Status

I'm getting to be an old guy. I can feel it. But there's one thing that brings me more joy than just about anything else: Grandchildren. They're growing up so fast. My granddaughter, Scottie, is driving! And West, my grandson will be driving before I know it. I hate to admit that I’m old enough to have teenage grandchildren. I know I must sound like I’m only about 65…but it’s not true. I’m 59…or so.

When West was just a little guy-not quite 2, he wore his cowboy boots everywhere. Even to bed in his little footie pajamas. I don’t think real cowboys wear their boots more than he did. They were his status symbol. Now mind you he doesn’t have a horse…I’m not sure he had ever even seen a horse. But he understood status symbols at 2 years old.

I don’t think he was that much different than us. We all love our status symbols. Kate Spade purses (which you can buy on the street in New York City’s China Town for $10 if you bargain hard), Tag watches, Zegna suits, Nike shoes…we love cars and houses and anything that gives us a little status.

How is it that we ever got to thinking that a watch or a purse or a car or a house would make us any better than the next guy?

I was in LA once and a homeless person had camped out on a corner in Santa Monica. Every day I’d go by and see him sitting in the same spot begging for change. I passed him one day before lunch and he asked me for money and an hour later I walked past him again and he asked me for money as if he’d never seen me before. I said, “You just asked me for money about an hour ago.” He said, “Yeah, and the next time you pass by, I’m going to ask you for it again.”

You see, I think he believed that piece of real-estate belonged to him. It was his status symbol….the best corner within blocks. Who was I to argue with him? I was only visiting. He lived there.

It doesn’t really matter where you live or what you drive or what you own. One day you’re going to have to give it all back. I am too. We just don’t live forever. The last time I checked, the mortality rate was hovering right at 100%. So, I’m looking for a little hope that will last longer than the few years I live here on this earth. How about you? Looking for Hope? Me too. I'd say, keep looking. You'll find it and I'll be right there with you.