If you stayed with this series so far you may probably have already realized that the essence of this story is very much about how I got to the point that I am at today.  Of course it is also about the idea as a whole, but quite honestly if I just put it all out there right now, it probably  would not have as much as much meaning as it would if it unfolds just the way it is doing right here, and right now.

I also realize that the twists and turns in the story line, may in some ways detract from some of the momentum which I never really seem to gain, as well as possibly add to the frustration level of my reader who may not really have the kind of time and patience which I would hope that my readers would have.

So, for example; if I start telling you about how when I was in child in grade school from kindergarten through 2nd grade and was reading Richie Rich comic books, about this kid Richie Rich, who was so wealthy that he had a butler, and this maid who was made of iron, who ironically enough was called Irona. Also I have some kind or razor sharp memory for both events as well as images from my childhood, that I could perhaps even tell you word for word both what I said, as well as what others said or did. I even remember a little panel from the Richie Rich comic book that taught me two things: One; that have things on either side of you meant that there were things on both sides of you, as opposed to one side or the other. Also that the word several did not mean seven which is what I had originally thought before looking at the comic book panel, but that it meant 3 or 4. In the case of that specific comic panel, I believe it was four.

The last two (or three, perhaps several) stories from this time period that seem to go here about these early childhood years are:

Stephen Sanders invents Lotto at the tender age of seven!

Very simply I had initiated a very simple scheme which was a sure fire way to make money. I asked the family members, who were my captive customers, to buy lottery tickets. The lottery tickets cost a quarter. The potential market for these tickets was every single adult who was over our house for one of the holiday meals, it may have been Thanksgiving, but that is not important.

The adult line up if I remember correctly was; Grandpa, Grandma (x 2) Harvey and Elizabeth Sanders (aunt and uncle), Mom, Dad, and possibly cousin Ross. The cost of the lottery ticket was 25 cents, and I assured them that every one had an equal opportunity to win the grand prize payout of one dollar! (I had not thought about marketing the idea of increasing the odds by buying more than one ticket, ooops, another lost opportunity to maximize profit). What were my costs, nothing! All I needed was some scraps of paper, where I wrote the same number twice, and when they gave me a their quarter, I gave them their half, and placed the other half in a hat.

Naturally my family was overjoyed to see me develop an entrepreneurial spirit at such a young age. Also I did indeed get 100% participation. Not having enough the change was also not an acceptable excuse, because after I got a few quarters from my from first few customers, making change was simple. Not a bad way way to make a quick buck for a kid!

The other stories from this time that come to mind have to do with my grandfather on my father’s side. Grandpa Irving was a very quiet man of few words. I remember he did buy a lottery ticket very enthusiastically from me ( he may have been my first customer). One time Grandpa Irving and I took a walk to Larchmont Park (we lived in Union NJ on 1065 Kensington Terrace)  I had this helmet with some kind of visor that was called “Monkey Patrol” and I had this plastic mess kit which was part of the set. With these important items I went with Grandpa Irving  into the wooded part of the park, and I showed him “Frankenstein’s Grave” which I guess really was nothing more than a large shallow big pit surrounded by some trees in the on the edge of the playground area. Then I remember that I could not seem to find my way back out of the woods, back home. It was then that Grandpa Irving showed me that he had been carrying a little pocket knife, and was making little marks on the trees so that he knew how to get us back home, back to safety. I really have no clue to this day if he was really doing this, or if he just wanted me to think that he did, as a nice little gesture to make not feel incompetent as our guide. The woods were really not very thick, but I was not the one usually leading the way to “Frankenstein’s Grave” and I was pretty happy to somehow be able to find it and show it to my Grandpa.

The other little story which might seem to be so obvious to anyone reading this, really has never really found its proper place in my psyche. Don’t get make wrong, its not something that bothers me at all, its just that i never got was he may have been trying to tell me or if he was actually trying to tell me anything at all. We did not see my Grandparents on my father’s side as often as those from my mother’s side because they lived in Florida, and only drove up to NJ, to visit us on the Holiday weekends. Of course coming from Florida they usually brought huge bags of oranges and or grapefruits, but one time they brought us pogo sticks! One for me, and one for my brother Jeff. It was on one of these trips that my Grandfather found this ball of wool that my mom kept in the drawer of this little table.

