WEAVING TOGETHER A GOOD LIFE

There are rich people, then there are rich people. One has money, the other has wealth. People with money build edifices. People with wealth build lives, futures, and communities. For some people, no amount of money or possessions will ever be enough. They may build a

15,000 sq. ft. house on the highest peak in town, only to find that did not satisfy their hunger, and so they buy several more. They drive expensive sports cars and Humvees, wear designer clothes and expensive jewelry, as a way of reminding others just how important they are, pay others to do their work and raise their offspring then treat these people as if they were dimwitted children, and despite the ever-growing pile of money in their vaults, they will niggle you to death over a dime. I call them The Weenie Waggers.

Other people have money, but you would never know it. I call them The Truly Rich. They wear normal clothes, drive normal cars, live in normal houses and raise normal kids... and then they go out and help other kids who are less fortunate, by doing stuff like volunteering as a court-appointed advocate, finding a kid in crisis a place to live, and maybe even helping them to go to college. Instead of buying a couple of more houses and cars, they sink their money into creating a haven for the people of their community, and spend their time teaching and sharing there. They even donate wonderful raffle prizes to worthy organizations, which is how I ended up being able to spend one entire, exquisite day out at Old Oaks Ranch fiber arts center yesterday, along with Outdoor Woman and two of her Herb Society buddies.

Now, the owners of this awesome community asset probably aren't earning much in the way of fiscal profits from it. Instead, they are earning that which those other rich still hunger for, and cannot seem to satisfy. They are earning true respect, true friendship, and a place in peoples' hearts. They do not need to buy more stuff to make themselves feel valuable. They can see it in our eyes.

I feel sorry for The Weenie Waggers. They will never know what it means... to be living The Good Life.