#garversummit

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Today was a whirlwind. Click here for a more detailed explanation, but the short version is that I started the day physically and mentally exhausted, never felt rehearsed enough despite spending all day at the venue. But somehow the show went well anyway. I was shocked that Brock gave the Video Team the President's Cup this year -- something that was a total surprise to me and I was stunned by -- but I was even more caught off guard that Aunt Laura arranged for Mom and Nene to be at the show. They took this picture of Mom with me on the big screen in the background and sent it to me as the show wound down, but I didn't look at my phone until after I walked off stage and saw them in person. I legitimately thought my mind was hallucinating because their presence didn't make sense. Hallucination or not, I collapsed into Mom's arms, completely emotionally and physically spent and relieved to have my person when I needed her.

I'm grateful they came, I'm grateful Laura made it happen without my finding out -- I would've stumbled on stage had I known they were there -- and I'm grateful Yiayia kept you both so they could be there. Today was an absolutely unexpected embarrassment of riches.

Dad.

Irving, Texas. 10.26.2023 - 8.46pm.

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

I left this morning for Kansas City in a U-Haul truck full of Summit materials and stopped to pick up Collin at his house in Springdale. I didn't take a picture today (mostly because I'm out of storage on my phone), but Collin took this as I rolled up with my Popeye's Chicken Sandwich in-hand.

I'm ready for hardcore Summit rehearsals, but I'm more nervous than usual because I'm opening the show with a dance. I don't dance. At all. But a choreographer sent me a video of some moves she wants me to do on stage with her dancers that we've hired to be on stage with me. I really am nervous, but I also want to expand my repertoire, so I'm not fighting it.

I stayed up until 3:30am working on the script and rehearsing.

Dad.

Springdale, Arkansas. 10.11.2022 - 1.20(ish)pm.

UPDATE: Here's what that dance scene ended up looking like.

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

I worked late at the warehouse tonight with this crew, stuffing nametags and other registration info into envelopes for our 900 or so employees who will come to a Summit event Wednesday and Thursday. I'm really tired -- we all are, but this is the home stretch.

I'm ready to spend some extended quality time with you two and Mom. And we'll do that next month when we are planning to take a road trip west.

Dad.

North Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.4.2021 - 7.10pm.

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus,

I’m the unofficial historian at work, so for the last four annual meetings, I’ve recounted the history of Garver for all the new-hires. I’m finally getting to a point where I don’t have to read from a script.

“Neal Garver was born in Iowa. At the age of 28, he went to Iowa State University, where he earned a degree in civil engineering, which he used to get a job teaching at the University of Illinois...”

Dad

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 10.18.2017 - 4.11pm.

[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus,

Garver Summit is three days of non-stop work, but I work with some talented folks, so while it’s the hardest part of my job, it’s also the most fun. Here we are at our team kick-off dinner at Packard’s.

Dad

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 10.17.2017 - 8.56pm.