the future, contractors and builders wait with bated breath for the firm’s approvals and multi-million dollar project work orders. His usually silent partner shows up occasionally to receive praise for the firm, largely a figurehead presence. As long as the contracts keep rolling in, and they do so with remarkable regularity, Phil is in charge of the day to days and weeks to months. Phil is the genius creative force, and everyone within the firm and outside it knows it full well.
His able assistant is Cynthia Ruth Jensen, a distinguished architect and member of the firm before Phil even graduated from college. She is a visionary, handles some of the most difficult clients with nurturing maturity which calms their fears, softens their intense demands, and wins them over with her expertise and finesse. She is an asset Phil uses well.
Within the last two years she has rejoined the firm after her twin boys, Paul and Matthew attained middle school age and she was comfortable resuming her career after home-schooling them. She is especially adept at condo redesign, and is the go-to person in the firm for the popular warehouse renos in all the featured magazines. She embraces restoration of buildings destined for tear-downs, especially when the outsides of the buildings include irreplaceable decorations, corbels, and once-important attention to detail. The work accomplished by early 1900’s craftsmen excites her, and when she gets wind of bids to tear down these treasured edifices, she gets to the hearings, makes bids on the properties, and saves them, all with the blessing of Phil’s firm. Singlehandedly, she has saved an entire city block from the wrecking ball, and has seen the project through to completion and successful sales to those wanting suitable housing in the city close to their work, but larger than the 450 square foot typical apartment or condo being offered on today’s market.
Phil trusts her judgment, and finds her work and dedication to be exemplary. However, she still commutes from New Jersey. She just hasn’t found the right place yet, but continues the search.
Today’s primary task is closing on Phil’s proposed redo of one of New York’s premier flagship buildings on Fifth Avenue. Not only does the façade need a facelift, his proposed delicate balance between its familiar icon image and some new design elements will propel them into the twenty-first century and beyond. Vividly aware of codes and government regulations, Phil addresses the aspects hidden from view, inside spaces and aging infrastructure which demand expert attention only his firm can fully address. He’s memorized OSHA’s mandates and city ordinances, and knows the building inspectors by name. There’s mutual respect there; if his firm is in charge, they’re confident there will be no issues with compliance.
So, at his desk at 8:40, first of predicted five cups of coffee in hand, he spends his sacred twenty minutes in Scripture, prayer, and devotions. Without this time, he knows he can accomplish nothing in his own power. He acknowledges and needs Almighty guidance to function. His focus today is a reminder of yesterday’s worship at St. Paul’s Chapel, down the street from their penthouse, where they read, and today he reads again, “18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:18-19) So after praying, he hums the same hymn Jean did, “Be Not Dismayed, Whate’er Betide,” only briefly wondering why that came to mind.
With excitement and enthusiasm, he begins the week. He addresses his Franklin Planner, open to Monday, September 10, 2001. A short catch-up meeting with his Administrative Assistant John Mark, an architectural intern turned loyal “right-hand man”, Phil confers and defers: emails, correspondence, phone messages, that sort of routine must do’s. John Mark presents; Phil assents or dissents, and that meeting ends almost as efficiently as one, two, three. Phil knows that if it doesn’t matter in five years, it doesn’t matter in five minutes. Has a poster framed on the wall to remind him of that. Relieves a lot of stress and keeps his life focused on what’s truly important in the long run.
So, jacket hung on his silent butler, ready for the client meeting at ten, the staff weekly confab at eleven, he rolls up his sleeves to three-quarters, and once more hovers over the contracts and drawings for the redo, the day’s top agenda item. Little does he know, his pleasant, predictable existence is about to literally thrust him outside his comfort zone. God in His sovereignty has other plans for you, Philip Andrew Baxter!
Meanwhile, Cathy’s short trip on the Metro Station line delivers her to her office in quick order, as usual. Her Administrative Assistant Mandy knows, almost to the second, when to pour Cathy’s first mug of coffee, one packet of sugar, and open her Bible to Psalm 23. Like Phil’s, her day begins with reflection and meditation, and the routine is inviolable. Everyone on the team knows she is there, but she is not “there for them” until she opens her door at 9:00.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.2
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23)
Fully charged, after meditation and prayer, Cathy tackles the tasks of the day with vigor, enthusiasm, and just the right amount of critical expertise. Mandy has prioritized the day’s appointments, stacked the appropriate files in the Lucite IN BOX, and opened the curtains to the west-facing façade. The upcoming Harvest Ball Fundraiser campaign needs some attention. She puts her graphic designer on that task to develop a new logo for the publicity posters and solicitation letter. Then she touches up a new campaign for an up-and-coming fashion designer, a six-figure new account she’s just landed. She’ll finally get to present it to her boss, Martin Sands, at their 3:00 all-hands-on-deck, (at least the top players) pow-wow that could last hours. When will he ever learn they deserve lives outside these confining walls?
Her seven-year career here has landed her the Vice-Presidency of the firm, and a solid reputation as the go-to lady for the big accounts. She has hand-selected her associates, all rising stars in the public relations arena, paying them enough to keep them happy as they develop their knowledge and skills. She expects their best efforts, and she gets their devotion to excellence as a result. Thankful for the mentoring she has received from Martin Sands and others along the way, she treats her colleagues and clients with utmost respect, is adept at discovering and developing individual strengths, and in return has earned loyalty and admiration.
Mandy ably screens her calls, anticipates her boss’s every need, knows Cathy’s priorities are in order: God, family, home, business, and a positive can-do attitude about them all. She is Cathy’s eyes and ears, alert to every staff member’s challenges and triumphs, and dedicated to letting Cathy concentrate on the majors while she adeptly handles the minors. She is insightful, way beyond her twenty-three years, is efficient, organized, and possesses an outgoing, nurturing spirit which puts everyone at ease. Her ready smile comes through her conversations, and Cathy swears that it can even be heard through the phone. She’s a people person with admirable skills.
Meanwhile, at the penthouse condo, sticky hands are lovingly swiped, dishes are stashed in the dishwasher, and babes, bathroomed and backpacked, begin their short trip to take Michael to kindergarten on nearby Greenwich at PS 234. Kelsey goes to Pre-K in the afternoons, and just can’t wait to be old enough to go to Michael’s “Big Boy” school too.
Jean drops off a container of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies for the secretary and staff, and stops to chat with other moms and nannies. With little Kelsey and her marketing cart in tow, she makes her way to the grocery store for fresh veggies and fruits and pantry items she needs for the week’s meals.
Kelsey loves this time with Grandma Jean. For a child, she is outgoing, and not the least bit afraid to talk to strangers who find her charming and brilliant. As she rides around in the shopping cart, she reads brightly-colored boxes on the shelf, never throws a fit when Jean purchases the things on the list and only the things on the list, and politely says, “Thank You,” as the bakery lady offers her a cookie.
Once the shopping is completed, Kelsey and Jean wheel their pull-behind cart back home. Curtis, the doorman, greets them with a hearty, “Good Morning, Ladies,” as they enter. This is laundry day, so once the groceries are put away in the pantry, Kelsey watches her favorite Cinderella DVD while Grandma Jean attacks her daily jobs. So, Monday, September 10, 2001 begins.
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