Neanderpundit

Who has been posting Paul videos. One from me, to you, Vman.

yesterday, I changed the starter in my doctor’s car, and mowed the backyard.

THese are not really remarkable things in and of themselves, but they are amazing, considering
1: I mowed the lawn- including the back slope, which is about a 40 degree slope- by myself. In a couple hours. Never done it alone before, I always had the nephew help me. And it damned near killed us. THis time, by myself, like falling off a log. And the grass was nearly 18″ tall. Yes, pushmower.
2:the starter? I was waist deep under the doctor’s truck, loosening the starter bolts, when I realized, hey, I didn’t have to lift this bastard and put it on blocks, I just crawled up underneath. And tonight, I pulled the gas tank off mom’s car, and didn’t need to put it on jacks either. Six months, ago, this would have been an ordeal that involved lifting the cars, Now, I just slide underneath. A totally unexpected benefit.

I am a pretty much average guy in a great number of ways, no different from millions of other people just like me. I make a good income, in the top 20% in this country, anyway. As much out of luck as skill, the choices i made that brought me here were mostly made on whim.

I will probably never be incredibly wealthy (cash wise), though I have already made a lot of money in my life. I will never be well educated, though I have hundreds and hundreds of hours of college credit, courses taken here and there just to acquire knowledge.

I don’t consider cash weath. I don’t consider education knowledge. Both of those things are poor currency compared to the only currency that matters: the relationships you develop with people. The friends I have now, I have had for all my life, and support me as I support them. Come through for me when I need it, call on me for help when they’re down. I get some grief from people I work with- “Why do you spend money on losers like that?” Those “losers” are worth more to me than six of you, lady.

Since I have begun to blog, I have developed relationships with some people who are already like longtime friends. My dearest, oldest friend Jenny. Frances Porretto, a man whose screeds still send me to the dictionary. Pascal, who in IM is one of the clearest thinkers I know. Broad, and Chou, and Leslie. Tammi. Joe, Grau and Contagion. Chris Byrne. Kim and Connie. And Dickl and Kelly- how on earth could I have left THEM out? THe list is incredible, and these are all incredible people. Some I’ve had the distinct pleasure to meet, others are in my future. Some, like Rob Smith, died before I had a chance to meet him. Some, like Vman, are on my short list of people I MUST meet, and soon.

I count my wealth in the people I know and respect, the ones I call friend. And I am a very wealthy man indeed.

Inspired by this beautiful post by someone who deserves to win the lottery next week.