My older self
Here I am waiting at the bar in the Salias international
hotel in Manila, Philippines. It was in 1983.
I'm waiting for someone he is in a cab, and if I have my time
right, he should be entering the lobby right about "there he is" I
know which way he will be traveling and I know why he is here. So, I sit in his
path he glances at me takes two steps and stops cold. You should see the look
on his face; it is a much younger version of Me, a 65-year-old man that he is
thinking looks remarkably like his father. Salt and pepper hair six-foot-tall
about 200 lbs I say Hey Manny, how are you. I see the surprise on his face, so I
tell an elaborate lie. Remember your uncle Luther you met in 1973. I am his son.
My name is Oliver. He states that's his middle name. He asks,
why are you here? Well, your cousins in Kansas were tracking down relatives,
and we heard about Jessie Mae and what happened. We are deeply sorry for your
loss. I work for a company that does business in this part of the world. We were
looking for you for the best part of a year.
We have already spoken to Jimmy, and he thought it would be great if we
could meet, so here I am. Have you got some
time to talk? I know he does because his
date will not be here until tomorrow afternoon. I also know what he is planning
for this evening. (I smile knowing he won't make it) she was bad juju
anyway. So young man, what are you
drinking, I know its either Gin and roses or a long island Iced tea. Gin and roses,
but I changed the Gin from the cheap crap to Bombay Sapphire. One sip and it was all over no more cheap
gin for him anymore. We talked about his decision to join the USAF. I agreed, and
he gave me a rundown of what was going on in his life. Boy, was I off the chain back then.
Then it was
my turn. Manny, I want to give you the benefit of my experience, and if you
apply, it will change your life forever. Bout the running around you are doing.
When it comes to the ladies, "all money ain't good money." I'm not saying to stop what you are doing. I
am saying that you need to know who and what you are dealing with and do not
invest emotion into a situation that is not going to make you happy, and walk
away from the ones that don't. About your friends, I know you have some. Pick
carefully to find out what they are about, and it is not the direction you want
to go in don't go with them. Only associate with people that are further up the
road than you are Physically Career-wise, emotionally, and Spiritually. They can
lift you to their level; the rest will pull you down to theirs. You have a job
to do, do it, and lead people and don't be led by the unworthy. You are not responsible
for the decisions of others, just yours, and being accountable to whom you
report whether you like them or not. Respect
the rank or position if you cannot respect the man (they will not know the
difference) always be 100% formal, especially with the ones you can't stand. Do stuff you can't stand. Set yourself apart
or do your job better than anyone else. Finally,
how much was this hotel stay and how long are you staying. Well, I am pretty sure
you are off Friday seeing this is Thursday, so how long are you here. Until Saturday night (he said), That is good
you will need a day to recuperate. About money, do not spend it all. They live
like a beggar for the remaining time until uncle sugar pays out again. Save enough
to have two grand (untouchable) just in case trust me you will need it. Do not
buy junk. Remember that Gin and
roses, how much better were that than the stuff you usually drink. The dough
you save and invest now will save you a mountain of grief later trust me 10,000
sitting somewhere means you can move freely without worrying about anything. Buy
a cheap as hell car until you can save the cash to buy something beautiful. And I know you know this because of what your
parents taught you. The Borrower is servant to the lender. Do you have any questions my advice will make
you a rich man when you look like me, and you will? Oliver, how do you know all these things. I said,
son. This is the wisdom that comes from experience. Mostly painful
experience. A word of advice do not do what
you are planning to do tonight, consider what we talked about, and tomorrow will
be more fun than you can imagine. Trust me. Life will show you things in time that prove
all the things I told you and you will benefit from them
Now I'm
returning home; it's a long flight. The 1st thing I notice is that I
got upgraded to 1st class on the way home. I'll take it. The 2nd
thing I noticed was the car keys that I packed in my bag. I go to my spot and
hit the lock button, and I saw the lights flash. It was not the care I drove to
the airport in, but it was a new Lexus SUV.
I put my bags in and started the car and hit the navigation, and it did
not point to an apartment, I had my daughter house sit while I was gone, she
met me in the driveway, but I did not recognize the house was magnificent, as
was my wife Oh damn it wasn't the wife I left. I did not remember her, but she
adored me. Now I'm scared, forget scared, I'm terrified I now know the gravity
of what I had done in talking to my former self I changed the course of my
life. I checked on my old family, and they were ok. My grandsons were doing just
fine, but I was only an observer of their lives from this point onward, and I started
to cry. I would do what I could from the outside, helping them along the way.
There are no do-overs (without consequence); do it right the
1st time.
No comments:
Post a Comment