Prime Day

It's 11:26 on Wednesday July 12th, and I have made my final purchase on Amazon Prime Day. Amazon, the worlds largest online market, holds a special holiday where they honor their subscribed users to a day of deals and discounts. This years' bag included dress shirts, a shoe rack, leather Cole Haan shoes, horseshoe and pickleball set, and dumbbells. You could say... I feel like a dumbass, but really, I give myself a pat on the back.

I have always been a spender. I spend money... ya... but money has gotten me a lot of things.

One thing I hold with great value is education. My family has prioritized school and have spent accordingly. I went to private catholic school throughout my youth, attending St. Cecilia School and Jesuit High School. Here, not only did I receive a first class education, but I was also surrounded by some of the most respectable, ambitious, and motivated people I have ever met. While these peers had the luxury of paid school, they were held to a standard set by the institution to be better, which I feel is a sentiment that is worth it.

From private school uniforms, to Lacoste & 7's Jeans, and on to the Nike Ducks, my wardrobe has developed based off of my environment, but I always added my own flair. Private school is difficult, because we all wore the same uniform. Therefore, I had to make it my own. Shoes is a good place to start, and I remember wearing slip-on blueish/purple (women's) Adidas shoes, because I thought they were cool... boy did I get it for those. Puka shell necklace, a LIVESTRONG bracelet, and that gelled hair "Doowop" thing characterized preteens in the early 2000's. High school is always tough, and amidst constant judgement, everyone has to put their pants on one leg at a time. My high school, with academic and athletic success, carried some of the most affluent families in all of Portland Oregon. With expansive incomes, children regularly sported the latest fashions, whatever the price tag.

I naturally had the 'SWAG' to carry myself with whatever was on my back, so naturally, I thought I was cool. Instead of shopping at Nordstrom, I shopped at Goodwill. Not that I did not appreciate good style, but I could not justify paying $200 on a pair of jeans... it just didn't make 'cents'. And I did not feel comfortable asking my hard working family to cough up for a seemingly insignificant expense. Fortunately, I had taste. I knew what worked for me, and I bought pieces that reflected my character that did not break the bank.

Little did my privileged peers knew, I worked my ass off. At 15, I decided I wanted a job. There were a lot of factors, but basically I wanted money. I went down the street to a high end retirement home, and was hired as a dining room waiter. It was perfect:

School 7-2:30 => work out for football 3-4:30 => shift 5-8 => inhale dinner => homework

If I had any time left, I tried to catch a little Law & Order before I crashed. But now, I had some money on my card 😁. You would think I would just swipe, but I think money has value. I love shopping, not necessarily buying. I go to the mall at least once a season, just to see what is new, stylish, and a bargain. While I had plenty of options, I found LRG made my favorite shirts.

Well, this shirt cost $25, which was a pretty penny to me. So I told myself, I will buy one LRG shirt with every paycheck. It was reasonably responsible, for a reasonable income. But like many, shoes got me, and there was a special pair that I would stare at through the glass every time I was at the mall.

Nike Dunks, made of hemp! They caught my eye and I could not stop looking at them. They cost $120 so I saved up for months, and finally walked out of Journeys with a Swoosh on my step. Haha, my family thought they looked like the were made of Triscuits. Fortunately, my parents have always been very supportive, and made sure I had clothes on my back, and food on my plate, but I never led a life of luxury.

When I got to college, I understood the costs. My major expenses were beers and bowls, but girlfriends always had one hand out while they held the other. When I was a sophomore, once again, I wanted a job because I wanted money. I applied for one of the most coveted jobs on campus, University of Oregon Rec Center. There were 200 applicants for 22 positions, and once again, they offered me a job.

I have milked living at home and practically brought the cows home myself. I deeply appreciate familial support, especially my Grandfather who helped me go back to school.

Working for the Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Team and Chambers Bay Golf Course helped pay for golf, rent, and gym membership, and I got to return home to Portland, with...

$10 grand 🤑😲🦮🦯

I continue to live a comfortable life, paying my part, and making sound investments. BUT NOT TODAY!!!!!

