The Apple Falls Far From The Tree

One Big (Legendary) Thing

Do you have someone in your life that you can look up to?

When you see this person, you’re like damn, I really wanna be them.

I have the fortune of being connected to a true living legend.

You may not personally know this beast, but I get the pleasure of knowing him really, really well.

It’s my grandpa, Sid Alexander.

I had a fun personal moment with him a few weeks ago and figured he finally deserved to be the main event of this Diary. I think he’s earned it!

Because I know my tech-savvy, English teacher grandmother is reading this very closely analyzing all the spelling and grammar errors ready to send this to my grandfather, I will refine from any swearing in this edition even though this subject and this DUDE get me very fired up!

I am extremely lucky to still have both loving grandparents on my mother’s side of the fam alive and well! Grandpa is 93 and Grandma is 90, both kicking booty still!

Dr. Alexander is a living legend to not just me, but to the employees and patients at the Lahey Clinic hospital in Burlington, Mass as well.

After graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1957 (yeah, I did not inherit his intelligence), he went on to become a cardiologist at Lahey.

He essentially founded the cardiology department at Lahey decades ago and has been making a lasting impression on the young doctors teaching them ever since. Not to mention a lasting impression on his patients that he’s successfully treated.

Well, I went into the hospital a few weeks ago for some quick simple bloodwork, so I figured I would pop up to the 4th floor cardiology floor and say hello to the legend.

Yes, HE IS 93 YEARS OLD and STILL GOES INTO THE HOSPITAL TO WORK!! Take notes Gen Zers.

Classic me, had some troubles locating the correct wing of the building, so I asked for some help.

When I said, “I am looking for Sidney Alexander and the cardiology department”, and the doctors of course asked, “Why? Do you have an appointment?”.

I proudly replied, “No, he is my grandfather!”.

And my gosh the responses from the crew of doctors in this lobby. They absolutely love this man.

I’ve never seen people light up so much from mentioning someone’s name. To me it made sense, cause I know him really well and would assume he leaves the same impressions on his co-workers.

Like, you know when you meet someone new maybe at a bar, and you play the name game being like “oh, do you know so and so??”. But that “so and so” is kinda a fringe friend that can be wacky and you don’t know if the person you just met likes them or hates them? Yeah, an awkward game.

Well, you do not need to worry about that with Grandpa Sid Alexander. He gets a 100% approval rating from everyone he meets.

So, the kind ladies showed me to his office, which was just covered with a million family photos. Cute.

Sat down for about 20 minutes and just caught up on life.

Explaining my job working for Shadow Lion is always fun for the 90+ crowd. Social media is just a different world.

On the way out of his office, he reminded me that “retirement is for woosies!”.

I love that energy, at 93 years old this savage is still making his way to the hospital training staff members and treating patients making a major impact on this world.

Why does the apple fall from the tree?

Well, because while he’s out here saving lives and doing good in the community, I am producing a Patriots podcast and helping creators build audiences on social media.

No lives are being saved in my industry, and he puts things in perspective.

When your work is stressful, and it’s an industry that honestly doesn’t matter a whole lot to society, just remember there is a 93-year-old cardiologist still grinding dealing with way more stressful work pains than you are.

BUT the apple does NOT fall from the tree on the thinking that “retirement is woosies!”.

I’d like to think when I am 93 years old, I am still just crushing it helping AI robots produce football podcasts and writing newsletters in the form of holograms.

But hey, if you’re retired and live in Florida and golf every day, AMEN brotha. Power to you. I am extremely jealous.

And whether you're curing patients or podcasts, do it with the energy of a 93-year-old who refuses to retire.

See you next week legends!