Since High School:
College was a jolt, in some ways, as I discovered
that my architecture aspirations were only a
childhood fantasy. One had to choose between
design and engineering and, since I knew I was no
artist, flunking Calculus twice was a key indicator.
The path of least resistance led to a degree in
Finance – specifically Real Estate and Urban
Economics.
This led to a career in commercial real estate –
mostly mortgage banking (making multi-million
dollar marriages between developers and life
insurance company lenders). In this I was quite
successful and my quest to prove myself equal to
or better than those who discriminated against me
(for being from the wrong side of the tracks when I
attended Barrington High School) was well
underway. Thank God for the move to Palatine
and for classmates who were real people!
Although knowing wildcat real estate developers
intimately was fascinating, it became impossibly
hard to motivate the “sales” engine in me when all I
was doing was making rich people richer. This
reality, combined with living in Barrington and
seeing how tragically unhappy most of my wealthy
friends were, started to change the materialistic
me and diminish the chip on my shoulder.
The soap opera continued: 30 months without a
paycheck, losing a fortune, nasty divorce, a son
spiraling down on drugs, etc.
(This is sounding way too Byron-ish, star-crossed
hero and all that!)
In early 2001, many planets aligned themselves
and I struck off for Montana – with no job, no
money and no acquaintances. Many friends and
relatives thought it was about “escape” but I had
always wanted to live in the Wild West and do
fundraising for a nonprofit.
I was a deer in headlights for quite some time in
survival mode but things have gone very well. Now
I have a great job, good friends and no money. I
head up fundraising for the statewide food bank
(and I love to play on the guilt of wealthy people).
Basing my self-esteem on real things and not on
BMW’s and Italian suits has been a major
adjustment/improvement but it has had the effect
of delaying my quest for love - so far.
Reunions are fascinating. At the 10th, I seem to
remember focusing on who had the most attractive
wife or car - or both. As I was with you this time, I
found myself wondering who among us was the
wisest or had the most interesting journey. I’ll
treasure the stories I heard.
If wealth is measured in friends, and it should be –
Buffett and Gates move over!
I run into life lessons in some of the movies I see.
In “Platoon” the war weary protagonist, as he
leaves the scene of devastation of bodies and
souls, pledges to find beauty and goodness in this
life - while Samuel Barber’s heavenly “Adagio for
Strings” underscores his point. There has been
much joy in my wonderful life so there is no
comparison – but I do believe in the pledge.
College was a jolt, in some ways, as I discovered
that my architecture aspirations were only a
childhood fantasy. One had to choose between
design and engineering and, since I knew I was no
artist, flunking Calculus twice was a key indicator.
The path of least resistance led to a degree in
Finance – specifically Real Estate and Urban
Economics.
This led to a career in commercial real estate –
mostly mortgage banking (making multi-million
dollar marriages between developers and life
insurance company lenders). In this I was quite
successful and my quest to prove myself equal to
or better than those who discriminated against me
(for being from the wrong side of the tracks when I
attended Barrington High School) was well
underway. Thank God for the move to Palatine
and for classmates who were real people!
Although knowing wildcat real estate developers
intimately was fascinating, it became impossibly
hard to motivate the “sales” engine in me when all I
was doing was making rich people richer. This
reality, combined with living in Barrington and
seeing how tragically unhappy most of my wealthy
friends were, started to change the materialistic
me and diminish the chip on my shoulder.
The soap opera continued: 30 months without a
paycheck, losing a fortune, nasty divorce, a son
spiraling down on drugs, etc.
(This is sounding way too Byron-ish, star-crossed
hero and all that!)
In early 2001, many planets aligned themselves
and I struck off for Montana – with no job, no
money and no acquaintances. Many friends and
relatives thought it was about “escape” but I had
always wanted to live in the Wild West and do
fundraising for a nonprofit.
I was a deer in headlights for quite some time in
survival mode but things have gone very well. Now
I have a great job, good friends and no money. I
head up fundraising for the statewide food bank
(and I love to play on the guilt of wealthy people).
Basing my self-esteem on real things and not on
BMW’s and Italian suits has been a major
adjustment/improvement but it has had the effect
of delaying my quest for love - so far.
Reunions are fascinating. At the 10th, I seem to
remember focusing on who had the most attractive
wife or car - or both. As I was with you this time, I
found myself wondering who among us was the
wisest or had the most interesting journey. I’ll
treasure the stories I heard.
If wealth is measured in friends, and it should be –
Buffett and Gates move over!
I run into life lessons in some of the movies I see.
In “Platoon” the war weary protagonist, as he
leaves the scene of devastation of bodies and
souls, pledges to find beauty and goodness in this
life - while Samuel Barber’s heavenly “Adagio for
Strings” underscores his point. There has been
much joy in my wonderful life so there is no
comparison – but I do believe in the pledge.
Mark Brennan
