Monday, May 20, 1996
Letter From a Foolish Widow
by Robin ____

Is it legal to write a Fribble if one is not directly involved with the Motley Fool, or even an AOL subscriber? I'm barely computer literate, though I do have an e-mail address at my technologically unsavvy workplace. To make matters worse, I know almost nothing about the stock market, and until 10 months ago my portfolio consisted of 100 shares in a chemical company that I inherited a few years back, and a mutual fund that had performed only adequately. Perhaps my one redeeming investing quality is that when I did decide to make an entry into this new world, it was with Iomega.

I heard about this stock last year when my not-yet-Fool boyfriend, and his not-yet-Fool brother, first bought it. I was familiar with the competition, and asked the budding Fool brothers many questions. It didn't seem like a big gamble to me, so after a bit of thought I decided to make Iomega my first true stock purchase, albeit a small one.

I hadn't anticipated the roller coaster ride that ensued, and when the stock fell below my purchase price I was nearly ready to bail. The brothers gave me the confidence to endure the ride, and I started paying a little more attention to Iomega news. When my boyfriend became more involved with the market and joined the Fool staff, I learned even more.

Over the course of the past ten months, I found myself not only having, but starting, conversations about stocks, the Motley Fool and AOL. These conversations weren't limited to My Fool, but included friends and even other Fools. I attended Fool gatherings and shared meals with Foolish people. While everyone was very nice and very bright, I was still for all intents and purposes a stock virgin, and felt like an outsider. I yearned for conversation about something other than stocks. I know a little bit about a few things and would have been happy to discuss any of them. Gone were the days of quick phones calls from My Fool professing love or lust---the calls became stock updates. How romantic. I was becoming a Fool 'widow.'

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed these conversations. I just wish they were in addition to, and not in place of, the ones we had pre-Motley Fool.

For many of us, Tuesday April 23, 1996, was a banner day. Iomega went up big time, and the future looks rosy. But I can't help but wonder if there are other 'widows' and 'ex-widows' out there who went to bed that night saying I want my life to be richer, not just my bank account.

I know that for me, when I reach across the bed at night, I like to have more than my stock certificates to hold onto.

[Editor's note: the writer and her Fool have since parted ways for reasons unrelated to Finance and Foolishness.]

Transmitted: 5/20/96