Young Thomas,
As Shakespeare once said, advice is
wasted upon the young. But as a moth futilely finds itself drawn to
a light, I find myself drawn to sharing what little wisdom that I
have acquired over the years. But if perchance I can help you avoid
a pothole or two on this lifes road then perhaps all was not in vain.
So what follows is advice from the eldest to the youngest.
Neither a lender nor a borrower be.
Lending money to friends or family is not loan - it is gift. If the
money is paid back then so much the better. But don't hand over money
willy nilly no matter how earnest the recipient is. And I hear that
you are going to Wright State – a frugal move. Try to keep your
students loans to a minimum. It all has to be paid back - with
interest. And when you graduate the inclination upon getting that
first job is to treat yourself to a new car. Get a car new to you
that is 2-3 years old and still has good life in it. Again payments
and insurance on a new car can put you in a bind financially. Our
father is frugal and being frugal - but not cheap is a good way to
lead your life. Life is easier when you have money. Ask any
homeless person.
Moderation in all things. Alcohol,
food, love, etc. – all are beneficial in the right quantities but
an overindulgence in one or all will cause harm to the body or to the
soul. So indulge – but know your limits so that you are never in
over your head. Otherwise you could end up in a motel room in Las
Vegas and wake up in the morning with a hangover - married to a
stripper named Bambi. She talks a lot and likes to crack her gum
when she chews it. Yep, shoulda used moderation.
I am glad of your choice of
professions. But don't be afraid to explore other careers. Lots of
folks go to school, find something they like better and change
majors. I started in Business Administration, but ended up in
computers for instance. But your chosen profession is good from the
standpoint that it pays well. So that will help with social security
solvent for us old timers. I plan to travel a lot, so those SS checks
will keep me in gas money. And an additional bonus is the degree is
in the medical field. So the money we get from social security will
be turned around to keep us in viagra and prostate medicine which you
can provide. For this I am doubly thankful.
Oh, but who am I kidding. Life is like
giant millstone that grinds us all down. You are young and full of
ambition and dreams. But life will grind all this out of you –
look at me. Leaving nothing but coarse husks on the grain elevator
of life. And then some cow will eat these husks and then... well you
know what the cow leaves on the pasture. Don't let this happen to
your life. No what you need to do now is flee – find a steamboat
with your graduation money and sail far away to the Pacific. There
you can start fresh on a tropical island and fish in the afternoon
and drink daiquiris in the evenings. Yes if I had it all to again
that is where I would be!!!
Well my advice should not be followed
by any rational human being – but there it is. Use it as you will.
Your older brother,
J. Chris Tilton
