In 2020 COVID dropped a bomb on our lives – mine and my wife Donna’s.  For over 50 years I worked hard in the marketing spaces, being a CMO at age 27, and a CEO at age 32, building businesses and profiting.  Donna went to Parson’s School of Design and built a nice business for herself as a first-rate kitchen and bath designer. This gave us a comfortable lifestyle.

Nevertheless, my foolishness with risk had me take the wealth we had built up and put it only in two places: our home in Greenwich, CT and my business in New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.  All the equity we had in stocks and bonds was put into the Drum Agency – and COVID blew it up.  We went to work at home on March 15, 2020, and on April 15 my partner and I closed the business.  Imagine what it is like to live in the top 5% for many years to then find yourself bleeding out any remaining savings!  Thank goodness for Angels and Miracles.

Donna was a strong resource, as were my children and dear friends. It was stunning how loved ones stepped up to help us. Three of our best friends in Greenwich handed us cash to help with the inevitable move so we could downsize. We quickly sold our Greenwich home and resettled on Cape Cod where Donna’s family had a summer cottage. It warms my heart to recall that our son Spencer, working in Brooklyn, stopped his job, found a new job in three days, and lived with us during this transition stating: “I’m staying here with you until I see that you’ll be alright.”   

And slowly but surely, we are alright. We have weathered loss and lifestyle changes but are finding goodness and hope in supportive children, loyal friendships, and our own gifts and talents that give life meaning. Of special meaning to me is the piano. Since I was five years old, I’ve loved to play and now my evening calm down is to spend thirty minutes to an hour at the piano.  More recently I moved from Bach to jazz and love The American Songbook – Gershwin to Duke Ellington.  Like fly fishing or other activities that focus your attention, the piano can be a spiritual exercise. It takes me away from all the pressures of the day and cleanses my soul.

I have joined a support group that has also been a tremendous help to me. I am finding serenity in letting go of what I cannot control, and working on the things I can.  It is a constant task to stop worrying about things out of my control and focus on my own spiritual health, doing the things I can do to move on.  

Rekindling friendships has also been balm for me during this time. Recently my friend Tom Chappell and his wife Kate visited us in our new home on Cape Cod. Tom and I were roommates and fraternity brothers at Trinity College in Hartford CT.  Tom wanted to help people facing challenges in their lives, and to do so within a spiritual orientation. The three of us talked about it and Tom Helps was born.  I’m inspired by the interviews and blogs at the Tom Helps site.  I have great gratitude for the support I have received during a life-changing time for me.  And it is renewing to be on the Tom Helps team supporting others in their quest for a rejuvenated and more enriched life.