I owe $14.30

thats some good advice BC.

I must have worked writing fortune cookies in my last life

i hope you claimed that income on yer taxes!

[/quote]
Just remember, knives and investments are only things
I have had to start over a couple of times in my life
Learn the lessons that life teaches you and try to focus on the important things

If you think that life is a contest, remember that you are only competing with yourself [/quote]

Wise words my friend.

I know it is hard especially on the young
But at the end of the day the only thing that is important is your family and friends

I was married at 22 and a dad at 23 so from a relatively young age I had more important things to worry about

I know the feeling. Sort of. I was born in a country that had a revolution when I was three. I was a civilian in my second war when I was 15. In another war about a decade later and a fourth within a few years. Five careers and four wars later, and here I am. Me, not rich, not poor, but happy.

I really believe that having a strong sense of family
Is the most important thing in life
Family can be those related to you and/or those that you choose
Either way that is what I consider true wealth

And as soon as the government figures out how to tax it I am hooped

I agree. I was raised in a tight family. I have never felt like I needed to hide things from them. Yeah, I lied to my parents when I was young, but we are relatively an open family. When I have issues, I call my mom and dad, and I am 37.

Our past makes us who we are
I think that having the set backs in life that I have had, and realizing that my actions played a role in them has made me appreciate what I have

I was lucky in that I had some great role models

My dad is my moral role model and my mom is my ambition role model. I have had several role models in the Marine Corps.

This weekend was an example for me
My youngest brother and I went to a gun show with our oldest nephew.
Then when we got back in town we met my dad and grandfather for a late lunch