Surrounded by family, even a bad day didn’t seem that way. Going to school five days a week and having one pair of uniform pants, a pair of shirt and one extra was upper class. Having a tennis shoe for two years was the same. When your shoes were too big it was stuffed with cloth or paper and when your feet grew you eventually took it all out.

Summer time was clothing exchange in the neighborhood, those cloths that your homie use to wear from Chicago, New York and Los Angeles got too tight and now it was your turn to fit the fancy designs of America. If not then drop back to another year of home made designs and put together gear.

The first day of school was all about flossing, only back then the word did not exist, as it is known now. It was better than none to have one new decorated pencil even if it was mixture of two lame colors.

Going home for lunch was not even a choice for most, either that or you would be fasting. Depending on how far you lived, by the time you got home or to someone’s house in the area it was almost time to return to school. What you could eat had limited or no options. You could go with the flow and eat what was already cooked, make a quick meal (you know oatmeal and bread or custard and bread) or look to the nearest fruit tree.

By the time I became a teen, the need for money was evident.  I wanted to go to the movies or catch a national soccer match on Sunday afternoon and the days of receiving a meager allowance were done (well not an allowance but give me a dollar hear and give me dollar there).

It was three other ways I remember to make money.

• Go fishing – I didn’t like that.
• Selling food- I didn’t like that.
• Recycling – picking up bottles and selling to the five stores on the main and that was cool.  See I’ve been recycling even when I didn’t know it.

By my mid teen everything was different.  From hairstyle to cloths to footwear.  Even education was more important, but when you’re hungry most of the time in class or feel that your not even dressed right, that could lead to failure.

When I got to America it was the shock of my life.  What I could remember from stories about America is that the US was the place to be.  Everyone eat good, dressed good, droved fancy cars and lived in a big house.  After a week or so reality sunk in. Gangs, Segregation, depression, drug addicts and homelessness.  On the other hand, Hollywood, Magic Mountain, The Lakers and other things that you can enjoy if you get to survive the first life. 

Now, its now and today is today cause tomorrow never comes, so lets make that money cause I have “10 + 5 Ways To Get Rich”.