My Grandfather took out this little black ball of wool and said “Bah bah, black sheep” I don’t remember if he knew the whole little poem or tale, or if he told me the whole thing. I just remember him, holding the ball of wool, in one hand perhaps motioning with it and saying “Bah bah, black sheep”. Now it at this point if one were to go Freudian with this, I am sure that we could dredge up something. However, with this kind yet simple quiet, seemingly wise man, there is simply nowhere to go with this.

In many ways, some of my Grandfather’s traits are my own. At my core I am very much an introspective type, and I am not typically talking a mile a minute like I see so many other people try to do. The interesting thing is that when you find yourself having individual quality time with such a person, you might end up remembering so many details, because the entire experience is beyond some conversation. Nobody would say that my Grandfather had accomplished any great thing. However he did have a simple, peaceful, kind and yes I feel (intuitively) wise way about him.

As a child and into my early and even later teens, i was always gravitating towards these books which back in the day were simply collectively referred to as self help. Certain themes ran through these books so when I state the principle, it could have come from (and would be repeated) in almost any and/or all of these books and that was:

Be like the person who says little and does much.

When I attended Santa Monica College, I had somehow got caught up in the whole student government scene. I bring that up now not to tell that whole story here, but rather to point out that I had attended various government type hearings, not just at our school but at actually California Legislative hearings on various issues.  Invariably the person who always caught my intention amongst the various members of the board, was not typically the fellow speaking at every chance he had into the microphone. nor was it the fellow presiding over and chairing the meeting, with gavel in hand. No, the most interesting person to focus my eyes upon was the fellow who was actively listening to what all the other people were saying.

Some people might be reading this and thinking, how could you tell. I honestly believe there is nothing quite like getting directly involved in governmental affairs. Yes, actually going to some board meeting where perhaps some controversial measure which you feel strongly about is actually being discussed and acted upon. I can tell you one thing without hesitation, that when you as a citizen actually takes the time to show up at some committee or board meeting, the people sitting up there with their microphones, and glasses of water, will notice your presence. Why is that you might ask? Because it is rare for a citizen at large to ever attend these type of meetings which often by law must be open to participation from the public. Usually the only people ever to show up for these hearings are the ones proposing the project who stand to gain monetarily, or the paid lobbyists who are paid to try to persuade the politicians to vote in a way that benefits their employer.

Typically out of of a typical board or committee of say between  10-15 people, you might be surprised to find that there is actually one, who is simply sitting in his chair, and listening. Yes at times, his head might be back in the high portion of his high back reclining leather seat. Yes his hands may be behind his head, and he seems to be glancing upwards at the ceiling. It might not seem like he is constantly hanging on to every word of every expert witness and paid lobbyist who is rattling off fact after fact that is relevant to the case at hand. However you might notice that he is not constantly fighting for control of the procedural issues. He probably will not be constantly jotting notes down notes (or doodling) and leaning over the microphone to point out a procedural rule or regulation, or to make a motion to table, or to send to a committee.

However the thing to do is to watch how this fellow reacts (and there always seems to be one) when someone from the community at large gets up in front of the board, and begins to speak from his own personal experience of the issue at hand.

It will be then that you see this person, literally straighten up in his seat. His eyes will be looking right at the person speaking, and not at the other board members. You can bet your last dollar that if a yellow pad and pen comes out, it will be write down something that this citizen at large has just said, so that he can directly ask him a question, or cite the speaker’s comment,  and not some doodle, or reminder to himself to pick up his dry cleaning. All this I am explaining to share my experience with you how good and empowering it feels to know that someone is actively listening to what you are saying.

Aharon Moshe (Stephen C.) Sanders written 10/26/09 and edited 10/27/09 to be continued…

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