3rd Grade education, yet life rich

Last night I met Tommy, a 65 year old first generation Irish-American born and bread on the streets of NYC. Tommy offered his chair at the bar to me so I did not have to sit on a backless stool. With white hair and aging skin, I still was surprised when he started telling me his story. He said his formal education came from the streets, only had a 3rd grade education. He started working at a bar as a teenager, was married before he was 20 and held his job at the same bar as a bartender for over 30 years. He retired when 'the fancy drinks' started to come into vogue. He could not learn how to make them because he could not read. The business owner was shocked he did not even want to try. Tommy's outlook was "I made what I made and it was good, and great while it lasted." He told me about coming home with $500 in tips weekly, and that did not include his salary earnings. He felt rich from his people skills and his tips. To this day, every month an envelope is sent to him with a crisp $100 bill in it from the owner of the bar. Now he gets to enjoy his days with his grandchildren. What sparked our talking was actually the fact I had my ipad with me, and it was actually what he started to talk to me about. He wanted advice on buying one for his 9 year old granddaughter.

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