Extraordinary Day!

The second day in July is of much import in the greater scheme of things.

It is a day that generates strong inspiration.   On this day in 1982 Larry Walters, a.k.a. Lawn Chair Larry, took flight in his homemade airship consisting of a lawn chair with 45 helium-filled weather balloons attached to it.  He stayed a loft for about an hour.  

It is also a day for commemoration.  On July 2, 1979, the U.S. Mint officially released the Susan B. Anthony coin, recognizing her successful efforts to gain the right to vote for women.  Although a one dollar coin never gained wide circulation, women have made considerable progress toward their rightful place in public affairs.

Another July 2 saw a different door open to a new future.  On a steamy day in 1857, the first passengers climbed aboard New York City’s first elevated railroad to ride between the Battery and Cortlandt Street in the Financial District.  It took longer to board and travel the distance by train than it took to walk, but what is progress without a little inconvenience.

For others it is a day of sweet celebration.  My daughter Adrienne was born on July 2^nd, arriving fashionably late by a day  -  at least according to the doctor.  Her father claims she came into the world howling and demanding to know who had taken her Wall Street Journal.  Yet as she has moved though the world, her interests have run far beyond the finance focus of her mother. 

Instead, she has made healthy food a priority and a profession, using a knack for math and science to master the chemistry of milk and cheese. She bakes bread and churns butter from scratch like a pro, despite being raised by a mother who can barely boil water. 

Beyond the usual parental pride that is a mother’s right, my daughter is also a valuable check on the environmental priorities that underpin the investment themes in this blog.  She avoids single-use plastic and chooses biodegradable and recyclable alternatives.   High standards for the foods she is willing to eat or the restaurants that are worthy of her business have sent us miles out of our way on road trips to find organic or locally-owned options.  Her support of regional agriculture over foods shipped long distance at much cost in carbon emissions, also yields interesting nuances in her personal and professional relationships.

Observing my daughter’s choices has provided a unique view on how an environmentally-conscience lifestyle can play out.  Yes, it is different than the lives displayed on popular television programs for our collective envy and emulation.  (Sshh! Because she does not have a television, she is unaware of the possible cultural deficiency.)  Nonetheless, she proves with great aplomb that it is possible to direct thoughtful consumerism toward a more stable, sustainable environment. Investors take note.  

Happy Birthday, Little Angel!

Neither the author of the Small Cap Strategist web log, Crystal Equity Research nor its affiliates have a beneficial interest in the companies mentioned herein.