Precious Mail

The photo attached to this post is of me at the age of 15.  The birthday wish I never saw until this week came from my step grandmother Beaulah who died recently at the age of 98.  She loved to fish and show me how you could freeze catalpa worms and later thaw them out and they would come to life.  Great stuff for a kid for sure. 

Dovie, the stepmother, found this in Beaulah's things and took the time to send it to me.  At 54 years old now I was all choked up reading a message encouraging me and lifting me up all these years.  The power of a handwritten note along with the thoughtful words and pictures trumps any email or virtual message I have received EVER.  Why is that I wonder?    I am inspired to put words on paper in purple ink to support and encourage others (especially kids) even if they never even know it was written. 

I think Beaulah would be proud to know me today. For the readers of this post--if you think you are one of the "wrong crowd" folks-- please let me know as soon as possible :)  You see there is a legend about Beaulah that suggests it is not a good idea to disappoint her.

Best vs. Suitability Standard

You ever go to a store when a sales person asks--"Can I help you find something?" To which you reply--"I'll know it when I see it."  That is similar to what is often said when we meet with new prospective clients.  "I knew there were people like you I just didn't know how to find you." 

There is a HUGE debate right now in Washington regarding accountability and legal responsibility for companies who claim to be FINANCIAL-- ADVISORS, CONSULTANTS, PLANNERS, ETC.  The companies who manufacture products--insurance, mutual funds, etc.-- like to call themselves anything but salesmen.  The products are needed but the "advice" they give struggles to be objective.  

I Do Dis Cuz I Can

1. Last week or so I was told about an article in the Oklahoma Gazette about the biggest users of water in Oklahoma City.  There were acknowledgements both for Commercial and Residential consumption.  I have not seen the results but here are a few observations:    1)  the people telling me thought the residential consumption was impressively high.  2)  The commercial user was government.  3)  The picture of the car in this article says "I Do Dis Cuz I Can" which is of course their right to do and for me seems silly but appropriate for this post.  4)  I am much better at judging others behavior than my own ;) 5)  Is whoever has the biggest pipe, the strongest pump, gets there first, best lawyers etc. the "I Do Dis Cuz I Can" mentality the way we want to do Water?  

Death by Spoon?

It doesn't come to me the context of our conversation at the time so be gentle with me on this one.  While talking to my 10 year old (double digit) friend recently the question came up "If you knew you were going to die would you rather die from a spoon or a sharp knife?"  This question has now been repeated to several boys of a similar age to which each responded much the same--A SPOON.

How Would You Vote?

Today, it was announced that the Greek Prime Minister (not going to try and spell Pop and Drayo) is going to put the Euro Zone bailout plan to the vote of the people. The European Union came up with a plan to bail Greeks out from their significant debt and make it possible for them to repay.

In a separate conversation, it was also mentioned that when you look at total debt for the United States, including Social Security, Medicare,  consumer debt, corporate debt, and government debt, our ratio is eight to one. That'd be eight times more debt than we have in income.  According to the commentator, that is worse than Greece. 

So, my question is. How would you vote if some kind of an austerity