No matter how degenerate, busted, destitute, dissipated, or beat I was at times, I always started each day with a list and a plan. I approached debauchary as a transcendent and transitional state, never as a permanent lifestyle. Temporary excess, combined with a little luck, brought you to the edge of the abyss as a tourist, not a full time resident. I am quite sure a list and a schedule, no matter how rudimentary, has saved my life on several occasions and kept me from being that guy shuffling along the street, talking to himself, and swatting at invisible flies later on. My list always provided me with a return ticket....
I sold real estate in the city with the largest concentration of Arabs in the USA. Many of the old-time agents would not work with them. Arabs drove a hard bargain. I was forced to, as I was a newcomer to the city and had no 'sphere of influence', as they like to say in real estate. I actually melded great with their style of business, made many connections, and did very well courting them. They had money, were smart, and came to the party ready to deal. I also had many conversations with them about the never-ending conflicts in the Middle East. There was a reason they were now living in Detroit. The major lesson I came away with was there was no clear cut right and wrong in the Middle East. I see the FB posts all day taking partisan sides as usual, from the safety of a padded office chair sitting in front of a computer. The usual mass media suspects are also lining up with their patented brands of distorted, one-sided propaganda of either 'Jew bad/Arab good' or '
Comments
Post a Comment