The Sound of Silence

Welcome back to the True Measure of Wealth! Not many days have passed since our footprints last crossed in Trouble With the Trees https://bit.ly/407IUnE.

I'd be less than honest if I said that "one never really knows how long they have left on this earth" was something I pondered often and in the end was certainly part of my decision to retire from Corporate America and focus my time on friends, family and those most in need in our world.

For those that have followed The True Measure of Wealth since I started this foray into my 2nd chapter some 2+ years ago, a quote from the book The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel [1] set my path for the footprints I chose to take each day when I wake up.

As Housel wrote, "...the true measure of wealth is ability to do what you want, when you want, with only the people you want for as long as you want...". [2] I also have to admit that the list of people in my life that make the literary list that Housel subscribes has certainly shrunk since I retired. While I had many, many good friends across so many companies that I was lucky to have worked for, those friends that remain in my circle are ones that mean the most to me.

Whether that was by design or maybe just karma for the footprints I take through our world each day, I lost one of those people that was very close to me over this last weekend.

While it's always both a sad day and a celebration of life day when we receive that call or text or however you find out that a loved one or very close friend has passed on to the next life, this one hit me like a ton of bricks.

Charlie Michaels was a friend and a true brother of mine. He was a husband for his wife Michelle and a dad for his two daughters Katie and Allie. We met on a golf course many years ago after Charlie took over an open spot in the "Charlotte Mafia". A foursome of true golfing brothers that traveled together every year to a golf tournament of old college buddies from all over the country called "The Carolina Cup". Over the last couple of years, The Mafia has been spending guys weekends in the mountains of my beloved Western North Carolina teeing it up at many of our most beautiful and challenging mountain golf courses.

As I cried this morning remembering all the times we had together Charlie, I looked back at this Instagram Post in April 2018 when The Charlotte Mafia (Charlie is on the far right) was all together in brotherhood! I remember that day like it was yesterday and everyday that we had together on and off the golf course.

Life is truly precious and short. While it's been said one thousand times before, enjoy everyday like it's your last...you never know when your day will come. Life's most important loved ones can be taken home to heaven in the blink of an eye. Give those you love an extra hug tonight and please keep Michelle, Katie and Allie in your thoughts and prayers (if you're so inclined).

Charlie’s wishes were to be cremated and have his ashes spread on the 15th Hole of the South Course at his beloved RainTree Country Club where Charlie had his Hole-in-One. I'll be there that day my friend to help you on that first step to a higher place, you can count on that!

Like me, Charlie was a music fan of many genres. He always had a great small speaker in our cart with some great play list making our golf that much more fun together. One of the last songs Charlie played for me and others from the Charlotte Mafia during our last time(s) together was a cover by his beloved band Disturbed called the Sound of Silence. Originally written and performed by Simon and Garfunkel, Charlie loved not only the song but Disturbed's much different take on the song. Here is a link if you're open to understanding why it moved Charlie so much https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4&list=RDEMU5X5llIz9gVZkJCH9rptsA&start_radio=1&rv=Bk7RVw3I8eg [3]

Until our footprints cross again Charlie Micheals, just know that every time the Charlotte Mafia tees it up we will think fondly of you on the first tee and know that you are looking down on us enjoying every birdie we make. While the sound of your silence on every tee box will be hard to take, I will be thinking fondly of all the days we had together on this earth and those to come on that great golf course in the sky!

Brian

[1] The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel 2018

[2] From The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel 2018

[3] The Sound of Silence video - Disturbed and YouTube