I’ve always wanted my own personal tree in the back yard where I could harvest denominations of $10, $20, $100 or even $1000 bills. You know, get up in the morning, make some coffee, wander outside to the magic tree and pick a few $1000 bills. I’d just stuff them in my pockets and then go enjoy the day. The tree of course would bear money all year around. None of this seasonal stuff. If I had money left over, occasionally I’d share my good fortune with Grasshoppers and family.
Well, for my birthday I got a money tree. It has green leaves and I’m sure is ready for transplant into the backyard. One of the Grasshoppers gave it as a gift. Pretty unselfish to give away a perpetual source of cash.
Grasshopper No. 4 spoiled my fantasy a little. He said, “Dad, you got a bonsai tree”. I said “How did you know”? Apparently everybody knows that a bonsai tree which originated in China is called the money tree.
This morning I planted the tree in the back yard. It dawned on me that I should protect this valuable resource so that some dog doesn’t lift his leg on it. A small fence seemed in order. So I built a fence. Then I began to think about the people in the neighborhood who might steal my tree. So I hired a security firm to put alarms and video equipment in place to protect against intruders. Then I decided I should get insurance to cover potential losses. The ultimate solution of course was to hire a security guard service to stand over the tree 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
You get the idea. Suddenly I had another worry in my life. How do I protect this new found fortune? Protecting the tree was going to cost more than the daily harvest. Aawww Sh–.
So I am going to place the bonsai tree in the front computer rooom, water it faithfully and appreciate the thought behind which it was given. It is pretty. It was given for my birthday.
Alas, another get rich scheme goes down the tubes. It was a beautiful thought. I guess I’m destined to lead a life of quiet desperation.
The lesson Grasshoppers is that instant wealth does not normally drop in your lap. You don’t need a money tree to be rich. Look around.
Love,
Dad