It's ironic that there is so much more support from folks I've never met in person(here) than family members who should really step up to the plate. In our family, there is a brother and sister who live less than an hour away. Neither has been here for any of the 4 serious hospital stays in the last 6 months,or for birthdays, holidays, fathers's day, etc. Even though they had 48 hours notice, neither made it down for the death of their mother in December 03. They both did ask when they could access the inheritance on the day of the funeral. Both are building $400,000.00 plus houses with interest only variable loans, with the intention of paying for the home with their inheritance. I'm the son-in-law, and the parents chose me to manage the trusts, because the two kids have each borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars over their lifetime and never paid it back.

Both are now coming to me monthly with requests for money from the trust. I approved several "emergency" loans as interest only loans, and , guess what...neither has made even one interest payment.


The good news is, I've decided to keep playing until at least the 50th anniversary of my first paying job, which will be 1/30/06.

My problem last week was the realization that so many people I know are ignoring their responsibilities...Mike Allen's family, George Gentry's family and my own family. I now know that this is their problem, not mine. 10 years ago, I left a job
I loved, but could not re-locate because I knew if I didn't take care of the ones I cared about, no one would. That's the way it worked out.

I'm over the slump. I enjoy playing, teaching
and running my business.

And I appreciate you folks more than you know.

Best personal regards,


Russ