Could never be a good businessman. Did not love money enough.
Never put wealth at the top of a “to do” list of things to achieve. Oh, I wanted to make a comfortable living and get a nest egg for the future. But, I had no drive to accumulate big bucks.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m materialistic as the next person. I like a nice house, a nice car and vacation spots to visit. But, I’ve always placed a higher premium on other goals: wisdom, knowledge, spiritual growth. Never could attract the flashy kind of girl or woman who looks for signs of wealth. I had nothing to flash in her direction, save a few  jokes tied in with a yearning for something above our selves, our own lives.
Should have seen this coming when I served as an officer in the US Army and was assigned as a payroll master. Got the duty twice, once while stateside at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, and the second time near Cu Chi, Vietnam. Didn’t want anyone to know I knew next to nothing about finances. Hell, I was lucky to squeak through high school and had no college whatsoever, even though I’d pretend I had “some college” when anyone would ask.
And so, I faked it. Faked being a knowledgable finance officer with everybody’s money and a loaded .45 sitting at the side of a table where I dished out the monthly payroll.

I’d pay an entire company, which could run over a hundred people. Would spend a good two to three hours to get through each one, carefully counting the bills. Dollars given out here in the States. Military pay vouchers in Vietnam, which were smaller than the American bills and looked like Monopoly dollars, sans the mustachioed Monopoly guy cleaning up with Park Place and the Boardwalk.
What an ordeal. Needed to wet my fingers toward the end as they would tend to dry out and I’d be unable to slide one bill away from another. I’d ask each person to count it a second time, but I figured most would not and would simply walk away, happy to be able to stuff money in wallets while dreaming of whom to spend that first dollar with or upon.

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 I never short changed anyone.
Except myself.
Twice.
Forty dollars while in the states. Eighty in Vietnam. Never told anyone until now. Didn’t want anyone to know how little I knew, or cared about, money. I’d probably get into more trouble than what it was worth, anyway.

Used to play a game on meeting women for a second date. I’d ask ’em to rank four words in the order of their importance to them. Money, Love, Sex and Power. Could never get over how little I’d have in common with anyone putting “Money” first. Never met anyone placing “Power“ at the top, but I think I’d find a reason to excuse my self and quickly run from their presence.

It all came down to Sex and Love. And I’m not going to tell you which one I placed on the top. Use your imagination. Where would you place them?

Or is that really none of my business?