He Done Done

I promised myself that I would try to remember every detail.  But somehow the bits and pieces have all swirled together into one big memory and there's nothing I can do about it now.  So, I'll try to report as best I can, but if you want a lot of specifics, you most likely will have to consult the video.

Rob, Claire, and I first heard about the Jack Kemp Foundation at Ruby's restaurant on end of the Malibu pier.  Jimmy had just come from meeting with Pepperdine.  He was on fire about the Kemp Forum.

The Kemp Forum didn't exist... yet.  But it was pretty obvious to us that this was the new path and Jimmy was the one who was going to lead the way.  He expressed gratitude for Pepperdine protecting and nurturing the Kemp papers and institute.  But he was going a different direction - fast.

So, it was a great joy to be a witness to the Kemp Institute's transformation into the Jack Kemp Foundation.  I don't think anyone knew what to expect.  It's one thing to put on an event with the massive resources of Pepperdine behind and beside you.  But for the Jack Kemp family and associates to put it on themselves was an awesome accomplishment.

What I especially loved about it was that it seemed both extraordinary and simple at the same time.  The lack of pretension, the energy, the passion, the flowers (as put together by Jennifer and Judith), the spontaneous tributes, the overflowing hospitality, the love - all combined to make each and every one of us proud to be a part of an important movement that is definitely moving onward and upward.

One of the songs that was sung a-capella at the event by a young man from Howard University was an old spiritual called, "I Done Done."  The refrain goes:  "Lord, I done done.  Lord, I done done.  Lord I done done.  I done done what you tol' me to do."  I think we all were nodding our heads in agreement - Jack done done.

In closing, Jimmy re-told the story he told at Jack's service.  He and Jack had gone to the golf course to hit some balls.  Jimmy had a brand new 3-wood club, with which Jack took a swing, missing the ball entirely.  Jack then broke off the club head, threw down the shaft, walked to the car without a word, and drove home.  Jimmy was thirteen.

Jimmy then said that there's actually a little more to the story.  He said that at the time it occurred to him that his dad had bought a bucket of balls, and he he wasn't going to waste his dad's investment.  Alone, he hit ball after ball until the bucket was empty.  Jimmy then told the audience that we're now in the same situation.  Jack has gone.  But he left us a big bucket of balls.  There's work to be done.  We need to tee up and start swinging.

Joanne joined the family on the stage and together we all sang "America."  That's when the details of the day started swirling in my head.  It was like a tidal wave of emotion, mission, empowerment, and love of country that swept over the room and filled each heart with the kinds of thoughts that would make Jack proud.

So to Jimmy, Jeff, Jennifer, Judith, Joanne, and all the rest who were a part of that wonderful day we say - you done done.

"Domo Arigato, Mr. Rob....oto"

I'd like to thank the Academy

...for Rob Hummel.

We had a great time at his presentation last night at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills on Behind the Motion Picture Canvas: Film Formats through the 21st Century

Rob gave a fascinating history lesson on aspect ratios, film formats, and film grain. He showed us more film masterpieces than I could count (The Sound of Music and Once Upon a Time in the West were my favorites). As always, his rare sense of humor came through again and again. A great bonus was the panel of distinguished cinematographers that he moderated after his talk -- which turned into an impromptu and fascinating debate on the merits and drawbacks of digital cameras.

I actually have a bit of a history with this presentation. It starts way back in 1995 when I saw him give a talk in London (I remember the Taj Mahal slides and the Little Buddha clip). Then, almost two years ago, after I had arrived and was headed to my seat at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood to see this presentation, Gina called to tell me that her water broke -- good thing I ignored the sign to turn off my cell -- and I raced to the hospital and missed the whole talk (Thomas was born a few days later).

But there were no problems last night. Matt, Jenny, Abby, Anne and 800 others saw the whole thing. We even braved the groupies that mobbed Rob afterward to prove that we actually knew him -- but Rob still refused to sign autographs. I walked up as one guy was telling Rob how he took his class at UCLA and was now working as a cinematographer. I enjoyed seeing the impact Rob has had on the industry.

In many ways this presentation is a perfect representation of Rob's career (at least so far) -- it shows him as a distinguished expert and film buff, surrounded by some of the industry's best and most talented, easily switching gears between uber-geekness and passionate artistry. I remember way back when I thought he was cool because he sent me some Tron stationary...

I learned a ton, although I am glad I slipped away before the test was passed out.

thanks Anne for inviting us!

