I Wonder

 

An anonymous buyer paid $1.9 million for a 1954 wrecked Ferarri, pictured as-is above.  Photo above is credited to CNN.  I found it on an Internet search.  It is indeed a rare car and was in a collection of a Ferarri fan who was a real estate mogul for 45 years.  It is a number 2 of only 13 made.  My thinking often about such purchases is that some people have more money than brains.  If I worried about dying I might be more concerned about our bank account.  But most worry about leaving behind a legacy.  

This Ferarri, at least in MY thinking, belongs on a junk heap.  One might be able to see this as-is photo and agree, but I assure you as scrap it's worth a thousand at best.  But the buyer, like all things like this, is anonymous.  Sure this Ferarri has racing creds.  Sotheby's auctioned off the car with a rich history of the car.  But most anyone might say it's worth a grand at best.  

But car collectors like this buyer are rare indeed.  It will literally cost millions to restore, but someone sees it as an investment.  It's possible this car could be worth $2.5 million as-is in a few years, but if it weren't a Ferrari, with a racing pedigree it is worth junk to most anyone.  But as they say, one person's junk is another person's treasure.  Most anyone would see that car and say it's a pile of junk.  

I am not that kind of investor, but there are those who know a deal when they see it.  How much would he have to invest to restore it?  Most anyone would say it's not worth it.  Obviously, this is newsworthy because of the condition of this car.  Most people looking at this photo would see a pile of junk.  Most would say it is worthless.  But obviously this buyer has the millions it will take to restore this car to its former glory.  The buyer then, obviously, sees potential.

This got me thinking about life.  Some people are tossed on the scrap heap of life, because others see what most see in this car.  Some see failure after failure in the lives of some people.  But the question is:  Doesn't everyone have some value in life?  I tend to think so.  Some might see the value of a person like most of us see this car.  But some of us have intrinsic value known only to a few.  

There are those in life who are like that Ferarri.  Imagine that isn't a car, but a person.  One might see junk and another sees potential.  Obviously the buyer sees potential in this car.  And as one who appreciates old cars, I do too.  I see time and money.  In fact, I see a lifetime of investment in this car.  Some people need a lifetime of investment.  If they don't give up, we don't either.  And often it's up to us to make sure they don't give up.

It's so easy to give up on life.  But success is never giving up.  I doubt the buyer will give up on this car.  I would love to see a photo of this car in ten years or so.  I'm excited about this Ferarri.  We'll see how long it takes.  It might take a lifetime.   

I've been smoking a pipe for nearly 50 years and I assure you that my pipe collection isn't worth a lot, but to me, my pipes are priceless.  While this car is priceless to the new owner, someone saw its value.  I might not have spent hundreds on any pipe, it's the pleasure I get from my pipes that is worth more than any price I paid for them.  I am sure the new owner will treat this car with kids gloves every step of the restoration process.  No matter the cost of ownership, everything we own can have value if ownership has memories that are priceless.  Today it is my valuable Lee Van Cleef Meerscaum pipe, which was a gift from one of my son's.  And the tobacco is my Autumn Evening.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave