I’ve been lookin for a girlfriend….it’s been about five years.  So I was laying awake this morning and wondering about my situation. 

While it's been a pretty rocky time in my life,  today, I was thinking attributes,  positive.

I’m getting older, right?  Yes.   But I still have some hair.  Yes.  Not ugly. No. Not fat.  No. Enjoy life.  Yes. Like books, people, conversation. Yes.

Some would tell you I’m not exactly The Bachelor; and that my track record at The Altar has been…well nothing for the Kentucky Derby bookmakers

But this BCE blogpost isn’t about my girlfriend problem....well sort of.

It’s about my British cousin.  And about Warren Buffet’s sex life.

Bet you know the type of cousin I mean.  A bit stuffy.  Self satisfied.  Dislikes most things about your lifestyle.  Self assured. Well read, thorough and with a wicked sense of humor.

My British cousin is BBC World Radio Service.  We visit every night and all night (no girlfriend, remember?  J) from his Bush House home in London.

And this morning, as I lay awake at 4 a.m., he was rattling on about EVERYTHING and nothing…..as usual.

·         Science story about the possibilities of reversing genes to not only make us live longer; but actually be younger.  So, I’d still be 64, but have a body of a 32 year old…if I wanted one?   Hmmm…, I think, while they're at it,  could they adjust my younger body parts for me?  Make some bigger, some smaller?  "Ok, Doc., while you're adjusting my youth genes. I'd like four inches more there; and four inches less there.  And while you're at it, give me Kirk Douglas' chin."

·         Hard news coverage about how the “normal” financial relationships and contracting of capitalism are, permanently, broken.  No $700 billion bailout will do.  And we’re in store for a new social and economic paradigm.

·         Feature interview with a little girl in Nigeria who sold herself into prostitution in order to feed her parents and seven siblings.  Now that’s a thanksgiving story for America.

·         Long feature on the social impact of Narcoeconomics in Mexico

·         Story on legalization of heroin in Switzerland and its positive impact on crime.

·         Review of the Warren Buffett biography.  Buffett who is curious about everything and everyone, with concern about the human condition, reserved with his trust of others, who tells his kids to “go get a loan at a bank” when they want to borrow money from him; emotionally needy, and who has lived two separate distinct, simultaneous private lives with two women, in different cities.

I’m getting up.  Turning my cousin off.

Going to McDonald’s for coffee and a sausage biscuit. 

Want to come along?

I was driving near downtown after lunch yesterday, when I noticed St. Phil Catholic High School students putting out signs reading something like: "The Best Things In Life Aren't Things" Day.

Boy, if that isn't true.

The best things in life are family, friends, faith, community, commitment, loyalty, love, passing 'things' along and forward.

Yesterday, cereal maker Kellogg Company also announced it was going to spend $86 million (or so) to expand its corporate headquarters in our small town of Battle Creek, Michigan, USA; and to help with educational and downtown redevelopment needs.

The announcement brought out a legion of bloggers on our local newspaper’s website.

The same old tired suspects, with the same old tired complaints about corporate influence and control; loss of union jobs; small town Battle Creek generally.

It's hard for me to imagine how ANYONE could not be thankful and excited for Kellogg's decision.

It's not about corporate benefit.  Not even about downtown.

It's about a corporation STAYING in small town America; and making a commitment to the community's future.

The best things in life aren't things.

The best things in life are those that no one can take away from you, when life and times get rough.

So, right on, St. Phil students.

And, thank you, Kellogg.