Although, like Nancy and Gary, Michael is a real person…much of this profile is a composite of the other two or just me filling in the blanks. I met Michael when he was studying Tai Chi in Taipei in 1976. A mutual friend has filled me on some of his details although I’m not sure of his wife’s name or even if they are still married. He’s just another person that liked to hear my stories.
I know that he got his degrees and where they came from. I know that he didn’t need to do anything for money. So he could work for the government as a prosecutor and then pull a couple of stints as a states attorney general (they serve terms here in America). He was into philanthropy by circumstances of birth, but liked the idea of social entrepreneurship because the ventures were then more stable and less dysfunctional (in his view). Not so much time having to woo big donors like himself. He would have several of these that he, his wife, and their partners would be involved with.
It’s not about the money. It’s really an desire to help and a bit of a buzz that they get off of the stories. Something they like to talk about. And they don’t like celebrity or high society gossip. The only thing they “have to prove” is their own relevance.
And really, I’m starting to realize how universal that is…regardless of socio-economics. I’m starting to compile my list of stories about story.
“To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.” ~Emily Dickinson Lori Sailiata