Tales from the Underground
…. in this case a BART station in San Francisco
We all look for hidden treasures. Just check the ratings for the Antiques Roadshow for the last 30 years. We’re enamored with the idea of striking it rich. Quitting our jobs and living off the interest of …
… a great find, masquerading as a doorstop or antique umbrella stand. We want to be the discoverer. The Ponce de Leon of 2020, who wades into the fountain of youth or stumbles over a chest filled with gemstones, plundered from a Mayan king.
But why is it always gold or jewels or a hidden Rembrandt that we’re in search of? Why do we seek possessions that can be turned into wealth or financial independence?
What if the treasure we sought was knowledge? Or a time machine that sent us back to December 6, 1941, so that we could change the course of history? Would we exchange a king’s fortune for a second chance at life? For a moment to do it over; use the wisdom we gained through years of suffering and mistakes and start again.
Today, as we take a virtual stroll through new car websites, comparing every new model on the lot with the one sitting in our driveway, do we ever wonder if we’ll ever be able to do the same with our own lives? Be given a chance to peruse the latest lives and careers and for a reasonable fee — get to do it all over again?
