Entries and Exits

I am usually all business on this blog, and my friends and family rarely see the business side of me. Tonight’s edition will show a different side of “E”.

The Road to Hana is  a treacherous, winding 68 mile journey on the island of Maui in Hawaii with almost 620 curves, twists, and turns. My wife and I being of the adventurous type, travelled that beautiful piece of earth, seeing waterfalls, exotic birds, spectacular vistas over the pacific, and even saw some bamboo forests.

Those of you who were there when the ”Bamboo Club” was born already know where this is going…

Flying into St. Thomas about five years ago, my wife and I realized that the azure blue water of the Caribbean in all those magazine ads was not “photo-shopped” but was the real thing.

So too is the Legend, the man that some travelled from afar to visit. It was immediately obvious to all of us who had the pleasure to be there, that he is as authentic in person as he is on his blog.

It wasn’t the size of the crowd but rather where they came from that bore witness to his charismatic personality; Calgary, Toronto, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, New Hampshire, and Motown. He was shown love and respect, and he and his wife Debra and daughter Chelsey returned the same to all of us.

Before I went to the cookout, I already knew all I needed to know about Don Miller, and what so many others probably surmised. 

About ten years ago I knew I wanted to “make it” in the trading business. I had been following his articles in Trading Markets, and something rang true about him. I did the unthinkable; I called him and asked him for advice on how to overcome some problems I was having with my trading. He graciously talked with this complete stranger for over ten minutes, and never once gave me the feeling that I was being a pest.

I recorded the notes in my trading  journal, and still have them.

The real surprise for me was the amazing chemistry apparent: It was like destiny itself had thrust us together, for a still unknown purpose. Even the rain didn’t dampen the spirits of this Band of Brothers (and sisters.)

I had hoped to meet a few more of the attendees, but the rain made it awkward to navigate at times, hopefully we will meet another time.

There was no boastfulness or posturing, just a humble group of people trying to make connections with kindred spirits in a business of isolation and loneliness.

As I have suggested to you through my regular posts on Twitter, we need to “accumulate profits.” Memories along the river of time and the journey of Life must also be captured, or we face the same dilemma of being charged commissions without realizing a profit.

So Bob, Frank and Debra, Joe and Cindy, Jim, and Chris, Craig, Grace and Peter and Michael, Bart, Steven, Sagi, Dennis, Henry and Melissa and the others I missed: Our door is always open to you, and we wish you well along the path, wherever it may take you.

To Don and his family: Thanks again for a wonderful time, it was truly special.

So long for now, until we meet again…

Part 2

Forty-one years ago…