liminality

that word occurred as Rick talked to us about the field of financial planning.  Idealistic young person called to a vocation in liminality is what "having a vocation" might really be about.  Studying finance the way earlier idealists studied philosophy or theology or religion and literature.  Finally I saw how any study can easily replicate the call.  That is what the rhetoric of religion is all about, of course.  All the religions Burke lists in his great master list of religions will have a body of theory, theology, lives of saints and sinners, rises and falls.  Rick told us about the recent spectacular collapse of young German investment genius Leopold Ashbrenner.  Star among the Columbia business school academics, that third of speculators who have no business being in the market because always blinded by human all too human failings and flaws.  Against whom Rick positions himself as a pessimist for his private portfolio work, which positions himself perfectly in the liminal middle as a pessimist who works optimistically with clients whose lives he wants to save.  He wants to stay with and assist his clients until they die, until their assets are safely passed on to inheritors and the next generation.  It is a vocation to continue the traditions of hope and expectation.  The next coming, a resurrection, an afterlife.  A further life.  And M James is right in there with his small cast of queer youngsters putting on the brutal play of Fortune and Men's Eyes.  Playing a part, moving off and on stage, waiting for applause, all of it is about being in between and waiting for the applause after the final curtain.  

Phil took my bait and told me his largest portfolio is with Schwab.  Good to know he does use such brokerages.  I had no idea how he actually did his market activities.  He also successfully read the depressing book for his ladies book group so he complains about his empty, meaningless days but he's not quite as bad off as he complains he is.  

He's not as bad off as Dick's father-in-law the Macedonian muslim who has of late gotten interested in Christianity and done some searching online about it.  He's taken to dressing up in his best suit and sitting in front of his house in Skopje to wait for the arrival of Jesus and Mary.  One day he drove out to the airport to meet their plane with a bouquet of flowers because he knew they are coming.  His son went out to get him and could not convince him to go back home.  He gets belligerent when people try to show him Jesus and Mary are not going to come to his house.  

Should I send this anecdote to George, Phil, others, all of us who are in this oldster demo?  Or should I keep it to myself for now?  Funny and sad all together.  

Carson on fluidity pretty right on.