OK, I read this with great joy, and I need to jump in. What a great topic, moreso on life and not necessarily cards. The last post made me want to reply.
I am an IT guy, divorced for many years with two daughters. They don't remember us together. I was on the track to be CIO for a multi thousand person organization. I quit at 30 to go independent. People thought I was crazy, including my then boss.
I took two summers off to be with my girls when they were young, as a single dad. I coached them in hockey and soccer for years. Taught them to golf. Spent lots of time with them, and got to also play hockey and soccer with the old guys. Still play hockey a couple of times a week, and I'm nearly 60. I never had a meeting called at noon on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
Do I have a '52 Mantle? No. I have a nice collection, lots of hockey and football mostly. Some would love my collection, and others would look at it as pithy. And my daughters come by and we play cards, go to football games, golf together, ride a bike, go to card shows, and now grab a beer and wings together. I look at it as a pretty cool win for me. I'm healthy enough to walk 18 holes and carry, and break 80 a few times a year.
Am I rich? You bet... in values and life. I'm still working. My youngest just landed today in Australia at noon my time. Taking 3 months to explore the world. I never had that opportunity, and I'm damn proud that she does. Not jealous, happy for her. Someone always has more. My financially richer friends are jealous of the fact my kids have always been OK to hang with their dad, and still do.
"Happiness is not having what you want, it's wanting what you have"
Life is good. And one day I may even have a '52 Mantle.
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