Mary.

People die of cancer all the time. The last two weeks, this sad reality hit very close to home. First Dean. Now my sister Mary. Cancer sucks. That is the hash tag. It does. Sucks the life out of so many people and all that they were. My sister was so incredibly smart, stubborn, funny, mad, joyous, proud, beautiful, tiny, rebellious and now, gone. I still don't have a grasp on it all. Too fast, too soon. Cancer sucks. I hate you, cancer. I love you, Mary.

Deano.

Dean Jarrett was a coworker and friend for over 26 years. He died of cancer last week. I've never known anyone like him. He always looked on the bright side. He always was ready with a smile and a hug. He always swung really hard at the golf ball. Dean was at my side for so many big moments in my career. Cannes juries. Cannes wins. Speaking in Dubai. Winning agency of the year at The One Show. Taking home an Emmy. Every honor I ever received, Dean was probably there with the first handshake. He was the agency PR guy and he was good. One of the best. We owed a lot of our stellar reputation to Dean's stellar reputation. I often found myself over the years just headed to his office for no other reason than to laugh. Man, I will miss you, buddy. Like thousands of others who knew you even better than I did. Please know you were loved and we will do our best to spread good wherever we go, just like you did. Peace.

Taking a golf lesson from Bobby Jones.

Asked to brand a new golf management company named for maybe the most famous golfer in history not named Tiger Woods.

Knighthood.

Some new brand work for a small private school here in Richmond. The Knights of Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School. We discovered knights are very different than the ones chosen by kings and queens. (A lot cuter, too.) The campaign breaks in 2020. Sneak peak at a couple of pages from the recruitment book.

Love.

Love. Also known as Sarah, my wife. She has shown me over and over what love is. Sticking with me when others wouldn't. Believing in me when others didn't. Always showing me with grace how to handle this past two years. But her love extends beyond me to all around her. Her family, partners, peers and so many more. She has always believed that "love makes more love" and I see it all the time with Sarah. Her business is a living, breathing testament to this. She is hitting her stride with wallpaper commissions here and far. How? By being full of love, joy and kindness. Is there a better way to run a business? Or even better, live a life? Nope.

Education unlocks everything.

My father Ace was a lifelong teacher. To him, education wasn't just important, it was necessary. Learning, sharing, watching, listening, participating, studying, reading, playing, all were vital to a successful life. In 2013, I started a small scholarship in my father's name and it has been rewarding to see the winners thrive. The first Ace recipient is now studying at Duke Medical School. This year's winner, Taylor Love, is off to college and I can't wait to see what she does next. Blessed and grateful.

Long copy. Where ya been?

This is a print ad for a small golf apparel brand called Turtleson. They are just getting started and our idea was simple: talk to their audience about a way of life. And maybe buy some clothes along the way. I remember when it was called a "soft sell" approach versus a "hard sell." Seems brands are still debating those two ways to go. Thanks, Cabell, for the work. And words.

The Butter Pecan has landed.

Working on Gelati Celesti has been a blast - all the way to the moon. This is a social post celebrating the moon landing. Caption: One small scoop for man, one giant leap for mankind. Thanks, Cabell, for the opportunity.

10 years and 50 years ago.

50 years ago, man landed on the moon. 10 years later, we did it again. wechoosethemoon.org, a live re-creation of the Apollo moon landing, went live at 9:36 AM, July 16, 2009, exactly 40 years to the second from the actual landing. Maybe the favorite project I ever worked on for the simple reason I was out of my comfort zone from day one. Scary but good scary. Below, a photo of the mission control for the six months it took to make this idea happen. Brian Williams, Wade Alger and the amazing Norma Kwee at the controls. Thank you team. What a ride it was.

Once you taste it, you'll understand.

Gelati Celesti. I am not an ice cream guy, but this product is impossible not to love. How impossible? The lines for the grand opening in Virginia Beach were around the block, hours before the doors opened. Like a new Apple iPhone release. Great fun working on these social posts with Cabell and Work Labs.

Heavenly.

Excited to be working on the most delicious brand in RVA. Will be fun to see the campaign in the world.

Loss.

The yearly Martin Luther King celebration was this past week. On this day, I always reflect on his many famous words. But this year, one of his quotes really struck a cord and filled me with so much sadness. This past year has been the most trying of my life. I lost so much. My job. My reputation. My sense of who I am and what I will become. But the biggest loss by far? My friends. Many who I've known for half my life just disappeared one day and never came back. I know many feel betrayed and fearful. Or maybe, they've just moved on. I wait and I hope for the silence to end.
The hard season won't last forever.

90.

My mom is my hero. Like my father and the namesake of this blog, she has lived her 90 years full of life, love and compassion. No matter what, she has always been there for me and believed in me. Like she said at the outset of this incredibly difficult year: "Joe, you and your God know the truth. That's all that matters." I'm lucky to have married someone who also believes in me - unconditionally. What better gift? There isn't one. Happy birthday, mom. I love you.