Peritus staff from Indianapolis, Louisville, Lexington and Nashville recently came together to enjoy a couple days of rest and look ahead to 2010 at the Wooded Glenn Retreat & Conference Center in Henryville, Indiana.

I haven’t written in a while. I have been traveling and losing myself in Barcelona. As I come to the realization that my time here is shortening by the day, I find one theme for every day that I am here. This process has only led me to one theme that I have carried with me the entire time I have been here: We are all one. During the week, I tend to go on adventures, just me and my camera. I like to find small streets and places that are off the beaten path. Those are the places I want to remember. I will always be reminded of the great Gaudi architecture and amazing night life of Barcelona. But I do not want to ever lose the images of the small, insignificant parts of the city that make it what it is. As I walked past store and gallery, I found a garage door with eyes painted all over it. In the middle were the words-We are all one. These words were not in Spanish, but in English. It was as if they were meant to be seen by my eyes. I continued to walk past but something pulled me back in front of the garage door. It must have been the blue and yellow eyes staring at me as if they had something to say; as if they wanted me to look back. I stood in front of this door and was overwhelmed with a sense of connection. I pulled out my camera and captured the image, for it is one I will always keep with me.

My encounter with this graffiti art was nothing profound on the outside, but it truly hit home for me. The universality of people is undeniable. Here I am in another country and not only do I feel connected to people in the United States, but I feel that same connection to the strangers I ride the bus with, the people that brush past me on the busy streets of Barcelona. I can’t help but feel a closeness to people that I don’t know or have ever met. It must be my heart or my head or both, but if anything, I realize that I am supposed to be here. All the times when I sat in my room feeling homesick for something I didn’t know-this is it. I was homesick for the interconnectedness that comes with being a member of this global society. Although I am not at home per se, I have found a home and no matter where I go I will always find a home because WE ARE ALL ONE.

-Caroline Mulloy, Former Intern-Peritus

(Photo: Bob Gunnell, Tim Mulloy, the “Modern Mixologist” Tony Abu Ganim, and Mark Mulloy)

On Friday evening, November 6, Peritus hosted a company wide cocktail party to benefit the Home of the Innocents in Louisville, Ky.

Our cocktails were created by the foremost expert in the country, the “Modern Mixologist” Tony Abou Ganim. Tony generously donated his time and Brown Foreman Corporation donated the spirits for this fabulous event to support such a great cause.

Tony is the 2007 Iron Chef winner and the designer of the cocktail programs for multitudes of the finest restaurants and resorts in the world including the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Terrific, live music was provided by the Rick Debow band. Some 60 guests had a wonderful evening learning how to make four different, fabulous drinks.

It was the perfect way to say thanks to all of the Peritus family and to get the holiday season started off right while supporting the Home of the Innocents.

-Tim Mulloy