January 2022

This week’s column will continue a remembrance of our people’s “way of talkin” before the influence of television and mobile lifestyles became so pervasive. Many remembered conversations of old folks in my youth would be incomprehensible to young people today.

I am one of those people that falls into the gap between generational stereotypes. According to the socially accepted timeframes, I am technically a Millennial. However, I exhibit characteristics of both, millennial and Gen X. This could be because my grandparents, both Boomers, had a great amount of influence in my life. Both of my grandparents were active in local government and civic organizations. Their influence is likely the reason that I was familiar with Chambers of Commerce and the impact that a Chamber of Commerce can have on a community.

In the last few months of 2000, I passed my Series 7 test making me the youngest stockbroker in the State of Missouri for that year. I immediately went to work for a small brokerage firm in Kennett, and the rest as they say, is history. Its hard to believe I survived those first few years. I had been trading stock under my dad’s wing for a couple of years and thought I knew it all, but where I may have known how to buy and sell stocks, I knew little about the investment business. 21 years later and I still have much to learn but can maybe share a little with you today on what not to do that will help you navigate your own road to riches while avoiding idiot stockbrokers. I can call them that because I used to be one. See what I did there.

We were out on the balcony early every morning while at the beach. The people were an ever changing pattern. It is a place for thought and dreams! Only one of us at times in sweet revelry , then there would be two. Yes sometimes three or more, it drew us like a magnet! The beauty of the ever changing, steadfast ocean was waiting right there for us! The sun always rose each morning and I didn’t ever want to miss it! The colors either brilliant or pastel were amazing, no canvas rivals God’s work. We searched the horizon, straining out to see if any ships were to be see in the distance? Talking quietly as though the magic of it all might disappear, as a bubble once popped. Indeed, this was Christmas Morning, and the sureness and magic were real. Red and I enjoyed sitting out in the tall Adirondack chairs with an attached table between them, just right for drinks and snacks, of which there were many. We could turn them for a different views.