I start to think about the various ways people tend to 'waste' money. The classic example is spending $5 for a cup of coffee. I have been one to saturate with Starbucks for much of my life, but I see it as a staple of my persona, and a valuable way to meet at a coffeeshop. A little Keurig cuts the coffee cost substantially. This is something that is a cost every day, so is a car. In NY you need a taxi, most cities have Uber, but personal cars are costly. Insurance, gas, maintenance... if you ding a door its a couple thousand. But cars are a rolling coffin capable of destruction. If someone is injured in a crash you might as well give them your wallet too! Everyone says, "spend your money wisely."

I HATE WASTING TIME. I believe you should always try to get better. Sitting down with a good book has never struck me as gratifying or fulfilling, therefore, I dedicated my time to reading illustrations like The Week current events magazine, Robert Greene's words of wisdom, and numerous biographies that show ways to better oneself. I put stock into goal setting; I have a dry erase board in my room to help assess my aspirations day-to-day as well as my overall persona. With this I have established a written declaration on who I aspire to be whether tomorrow or in the future. One should never bracket themselves into a certain portrayal of who they want to be. I cherish moments where I can reinvigorate the ideals that I have for myself, with the subscriptions I invest in. ESPN app, Wall Street Journal, and Barstool Sports reiterate my interests, and describe things that I find meaningful. We as a society should always strive to become better and more diverse than the day before, however that may be.

I have come into a point in my life, when I want to GIVE BACK towards all of the accolations and experiences that have been bestowed upon me in my past.

It started with the Boy Scouts of America, where I grew significantly from a boy into a man. Here I brought leadership experience, practical lessons and skills, and community service to become the essence of a contributing man of society. From flag ceremonies to service projects, I put myself into the community to show that I felt the obligation to give back to the people that made me. Eagle Projects are the culmination of a scouting career, and here, we begin to appreciate the impact that each scout has on the people and places that made them who they are. This manifestation of a 5 year journey, comes out as they see the implementation of months of planning, and with the help of their comrades, they construct a fixture for the community.

One of the most rewarding experiences of my life was a week spent at Camp Easter Seals Camp. This week long immersion was with some of the most mentally and physically disabled people in the NW, and was a safe place to get away from the torture of everyday life with such a condition. From songs to swimming, we made every effort to make this camp special, because we knew it was the hallmark of their year. I remember a quadriplegic, practically lifeless, smiling up at me as he barely moved his legs in water, and without a word, I understood that this was a lifechanging moment in his life. I remember one campers' certain affinity for the singer John Denver, and us belting the set list on karaoke night. Basketball on the court and dinners at the dining hall made the week all the more special for everyone involved.

When I looked to give back, I looked inward, at my little brother Charlie. We are separated by 12 years, but we have always been close. While we have vastly different interests, he is the Dungeonmaster of his Dungeons & Dragons club and I was captain of the football team, we have never found a middle ground of what we can establish as similar. But that has never divided us. We push each other to understand each other, and love each other despite our differences. Growing up, there was a gap, but I found solace when I would drive him home from school everyday. We would dance to songs, talk about superheroes, describe the significance of the game of the day, and the always important... hock a loogie on our favorite street 'Hock a Loogie Lane.' These were moments I will cherish forever, but I got an opportunity to exhibit my skills and experiences towards practical use. I signed on to be the 'Trail to First Class Guru' at his Boy Scout Troop. I personally recognized the importance of achieving this first major milestone (First Class Rank) and what it meant towards the journey to Eagle Scout. With this achievement, they had a precursor to the challenges involved in gaining the highest rank in scouting. From there I coached the City Champion St. Cecilia 5th Grade Basketball Team, right in my wheelhouse. I got to lead the team toward more points on the board, but also got to mentor youth in a way that would demonstrate how to be a member of a team. These experiences with Charlie bolstered our relationship, and made us closer than ever.

You might call it a job, but I called it a renaissance. A renaissance is "a period in European civilization that was marked by a revival of Classical learning and wisdom." This is how I would describe my employment at THPRD Kid's Camp and Hearthstone Retirement Home. Here I got to bring FUN (harder than you would think) to a summer long camp and was the "grandkid I never had" to countless elderly. This was a time in my life where I got to exemplify my character and attitude to practical use to make people enjoy their lives. While I was at complete opposite ends of the spectrum, I got to utilize my talents to touch the lives of people that needed it.

