With Chris Rodell in Palmer Country at the Springhill Suites in Latrobe, PA.
Meet Chris Rodell in this VIDEO INTERVIEW!
When you meet someone in life that is a little bit off the center of the fairway like yourself you take notice. I first met Chris Rodell on a golf travel ‘fam trip’ to the Mississippi Gulf Coast or is it the Mississippi Golf Coast? The affable, yet poignant, ‘other man from Latrobe, Pennsylvania’ authored the book ‘Use ALL the Crayons! The Colorful Guide to Simple Human Happiness.’ I was all set, dressed in my knickers, to play my hickory clubs in the pro-am of the Gulf Coast Resort Classic with Nick Price at the Fallen Oak Golf Club. Then it was completely rained out and I spent the whole day with Chris. Some would have been disappointed. I wasn’t and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
While Chris does not actually play golf with crayons, he does approach life and inscribes his book with crayons. Mr. Palmer, the ‘other guy from Latrobe, Pennsylvania,’ endorsed his book as “an interesting and amusing trip through precisely 501 wide-ranging tips on life surrounding thirty-three short essays that are thoughtful and insightful.” I couldn’t agree more especially after reconnecting with him recently during the 5-week, 8-state, 4,243-mile ‘East Coast Golf Journey.’
With Chris Rodell (right) and Kevin Drum (left) a few years ago in Mississippi.
Mr. Palmer went on to say in the Foreword that he thought he had gotten to know Chris fairly well but realized that he hadn’t until he had a chance to read a draft of the book. Isn’t life like that? For sure, we need to take more time to ponder and play with all the crayons. You can start to do that by reading Chris’ book. I like Tip No. 203: ‘Take a good look a your shoes in the morning. That’s the last you should see them all day. Look up! Look Around! Notice things you’ve never noticed before.” I would add especially if you are putting on your golf shoes. Forget about the outcome (score), be in each shot and between shots be in the moment taking in the beautiful golf environment and your colorful playing partners. We definitely need to laugh more at ourselves. Others are already doing it so why not join them?
There are thirty-three short essays embedded in this crayon box. I especially like the Colorful Days Diary one on Page 27. Chris’s buddies, who barely have hair were making fun of how long his hair was getting, I can relate to this situational comedy. I like the George Bailey and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ reference and the embrace of the ‘Circle of Life’ and, of course, the closing “Hair Today. Gone Tomorrow.” The final Tip is No. 501 and is a brilliant close to a great book from an affable guy- ‘Learn the fine art of knowing when precisely when to quit.”
Poignant Chris Rodell with United States Congressman Tim Murphy.
The point of the crayon never being quite sharp for me. Poignant, you might say? Yes sir, Chris Rodell is definitely a poignant man. I still chuckle at the last scene of him in my mind. We are touring Latrobe CC which was closed for a fundraiser for Timothy “Tim” F. Murphy, the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district, since being elected in 2002. Everyone else is out on the golf course and we see the United States Congressman on the practice putting green. He comes over and I shake his hand and say hello. Chris, without a hesitating breath, starts right in on issues that are important to him and his family and the Latrobe community. At first I laughed but then realized this is our system of government in action. Congressman Murphy is the only elected official in our federal government that is also a practicing health care professional. We spoke of the Robin Williams tragedy and he shared a true insight that when someone feels hopeless, even when there is hope, it is necessary for someone to step in and help them. I like that guy and would vote for him if I lived in his district. Yes, Chris is a poignant crayon story teller, motivation speaker and future political interviewer.
As for me I am going to close per Tip No. 501 with the hope that Chris’ eighth book is how to bring the crayons out to the golf course, keep my golf score using one (without an eraser?) and somehow improving my golf game!
Chris Rodell also writes for Arnold Palmer’s Kingdom magazine.
