There are more important things I would undo or redo if I could but one of the most unique things happened in 1991 or 1992.
I was working for Dean Witter in New Jersey for several years after leaving a penny stock firm, Investors Center, that was a scam. Jordon Belfort got his start there.
I was given two tickets by my manager to the Dean Witter Memorial Golf Tournament in Columbus Ohio that also included the company's hospitality tent.
I was a big golfer and played with my manager and a couple of colleagues often so he knew how much I would cherish them.
Another buddy that worked with me prior and was now at another Dean Witter office agreed to drive out with me. My buddy had a friend from growing up in Pittsburgh that was going to Ohio State and had rooms for us to crash.
We packed up and made the 8 hour trip from NJ to OH. Got to see Ohio State University Stadium during a big track meet and was surprised how cold it was with all the concrete and old surroundings.
Sunday arrived and we headed to the course.
After watching for several hours, we hit the hospitality tent for food and booze. While inside I ran into Jim Higgins, the CEO of Dean Witter. A real great and gregarious Irishman. He remembered me from a few years prior when I went to the US Senior Open at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey that we also sponsored and I met him for the first time in the hospitality tent there.
We spent some time talking and he found out I drove all the way from New Jersey.
I went back out on the course to watch more golf along with my buddy for most of the day.
We came back to the hospitality tent and Jim Higgins was still inside mingling with many corporate guests of Dean Witter and the PGA.
He came up to me after a short time and asked me: "Do you have your clubs with you? Tomorrow everyone still here will be playing one hole with Jack Nicklaus and we have a bunch of openings. If you are interested you can play and I will let your office manager know."
I was dumbfounded and he said to let him know soon.
My buddy, who became a big SVP at Raymond James for over 30 years, was just in a new relationship with his girlfriend, who is now his wife and mother of his kids. He said he needed to get back to NJ and couldn't stay and also had to work.
I wish I told him to take my car and I would fly or he could fly back.
Instead I told Jim Higgins I couldn't stay.
So this stupid **** writing this post turned down the chance to play a hole of golf with Jack Nicklaus.
Later in life I had to cancel a round at Pebble Beach with another buddy due to Vertigo and my ear needing to have a large bunch of wax and hair off my eardrum due to extreme pain. He never let me live it down. Neither of us ever played Pebble Beach.
I did get a blowjob from an ex-girlfriend while driving home from Pebble Beach in 2002 after drinks in the clubhouse but it hardly makes up for not playing Pebble Beach.
R.I.P. Jim Higgins - a great guy who passed almost a decade ago.
https://www.vanemburgh.com/obituary/3942085