Maybe he fears running out of time.

Steve entered my life. Because I decided to accept a 'gift' of a $299 a night luxury suite. In exchange for $50. The catch. I had to listen to a 90-minute sales pitch (which really lasted 3 hours). From Steve's client. Diamond Resorts International. He was trying to sell me a package that allows me to vacation at Diamond resorts. All over the world. For what Steve deemed extraordinarily low prices. Of course, I was suspicious. Skeptical. But I'm a curious guy. A retired journalist. Always looking for something interesting to write about. In my blog. I met Steve in the tourist mecca Sedona. On my way to the Grand Canyon. With my Italian true love. I'd not mind being stuck in Sedona or similar idyllic places for months. Steve said that could happen. If I bought into his deal. A plan to buy 'points' that would earn me low-cost vacations. All over the world. Even at places frequented by famous people. Anyway, Steve told me it's not a time-sharing plan. Though that's what it sounds like. I ended up saying no thanks. To a complicated plan that would cost me $26,000 for resort vacations with considerable more value than that. Told Steve that I'm already on vacation 365 days a year. Ever since retiring in 1998. Furthermore, I live five months a year in the Mediterranean island paradise Sardinia, with my Italian true love.  And she comes to Minnesota to spend summers with me. Which seems like a better life than anything Steve could offer as an upgrade. Kept telling Steve that my life is pretty darn good. That really, it's very fulfilling being a romantic idealist, a spiritual free-thinker, a political liberal, a lover, a dreamer. A writer, too, who writes about people like Steve and businesses like Diamond Resorts International and anything that interests me. Not least being the way Steve makes a living. Personally, I'd hate to make a living Steve's way. As a salesman. Though maybe that's what I am. A salesman selling/defending my philosophy and way of life. But hey, I like Steve. He's really a nice and decent guy. Good at what he does. And he's only 29. With good prospects for the future. And he's already lived an almost unbelievable, adventuresome life. He played football at one of Arizona's universities. I forget which one. He also was almost killed in a random, unsolved  shooting and spent two months in a coma. He was homeless for a while. He was married to a Japanese woman, who tragically died of cancer a year ago. Leaving Steve heartbroken and with a young step daughter. He's getting on with life. With a Vietnamese girl friend. He also writes song of a religious nature. And has dreams of becoming a preacher. I encouraged Steve to slow down. Suggesting that he's taking on too much. In both his business and personal pursuits. My final words to him were, 'Slow down, Steve, slow down.'  Don't know that he ever will.  Maybe he fears running out of time. --Jim Broede