Charlie, you are endlessly kind. But a granola mama I am not! More of a punk rock kind of gal. DYI. Well, maybe a little bit of both because i'm a boomer. Never thought about it that way.

I learned to sew my own clothes when i was a kid, from necessity, and threw some pots, which i happen to be kind of good at because I attend to detail and it was a way to relieve me of my thoughts. But I haven't done either of these things in quite a while. Aspire to. I've also been a film maker. Those are ways for a person to express oneself when they don't quite fit in the clothes, the images and the thoughts of the day.

But I met Warren, through one of his kids, in 1995? Changed my life! Saw Charlie at a Wesco meeting in Pasadena, which was closer to home than Omaha. His candor was a spiritual awakening. And I've been following them ever since.

Starting from scratch, though, it has not been a straight path. My in-laws were in the investment business and uh, how should i say this, chauvinistic and condescending. Fortunately, i was able to ask Warren about how to learn about investing and he suggested, of course, The Intelligent Investor. It took me six months to read it. I asked him what parts i should pay attention to. Chapter 8. Well, i could go on and on. I didn't understand anything except that chapter. But it took until 2008/09 before i understood what that meant. My circle of competence was only useful when the bottom fell out.

Anyway, I started the Intelligent Investor, again, a few months ago, and, amazingly, all these years later, I understand it better.

You see, I came down with a bit of fomo during the 2020 and 2021 runup, and forgot much of my early learning during the dotcom bubble. Fortunately, the voices of Warren and Charlie persistently echoed and I am back to being a beginner and learning more about finance than i ever thought I would. Ever thought I could. Even bonds.

A poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks, will forever be my beginning. That will never change, but I endeavor to learn what I can and appreciate people who know more than I do and have character and honor. Learning about finance has also supported a couple other great interests of mine, rationality and integrity. However haltingly I may walk, I point myself in those general directions.

I will pick up the Intelligent Investor, again, since I put it aside in favor of all the Sherlock Holmes stories. Thanks for the nudge. I want to keep all my teeth.

And thank for those new suggestions for further reading. I look forward to it. :)