Here are five honest confessions.
1 – I liked making money. In fact, lots of money. I used to drop hints about how much money I made. Pitiful.
2 – I chewed too much melatonin. I first took melatonin to work in harmony with the prescription drug Zolpidem to help me sleep better. The melatonin is a supplement that comes in gummy form. The first night I took one gummy. I slept a full eight hours. Then I took two, then worked up to three, then four, five and ended with six.
I started waking up in a cloud. I thought maybe I had Covid. Then I thought I was growing old prematurely. Then I cut back to one gummy, and woke up clear headed.
3 – I can’t get enough mob interviews. A high ranking mafia capo in the 1970’s and 1980’s was Michael Franzese. He spent his time in prison, turned his life “over to Jesus” and moved to Southern California. He then was interviewed by Patrick Ben David. I was hooked. From then on, I watched all the gangsta interviews. I enjoyed them more than I learned anything from them. However, there was one thing I picked up. All organizations operate the same way. Lofty values up front, money making underneath. The one difference with the monsters was you got shot if you stepped out of line.
4 – Some synapses unplugging. I’ll be in a conversation and want to share a name. The name floats by in my brain but I am unable to say it. I have to watch myself, because if I am not careful I can sit there literally trying to say the name. I’ve learned that when that happens to move along in the conversation. Later I will remember the name and reflexively say the name out loud and out of context. Age 76, how lovely it is.
5 – As a professional teacher and speaker, I always like talking about my children. One time a member of the audience asked me the age of my oldest child. I hesitated for a moment as I calculated the child’s age. “52” I said. The crowd broke out in belly laughter. I now talk about my grandchildren to make my points.