
I grew up very without all those Hollywood things. I grew up poor but not without. I heard "no" more than I heard "yes". I was raised waiting for pay day and food stamps. We made things more than we bought things. One Christmas the only gift under the tree was a single skateboard to share among four children. We ate at home, vacationed at camp sights, had birthday parties in the living room. I grew up hanging with an entourage of neighborhood kids. We loaned out our jeans, toys, text books, and bicycles. We poked our fingers and became blood sisters/brothers. We pitched in our coins and shared chips, sodas, and ice pops. We sat under street lights and swore secrecy, confessed inner thoughts and pinky-swore never-to-repeat forgettable deeds. Under one of these streetlights I dreamed my dream of growing up and becoming somebody else. Somebody with one amazing deal.
I am all grown up now. My dream of becoming super rich unrealized. My hope of becoming somebody else undone. Instead, I grew up and became me. My me has meant working really hard at remaining me. Even though I have a lot of resources, all grown up, I find I would rather make things than buy things. I love to cook at home as much as I love eating out. I would rather save money, invest money, build wealth than spend money on things with depreciating value.
My "entourage" has not changed much since high school and college. I place more value on old friendships versus new encounters. I do travel to places I can't spell and take great pleasure in sharing my travel with others. I wear my shoes down to the sole and trade dresses with my besties. I share my soul with others and keep secrets like nobody's business. I have been to Hollywood and don't particularly like it. Not authentic. No one looks really happy. A façade of make believe. Too many dealings.
Looking back I realize it is I who got one amazing deal. I grew up and became simply me.