Evolving to positive change

Jack Knolson looks towards the expanse of his world from his balcony. Seated on a comfy cane chair he taps his fingers on the seasoned cane of his chair's armrest. The sun is about to set as his cup of tea chills in the shuttle breeze. For a child, the view could be his entire world. But for 75 year old crippled Jack, it's his dying view. His balcony hung from the second storie of his penthouse that overlooked the valley. From his seat, the streets looked like open veins that carried toy cars between the multitude of homes standing in rows like well placed dominos. None were likely to fall and the world was stable even from where he sat. Past the village were large paddy fields that were usually sown by the natives. Paddy fields that began from the last row of houses in the village, till a hedge of tall palm trees at the bank of the river.

Where had all the years gone? And how did he gray so soon? Even in his age, his sharp looks still outdid the stars of Hollywood; His tending wife never let him forget. She fell in love with his soul and the wrapping that housed the soul had been crafted by the greatest. Laura was not just his wife. She was his soul mate. A woman he met and loved since their days in business school. So many years had passed since they shared a bench in marketing class, learning that their own brand is what would help through the highs and lows of life. Ultimately, when it was time to handover their swords to their next of kin, they accepted to surrender to a quiet life while their offspring ran the legacy that they started.

Reeves James was a 33 year old kind neighbour who made his living over brilliant equity investments. He studied the economic trends of manufacturing and banking companies; pillars of the nation, he called them. After the closing bell at 15:00 hrs, Reeves had ample time to spend with Jack before he ventured into the city's nightlife. Jack loved to listen about his escapades and his conquests of the night. It was like reading a book or watching a sitcom that began as soon as the last episode ended. Jack on the other hand gave Reeves tips into the history of many manufacturing companies of old that started new ventures or catered to the investments of entrepreneurs of the present day. It was Jack who told teenage Reeves years ago that Sony would make waves with Sanyo in the lower segment of the electronics industry. Reeves grew up learning and believing that life could be made comfortable and time enjoyable through wise investments. By researching future trends and present investments he followed heroes like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. He nurtured his love for a standing investment until he felt the pulse and he knew that it was time to extract from the frontlines. Reeves father was a retired technical advisor in an auto industry and his mother was a senior teacher in high school. They kept pulling up his collar, insinuating that he work hard. But Reeves decided to work smart.

Jack and Reeves spent at least four evenings in a week sharing insight and wisdom about economic history, present trends and the future of technology. They budded like two souls nurturing under the same sun. Basking in the glory of the light that shone for the old as well as the young. They made hay out of sharing knowledge as well as intel. They cradled each other's ideas like a Sine Waveform that complied with Einstein's Wave equation. Schrodinger could not be part of the game since they took turns inside the box and they knew about that cat.

Like father and son they shared moments while their flesh and blood lived far away and battled other storms. Reeves' parents lived in a village 50 kms from his condo where the internet was supplied like quanta of energy that felt like spurts from a volcano; a volcano that could be dormant for days until the supply was restored. He had not yet decided to tie the knot and his parents remained perseverant to the cause of putting a leash around his neck and handing the other end to a woman they felt was pure and homely. That would put an end to his nightlife and all the spice of life would be restricted to a spouse. Reeves had no solace on the topic even with the Knolsons, who claimed to be on his side and yet batted for the elder James. The Knolsons had two children of their own who ran a finance company set up by their parents from scratch. Both children had married and set up their own families providing grandchildren for Jack and Laura. For Laura, it was a battle well fought and a kingdom well established. But for Jack, it was like retiring after playing limited overs in 'Cricket' wherein he actually enjoyed the long 'Test Innings'. For him, work was part of a long innings that he never wanted to quit. He never wanted to hang up his boots nor handover his bat. He wanted to play until he was bowled out. But his wife would not hear another word and he had to let his son continue the game.

After so many evenings of sharing yarns and wit, Jack and Reeves seemed entangled in the quest of aiding each other to accept change and while they sipped on their drink, they watched the sun set behind the hills covered in green. Jack would emphasize, "Life is like the sunset; we have to alter our mood and suit ourselves to sleep". But Reeves would retort, "I have an exciting nightlife Jack, I don't feel the need to nap as yet". They smiled at each other giving hope. "Look at me and Laura, don't you think we enjoyed married life? We built MaxKnolson Finance too!" And Reeves would reply, "I have decided to establish Fort Knox before Lady Love walks in". Taking a sip of his drink Jack argued, "It is important that lady love draws the water and sows the seed along with you. Then she will treasure the bruises in your hands, the sweat of your brow and the wrinkles on your face". Reeves treasured the wisdom and listened to every word. But he had different ideas. At this juncture all he wished is that Jack would find solace in the legacy inherited by the Knolson offspring and hold on to hope that his immobility had a cure.

Jack shared his story once again, "I have allowed so many diagnosis of my current state in the past few years and I have undergone two surgeries. Yet, it's all money spent in vain. As you know, in old age many of the bones in our body tend to wear off leaving large gaps at the joints in the vertebrae. The nerves are part of a large network were impulse must flow undisturbed to every tendon and every tissue in the body. If some portion of the nerves get imbedded within these crevices of the vertebral column, it interrupts the flow of impulse and tends to paralyze the parts of the body at the end of that network of interrupted nerves; in my case it has hampered the use of my writing hand and kicking leg. I'm not entirely paralyzed on the right side of my body. It's just the two limbs that hassle me". Reeves replied, "And for that you have finally found the right doctor in a woman who helps you move your limbs while lifting up your spirit. Isn't she wholesome as a Physiotherapist?" Jack had to concur and he nodded in agreement. Jack was grateful for the inspiration that Reeves shared. He knew that the young lad could juggle the ball in the equity market on his own and yet he hoped that Reeves was not complacent.

The young man had the nerve to take financial risks that Jack would never dare to take. Jack saw that Reeves took leaps of faith based on some research and pure gut feeling. He knew that there was more to this young man than he had seen. He wondered about the nature of a pit into which Reeves would kneel and humble himself before he engaged in the war against failure; was Reeves a man of prayer? One could not deny that the young man had Faith! Some voice speaking to him from the depth of his soul and this voice was strong enough to help Reeves sail or even glide in the wind. This Faith was pure and could endure to lift the spirits even of a dying old man that had given up on life. For all that it was worth, nothing that Jack could offer could compensate Reeves for his positivity and the evening sessions. Reeves had mentioned more than once that healing comes from a hopeful and happy spirit. The exercise and the physiotherapy was needed to energize positivity from the mind into the bones and the tissue. But altogether, the soul must be energized with inspiration and happiness.

Reeves made sure to show gratitude for all the trading tips and he tried not to seem so benevolent. He liked the old man Jack and Reeves knew that wisdom always came from gray hair. Yet, he knew that Jack felt like a man convicted for the vanity of monetary success and sentenced to a life of empty luxury. Jack lived in a penthouse on the 15th floor of a luxury apartment complex. He was surrounded by all the luxury and all the comforts that youth dream to conquer. Yet, he lived like it was all in vain and all the money he made and still makes could not turn him into a sprinter he wished to be.

Reeves lived life simple and his apartment was ten floors below Jack's. Reeves found his talent for the equity market while he was studying Mechanical Engineering and he decided to use that talent to furnish the bills that would be raised as he pursued a Master's degree in night school and a distance learning program in computer aided design from a University in the US. Reeves had a plan to someday meet a life partner that would suit the expectations of his aging parents, but till then, he found some positivity and inspiration into uplifting the spirits of a fighter who was on the floor in the middle of a bout.