With great sadness, I write about the loss of a good friend and colleague, Sam Lane.
Sam Houston Lane III
Sam was a beloved and valued partner in the Aspen Family Business Group whom I have known for over 20 years. Sam was more than a business partner, he was a dear friend and I counted his wife, Carol Ann and his kids as part of my extended family. Sam had an infectious laugh, a love of great wine and food and an intellectual curiosity that helped to keep our conversations lively-no matter what the topic. While Sam kept quite busy with his consultation practice, walking his dogs, travel and visiting his grandchildren, he frequently would pick up the phone just to check in and say hello. He died just before seeing our new book published.
I have often found that it helps ease the pain of grief when one can find a lesson in the death of a dear friend or relative. Sam’s lesson for me was about taking care of my own health. There is much to love of live-to enjoy the beauty, the flavors, the sounds and the curiousities. But our time can be shortened unnecessarily when we don’t look at our own color, get the expert advice we need from our own doctors and hear the sounds of advice with clear ears and hearty curiosity. Shifting attention from engaging work and interesting hobbies to the mundane issues of weight control, exercise and check ups is not really very fun or typically compelling. Unless it becomes clear that it is a matter of life OR death.
Sam has helped me to realize how suddenly it can be a matter of death; taking away our opportunity to smell the roses, eat the brie, taste the pinot noir and see the last sweet color of the sunset. I’ll take the challenge, Sam, to stay healthy and keep in mind all of the lessons you have shared in life and in death.