While giving back does not always have to be tangible, there is a monetary value. My Grandpa would rather write a check than give any semblance of a genuine contribution towards even a family Christmas let alone a foundation. In Kiwanis, a Bellarmine Prep Board Member, and St. Charles Usher, he never hesitated to scribble down an amount towards a cause, and I am sure it was greatly appreciated. I myself was given the opportunity to give to my high school, Jesuit, a dollar amount to show my appreciation of the school. This was the school that had denied my little brother Charlie from admittance, which I solely blame on myself. I did not feel comfortable in endorsing the institution that had give so much, but had written off my more than deserving brother, outcasting my family. The $10 donation for the Alumni Fund might have meant that my years class was not going to win the 'cup', but that did not matter to me. I was even offered money to help ensure the win, but I refused, because at a school like Jesuit, I knew that they did not want to win that way. It was the PRINCIPAL of choosing who you support, and at that time, I did not feel that Jesuit deserved my money.

But that does not mean I cannot give in other ways. I orchestrated the 'Relay for Life' Fun Run to raise money for cancer research. I was the 'Derby Daddy' to raise money for my fraternity philanthropy. I want to volunteer with the Red Cross to try to appease devastation from natural disasters to try to bring life back to communities damaged by cosmic events. I am going to contribute handsomely to charity auctions to further dispense my funds towards things that I believe hold merit.

So this day marks a time where dollars are allocated, and Amazon won. The day before Prime Day, I received a check for $1000.07, my investment plus interest, in a secured credit card I held with US Bank. I considered it profit. Boom... in the pocket, and I did not hesitate to expend this newfound and unexpected income. And I bought what I thought I needed.

The seconds ticked down on Prime Day and I was looking at a dilemma. I was looking at a brand new Nike Air Sport Golf Bag. I value the Nike Swoosh like nothing else, I feel it is a part of my being, and a part of who I am. My previous Nike golf bag had wear and tear, and needed to be replaced. I beckoned Ryan Young, the Chambers Bay golf instructor, and basically said "I don't wanna spend $300 on a new bag, do you have anything?" He was happy to assist, and gave me a TaylorMade golf bag, top of the line. But this bag didn't speak to me. I had no affinity to TaylorMade. It was an off white with orange highlights and black trim, characteristics of the Oregon State Beavers. So on Prime Day, I purchased the Nike Bag with a little hesitation, only to put the Chambers Bay Logo patch on the bag to notify my experience.

$169 bag does not symbolize what I bought, it symbolizes what it means to me. It is an investment in my golf game. Standing at the register of the Chambers Bay Golf Shop, I saw countless golfers contemplating the purchase of yet another polo shirt donning the name 'Chambers Bay,' one of the most prestigious logos in the game. I heard countless times "If my wife sees I bought another golf polo, she's gonna kill me" as I clicked a button and completed the transaction. One caddie would come in after his round. He had dreadlocks and described himself as a "Hippie" who admittedly had been cash only (did not have bank connections) for a number of years. Frankly, I sold him way too much stuff.

But like any golfer will tell you, golf is an investment. It takes the equipment, the outfit, the shoes, the balls, the markers, let alone the cost of a round. Even more, it takes hours to practice the skills to make 18 holes even possible. For some, it is a good investment, as you take friends, clients, and colleagues out for a round discussing business, golf, and future profitable relationships. But the scorecard tells the story, and that is when you have to really assess was it all worth it?????????????????? That is 18 ?'s of whether golf is a sound investment, that you see every time you tee it up on #1.

P.S. (Prime Spenders) You need to look and spend at local 'mom and pop shops' to maintain the some semblance of profit to keeping them in business. Amazon swoops much of their income, as you can search and click for anything you buy. However, these owners are fighting to stay open, and we need to allocate our funds to support these companies to make sure they stay solvent. Join me in the battle to keep these stores open, because Amazon is crushing their sales.