Tom's 1966 speech to Adventure Unlimited

Here's a link to a speech that dad gave to a group at Adventure Unlimited, a Christian Science camp organization. It's a speech about business and life goals, and except for a dated reference in the opening paragraph to a "beatle-type hairdo," it's as relevant today as it was 33 years ago. I know you will enjoy it. It's vintage Tom. Don't believe what he wrote at the top when he sent this copy to his mom and dad - "Not very exciting but you may be interested. Tom"

CLICK HERE for the link.

More photos uploaded

I have uploaded a few more photos from Grandpa's family album. These are mostly from the 50's and aren't necessarily in order (yet). But I thought that you might like to see them. Click here to be linked to the photos. Then click on SLIDESHOW in the upper left corner. You can set the speed, and you can also pause it. Enjoy.

Colin Powell talks about being a "Jack Kemp Republican"

If you didn't have a chance to see Face the Nation on 5/24/09, here is Colin Powell talking about his friend, Jack Kemp. Enjoy.  [Click on the image below and then click on the same image when it appears in Picasa Web Albums.  The short video should start automatically after that.]

Colin Powell talks about Jack Kemp

Be a leader....

In the midst of the gloriousness of praise and tribute for Jack, I'm still struck by this one photo of him last summer. It's one moment with Babbie and you can see in his eyes what family meant to him. He and Joanne had brought us together for one of the all-time great reunions, in celebration of their 50 years together. Others had a front row seat at games and politics. But we were privileged to have a front row seat at the family table. And more and more I understand that being a leader has many more dimensions than I ever realized. We miss you, Jack, but more importantly, we love you.

Facebook link to articles about Jack

CLICK HERE for a link to a Facebook page that links to articles about Jack.

Paul Sr. practicing as First Reader

Here is another audio tape found in dad's attic. It is from approximately 1967. We hear Paul Sr. practicing to be First Reader at his Christian Science church. This is most likely a reading for a Wednesday night testimony meeting. It begins with him reading from Hebrews, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

(There are a couple of images that will appear. They are there only so Google will think this is a video and not solely an audio recording, as they don't accept only audio.)

(To play, click on triangular play button lower left of the box.)

Grandpa's New Tape Recorder - Christmas 1966

This is the first in a series of audio tapes found in the attic of Tom Kemp Sr. It's Christmas 1966 and Paul Kemp Sr. has a new tape recorder. (For those of you too young to remember, a tape recorder had 3 inch reels of tape that had to be threaded through the machine.) This tape features Tom Kemp Sr., Paul Kemp Sr., and Paula and Tom Jr. Enjoy!  More tapes to come, as soon as Rob edits and uploads!!

(TO BEGIN, click the button with the triangle on it, under the black box, left side.)

san francisco, take II

Well, I was in the Bay Area for a brief weekend (ok, it turned into something longer when my flight got cancelled, but I digress), and popped into the city to see cousin Amanda. Hooray! I met her friend Brittney, and we chatted about studying abroad, random websites, and more for a while. It was a blast -- and now Amanda can say that both times I've been to San Francisco, I've managed to swing by and see her! 

Also, we look fabulous!

Another photo from the Watertown NY trip

I found this photo which appears to have been taken on the trip to Watertown mentioned in my previous post.  You'll see Jack in the back left, Paul Sr. toward the right, and Imogene on the far right. The look on Paul Sr.'s face is priceless...  (click on photo to enlarge)

Conversation with the Kemps - May 7, 1969

And now, for your listening pleasure, an audio interview with Paul Sr., Balboa Jack, and Imogene! I just found these photos of the occasion for the interview. (You'll see Paul Sr. and Balboa Jack on the left side of the dais. Click on photos to enlarge.)

Rob opened a box that had been in dad's attic and found a reel-to-reel tape labeled, "Conversation with the Kemps." Inside the box was stamped, "KSDR-radio, Box 293, Watertown, SD, 57201." We had it converted to a cd and Rob has uploaded it to Google Video so that we all can listen. It's an interview done by the Watertown, South Dakota, radio station on the 100th anniversary of the chartering of Watertown, New York. Apparently Paul Sr., brother Jack, and sister Imogene (aka "Mrs. Laurin Wood"), went to New York for the festivities, as did someone from the South Dakota radio station. This is the interview with "Watertown's Founding Family." [Note: Rob put a few photos up, mostly because Google doesn't accept just audio, so with a couple of photos, Google thinks it's a video. That Rob is a clever one....] Click on the "PLAY" arrow to begin.