By Jim Hagarty
2012
My neighbour was out polishing his Corvette today so I told him he was doing a good job.
“Everybody’s got to have a toy, Jim,” he said. “Life is short.”
I agreed with him and said I wondered what my toy would be. My laptop? My guitar?
“Whatever happened to your sports car?” he asked. I told him we had to trade it in on a more practical car when the family came along. “I saw one just like it in Sebringville the other day,” I said. “Maybe I’ll get one again some day.”
“Don’t wait too long,” said my neighbour. “Life is short.” I kind of wished he’d quit saying that. By the way, he has two Corvettes. And he isn’t rich.
He reminds of a musician friend of mine who at one point had 12 high-quality guitars, one of them worth $5,000. He said he had no use for RRSPs and GICs and any other savings plans. He’d rather have his savings sitting there in his studio where he can see them and polish them and play them. And when the rainy day comes, he can sell a guitar or any number of them.
He’s never commented to me on how short life is but I have a feeling he’s just itching to. He better not put off telling me that because, you know, life is short and all.
