The Old Man's Advice

     "Sit down, let's talk for a bit. Tell me how things are going. This old guy wants to know."

     "Well. there's a lot going on and sometimes I feel guilty not doing more." Young Bobby said. " I see news stories about tragedies and how people help by donating money on their time, but I haven't done as much as they have."

     The old man scratched his head and said. "Those people are to be admired but it's not something that all of us can do. Don't judge yourself to others standards. We can't all be hero's. We don't have to be, but we all have an impact on life. The best you can do is make it positive."

     "But how can I do that?" Questioned young Bobby.

     "Small gestures, kind words and smiles can have as great an impact on society as stacking sand bags to protect a house from flooding. All of us have time to do small favors for others throughout the day." The old man smiled.

     "I still don't know what you mean. Can you be more specific?"

     "Think about what you do throughout the day, Bobby." The old man continued. "Everything you do requires a decision. Think about others when you make that decision. Be considerate to others when driving, stop to help a handicapped person carry groceries, pick up trash, strike up a conversation with a stranger. There are a million small things you can do to make life a little better."

     "Okay, I think I get it, change the way I look at life. So I need to look for opportunities to help people in small ways."

     "Yes, exactly. You don't need to set aside a certain amount of time to help others. You need to incorporate that into your daily life. Small positive gestures add up to big changes." The old man winked at Bobby.

     Looking enlightened Bobby said. "Sometimes you old guys are smarter than you look." Laughing he continued. "You should probably quit smoking though."

     The old man shook his head and smiled. "You're right, that's good advice. I guess we can learn from each other." As he reached for the ashtray to snub out his cigarette butt.

     

     

More Banks than Bars

     Have you ever noticed how many banks there are? I'm talking about brick and mortar buildings not online banks. It seems like every time I drive down the street and see new construction, it’s a bank. How often do people go to a bank these days with all the online banking, direct deposit and automatic deduction? I go, maybe twice a year, usually to turn coins into paper money or deposit some cash, but truthfully I could eliminate those trips. 

    

     Last week, while we were on our way to a birthday party we counted the banks in a 3-mile section of highway K. Our count reached fifteen without even considering the banks inside 3 grocery stores. Here's the list: two Regions Bank (because ones not enough), Bank of Franklin County (O'Fallon's not in Franklin county), BMO Harris Bank (somebody named Harris opened a bank???), Commerce Bank, Midland Bank, Great Southern Bank (I guess we're considered the south), Reliance Bank, Bank of America, Alliance Credit Union, American Eagle Credit Union (no clothing there), American Bank of Missouri, US Bank, St. John's Bank (not in St. John's either) and PNC. As you can see I included two credit unions, but aren't they really the same as banks.

     One conclusion I can draw from this is that the people in O'Fallon are rich, extremely rich. I have not yet to count the banks on a 3-mile stretch of road in Town and Country or Ladue, but it's hard to believe there could be more than fifteen. Maybe in those communities the citizens are so rich the bankers actually drive to your house and do the transactions, so there's not a need to have as many brick and mortar bank buildings.

     Another conclusion is that banks must be making a ton of money if they can build all these freestanding buildings. When have you heard of a bank going bankrupt or bar for that matter? I guess it happens but rarely. What do the bank employees if no one walks in the door? I'm sure they have business to conduct but do they really need a big expensive brick building to do it.

     Since we live in a multi task world why don't we combine banks and bars. It would make better use of the buildings and give the banks employees something to do with their free time. I think there would be more traffic at the banks. Imagine going into a bank to negotiate a loan, while having a glass of Amber Bach. Interest rates wouldn't be quite as important.

     The advertising would be changed forever. Bank billboards might say "Wine and cheese party with every loan closing." I know this sounds ridiculous and it is but isn’t fifteen bank buildings in a 3-mile stretch also kind of crazy. “Just Saying….”