. The Pine Mountain Lake House residence providing Gary with an opportunity to indulge further into the stock market procrastination of investment, his sister giving him access to her and Donald’s investment accounts allowing him to make short-term day trades for them. Gary attaining a $6000 portfolio with Sure Trade, a retail branch firm and a $7.95 flat fee per trade commissions for trades executed through their Internet trading platform.
, The Day Trader procuring low-priced investments, opting his preference for stocks less than $15.00 a share enabling him to dwell in the 100 + share range when buying or selling, watching for an upward movement of 50 cents or more on several hundred shares able to recoup a hundred or more dollars in a short time frame. The weekday mornings soon became the beginning of an abbreviated NASDAQ trading day, realizing even with the daily study of the Wall Street Journal, advice from Charles Schwab, Gary found that in some respect short-term investments were pretty much likened to a casino gamble.
Early Monday mornings were a ritual, Gary and Kay seeing Don off to San Mateo joining him for store-brewed coffee and donuts at the Groveland Mini Mart at the corner of Ferretti Rd and the 120 Highway junction. Most other weekday mornings would find Gary and Kay and her Rottweiler Darien, who had a towering physical presence in the jeep his sister drove, would journey into Groveland for breakfast and several nights thru the week would fine them enjoying a prepared cuisine featured in the dining room of the Groveland Golf and Country Club.
. .The two would frequent the acreage every day, both participating in the reconstruction of the historic cabin and catering to the two horses which were apropos in the modern stable that had previously been erected. Sally, Kay’s youngest daughter on her visits from San Francisco appropriating a equestrian skill with the equine species. Sally prompting a workout in the fenced circular arena, letting the magnificent breed protruding their prominence and under her direction achieving a showmanship of expertise with the horses excise. Gary discovering a new direction in life, a family with monetary affluence, his sister responsible for the introduction.
..Gary having corresponded with California ICQ lady friend whom he had visit with from his apartment in Kansas, the two agreeing to meet. Pat was in Merced, the meeting was cordial and it was apparent the picture she had sent him was taken years earlier and pounds lighter, but that was not unexpected. Gary dressed in what he thought was appropriate for a first meeting, short sleeve shirt and tie, his internet friend dressing more casually in jeans , the two meeting at a Pizza Hut. He was aware from their previous correspondence that her husband of thirty years had passed two years prior, Pat mentioning that her solitude being the reason for her ICQ participation.
…Gary finding the lady very congeal, especially when she offered to provide a tour of Merced in her pickup, their brief ride ending up at Yosemite Lake, a small lake bordering the town. Pat relating remembrances, giving a reflection of her late husband, the two having spent decades fishing this lake, Gary listening with understanding as she added that the Hmong influx from Thailand and Laos having proclaimed the east side of the lake as theirs and the Hispanics having occupied the west side, sadly expressing it was no longer safe. Gary not being familiar with the demographics of Merced suspected her concern was warranted, upon leaving thanking her for an enjoyable afternoon.
…Another foray from Groveland traveling down Priest Grade to meet another awareness whom he had correspondence with from Kiowa, her name also was Pat. Gary noting that both the ICQ persons in California whom he had corresponded with were named Pat. Traveling from “Groveland, a long trip to Lodi, the lady having a home in an exclusive gated community, meeting her in for the first time. Gary finding her personality adherent to her internet presentation, but discovering her physical apparition was new to him. She was handicapped, not able to walk without an accommodation, her mode of transportation was a van with a lift enabling her to sit in the driver’s seat. Her conversation was enlighten, very knowledgeable, humorously mentioning her gated community was where the Stockton Police Department reside, but her aspirations were of reliving the past.
…Gary and her journeying to a A&W Drive In to partake of the roller skating waitresses, noting a sign proclaiming Thursday Cruise Night, a warrant of the past, both enjoying the experience., Her disability didn’t prevent her from preparing a dinner, asking if Gary would spend the night and accompany her to church in the morning. She was a consummate Pentecostal, Gary spending the night in an alternate bedroom rising to a prepared breakfast, Pat capable and able to navigate the kitchen. The Pentecostal Church was experience for Gary, never having attended a Church Service that exhibited such enthusiasm, never before observing a five piece band, drums, guitar, bass, keyboard sax fulfilling the background for the hymns. the congregation standing and lifting their praised to the Almighty. The Sunday morning completed returning to Groveland, not disappointed at making a new acquaintance but only as an online friend.
Inquisitive Quest 
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