I remember many years ago when I was an ignorant (innocent) fool and out of a job. I was collecting unemployment and you have to go to the unemployment office in person to collect your check. I come out with my cashed check and I notice a group of people right next to the parking lot. I go over to investigate....
I NEVER SEEN A SHELL GAME BEFORE
There is a guy with a little stand belly button high and on it is three wooden cups. He places a small marble under one of them and then mixes all the cups up. Then, you have to guess where the marble is. You win the amount of your bet if you do. If you don't, you lose that bet.
ITS FASCINATING TO BEHOLD
I watched as the game conductor demonstrated the three cups all so slowly like in slow motion. Each cup was turned inside out and moved around. Then, the small marble was inserted under a cup, then shuffled slowly around and around and then to a slow, sure and easy to track halt.
I CAN DO THIS
I knew where the marble was! The man asked if anyone knew, but I kept silent. He picked up the cup and there was the marble that I knew was there. He did this 3 or 4 times in a row and each time I picked out where the marble was. I remember thinking that I could double my unemployment money right there and then.
ANYONE CAN DO IT
I wasn't alone in this thinking because out of the 5 fellows standing there, one of them went for the game. He put down $2.00 and won! Again, I knew where the marble was. The same player put down a $20 and won again. I knew too where the marble was again! Finally, the player put down $40 and won again. This time, he picked up his winnings exclaiming how thankful he was and left the game. He was a plant...
THE ACTING WAS OSCAR WORTHY
The guy conducting the game said he couldn't keep this up too much longer if people kept winning. Just then, a guy standing next to me who guessed correctly (just like I did) where the marble was every time, steps up and puts his whole cashed unemployment money down. It was over a hundred dollars and a lot of money back then.
THIS ISNT A GAME ANY LONGER
The man conducting the game does the fastest shuffle I have ever seen in my life time. I got dizzy from watching the guy move at warp speed these three little bowls and then stopping so quick my neck jerked. He then asked the player, wheres the marble? The player was visibly shaken up and speechless. He then chose where he thought it was and ....HE LOST!
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ME
I could have been that guy. I was right there ready to double or triple my money and there were people standing by to help me do just that or so it appeared. The moral or the point of the story, of which there are many is simply this:
POINT OF THE POST
10 million people had homes. They bought them because it looked like you couldn't lose. Getting an agent, a home and a loan was no problem whatsoever. Just sign here. Borrowing against your home was made very easy by HELOCS which allowed you to write a check against your home for anything. Instant gratification!
HAVE IT ALL NOW...
Vacations, jet skis, new car, college funds, remodeling, parties, new clothes and even buying a another piece of property can now be had instantly using home equity. You cannot lose was the name of the fever that gripped the nation and is still choking us now. I learned 40 years ago that things are not what they appear to be.....and perhaps maybe, there is no marble
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