For more than a few years as a child, I was bent on becoming some sort of a field geologist. I had (and still have) an impressive collection of rocks and fossils; I spent the lion's share of my allowance many weeks on that rock store near Mayfair mall. I loved the rock and crystal store in Sidney too. I could (and still can) identify quite a few more kinds of stones and gemstones than most people.

These days the notion of being a geologist is baffling to me. It's not up my alley in any way.

I also remember, as a 13 year old, reading WW2 books to no end. There was never a career in mind, but I learned a load about that war, particularly about the battles and weapons and machines.

As I read those WW2 books, I listened to classical music. Classical music was my genre from day one. That, and the B52's for some crazy reason. I can't say how many times I've heard Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto, but I still fall in love with it every time. My dream was, and today still is, to play that concerto, symphony on my left, crowd on my right, and the lights shining down. It's the only thing I really want to do that pays money. To put it another way, it's one thing I wouldn't stop pushing for even if I had millions of dollars.

Everything else I want in life either costs money, or is free. That's the truth of the matter.

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