Every day this week I’ve worn my Santa hat… I know it sounds a little crazy… But I just love spreading cheer. I’m the Jewish Santa Claus that every kid wants to see. I was on a run this morning wearing my Santa hat and I ran into a whole bunch of kids and lots of people on the street. Who knew that garbage men really loved Santa as do construction workers and traffic cops

Even MIT students love Santa

Ho ho Ho ya’ll

Nite all, nite Sam

-me

Busy day in Cambridge… Had an early morning meeting at MIT and then gave a talk for my friends at Watson Health… I have so much respect for those guys. I was glad to be able to give something back to them

We had a recognition party today for the IBM Cambridge lab and then a lab wide lunch. It was great to see everybody all in the same place. It’s a really nice group of people. There was a set of speed talks and Hendrik used a beautiful gong to tell people when it was time to stop

Late afternoon I left Cambridge and drove out to Sudbury where the annual Christmas party for my friends in fathers forever. Fathers forever is a group of dad’s with had children who have died. I met them through my friend Craig Luhrmann who used to live in Boston. I’ve been at several parties with these guys and it’s always good to get together. Even though it is a terrible thread that binds us together , we have many other things in common… It’s great group of people. We spent a lot of time talking about our families and kids living and dead.

It was a fun evening… And I don’t say that lightly. There were some hard parts. Seeing everybody’s pictures they had brought choked me up

I FaceTimeefour mutual friend Craig and he joined in

We all then gathered around the table and… Let the Hanukkah candles… Which is a little funny because Hanukkah is over by about a week… And very few of us are Jewish. But it gave everybody a chance to tell a story about their child. It was very moving. Lots of warm memories. I told the story of having all three kids and swinging them around to Grateful Dead music and the time I threw Sam up in the air and forgot to catch him.

I stayed a long time… I got to talk to most of the people there and hear their stories. About their child… How he or she died…How they and their family How are you doing. Manish repeating themes… But no two stories alike.

It was particularly interesting for me to hear what people had done and memories of their child… Lots of creative things. My friend Stephan made a claim cup for each of the 365 days after his son Jared died

I was grateful to be there even though it was such a sad thing that brought us together

Nite all, nite Sam

-me

I had a crazy busy day here in Cambridge… It’s starting to feel like a second home… I guess that’s good

Went for a run this morning. Cold and beautiful

I came across these boats that were pulled up out of the icey water

When I got into work I was greeted by this great poster that my friend Mark had done of the members of our team. Each of the pictures are a synthesis of several pictures of each of us that are somehow stylized. I need to understand the algorithm better but we’re all a whole lot better looking here then we are in person I think when I got into work I was greeted by this great poster that my friend Marc had done of the members of our team. Each of the pictures are a synthesis of several pictures of each of us that are somehow stylized By artificial intelligence.I need to understand the algorithm better but we’re all a whole lot better looking here then we are in person I think

I’ve got early Meetings and a big talk to do tomorrow so I’m going to bed.

Night All, nite Sam

-me

Got to Ruchir’s last night and got to bed by one slept great woke up and went to headquarters. Had a very important and very short meeting that went pretty well… And then spent the day working in corporate headquarters. I actually love that place… I know so many of the people there. I wear my Santa hat which I think is just with the place needed

Stopped at Yorktown on the way to Boston to take in our area Christmas party. Ran into a bazillion people that I knew and had to talk to.

It’s always kind of cool going to Yorktown. I remember the first time I ever went there… I couldn’t believe I was among all the smart people…. I felt honored to be there…

I still do

Nite all, nite Sam

-me