My Very First (And Hopefully Last) Annual Meeting of Shareholders

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Today I chauffeured Pop to the 2004 CEO Presentation and Annual Meeting of Redacted Bank Shareholders. My expectations of a grand assembly hall with hundreds of shareholders, bank executives, and lavish catering were not met. Instead, the meeting was held in a simple conference room in the basement of the Lincoln Square Redacted Bank branch. The catering consisted only of coffee, orange juice, and Danishes. Fewer than fifty shareholders showed up. 

Pop, who hadn't attended an annual meeting of shareholders in two years, re-introduced himself to Jose Randolfstineberg, the bank's founder. Mr. Randolfstineberg, eighty-nine years young, was stuck in a wheelchair following a stroke he’d suffered two years earlier. Incidentally, Pop had also suffered a stroke right around the same time. Pop, though, he’d clearly fared better. [Also incidentally: Pop loved making use of the word, “incidentally,” that is, whether or not it was the appropriate word to wield when making a transition between topics of conversation.] 

Randolfstineberg spoke to Pop in a hoarse whisper. Note that Pop—even if I shout at him—can barely make out what I'm saying. 

"I'm sorry but I can't hear you," Pop finally admitted. 
"That's alright," poor old Randolfstineberg replied, "I can't hear myself." 

Even so, when the time came to begin the presentation, Jose Randolfstineberg rose, briefly, from his wheelchair to welcome all of the shareholders. 

April 22, 2004

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