free grain: Present moment interruptus

I used to be angry at my dad for not having much money. I could not, for the life of me, figure out how he could have lived through the electrification of America, the rise of the automobile, radio, TV and air travel and not have capitalized on these world-changing events. I mean, think about it... he was born in a cabin with no electricity and rode a horse to school. There were no planes, little electricity, and few cars... he was very smart and well read but ended up driving a truck. How could anyone miss out on such an abundance of opportunities?

Notice I said I USED to be angry. I got over it when I realized all that I've lived through and how many opportunities I have failed to capitalize on in my lifetime. I'm sitting in an RV surrounded by technology that has been invented and commercialized in my lifetime, none of which I was smart enough to have made a nickel on. I have a MiFi, i-Phone, Smart Phone, laser printer, fax, scanner, 2 computers, cable TV, satellite TV, 2 flat panels and one regular TV, hi-speed cable, 2 i-Pods, 3 GPS units, surround sound, infra-red headphones, 2 Kindles, a Bone Anchored Hearing Apparatus, radar detector and satellite radio. I have access to the world via cell phone and internet while sitting in my recliner.

I used to believe the reason my dad failed to take advantage of the technologies that were popularized in his lifetime was due to the fact that he might have been distracted by two world wars, the great depression, and the Korean and Vietnam wars. But I've come to the conclusion that the reason most people miss out on the financial opportunities that inevitably accompany new technologies is because they become enamored with the results... the personal benefits the technology makes in their lives, that they don't even think about the possibility of how they can profit financially at the same time.

The above was going to be the intro to an entire blog about present-moment living. Unfortunately the present moments have interfered and I'm going to have to cut this short and load up some photos instead. The intrusive present moments include the launch of a lifesaving dental X-ray device by an important client, the possible sale of my paint company client, and a VERY successful test of our hydrogen client's revolutionary 'hydrogen from water' technology. All of this has created a lot of demands on our time. Add to this the fact that today we finalized an offer on a new home here in the desert and perhaps I can be forgiven for taking the easy way out on this post.