Thursday, July 16, 1998

A "Moving" Farewell
By (MADSILBER)

This week TMF Runkle accepted a job in Atlanta, Georgia and put his house on the market in Pennsylvania. Been there, done that, mate! I'm just a few weeks ahead of you and all the mixed feelings that go with the move.

Six weeks ago my husband accepted a job in Memphis, Tennessee and suddenly, after twenty years in the San Francisco Bay Area, I find myself in a little, furnished, one-bedroom apartment in southeast Memphis, with everything in storage while my husband starts his new job.

I rushed to Kinkos as soon as I arrived because my computer was also in storage. Lord bless Kinkos (and may it go public soon) because thanks to them I have been able to read the Motley Fool nightly, catch up on my portfolio, execute my little trades, and try not to pout, flounce, or wilt in the sweltering heat of our new home town.

Unlike TMF Runkle, we have not put our San Francisco house on the market. We've leased it long term. But like TMF Runkle, I have a great deal for which to thank the Motley Fool. On Monday I will be liquidating my personal portfolio, the little body of stocks I built up, encouraged by the Motley Fool's advice to beginners and the answers to many of my questions. Thanks to Motley Fool and my NAIC investment group, I found the courage to begin. I found excitement and support. I found a bull market.

I found funny memories, too. One night, sitting in my faded old "granny nightie," looking my age, but feeling young and happy as I played with my portfolio, I decided to respond with an inane remark to something one of the Gardners had quoted from Shakespeare. In those days they used to write some wonderfully capricious and witty evening comments on the day's events. One of the Gardners responded so promptly to my remark on line that I panicked.

"Help!" I typed. "I hope you can't see me in my old nightie!" He assured me he couldn't, and we continued a brief dialogue. That was way back when, before the Fool became so famous for teaching people how to take responsibility for their own financial well-being. Before the print columns, before the radio shows, before the new book, and before a Motley Fool party in San Francisco at which I appeared in a dowdy costume with uncooked sausages around my head and a very disrespectful remark for Herb Greenberg pinned to my hat. I've been a very enthusiastic Fool!

If small happy memories like that helped build my portfolio, my comfort level with the stock market, the business section of the paper, and my new interest in the economy, why am I selling everything (except AOL!) on Monday? Why do I appear to be abandoning the Motley Fool and the years of daily reports and nightly numbers?

The Motley Fool helped us accumulate the down payment on our next new home in Memphis. The Motley Fool has given us the foundations, both literally and figuratively.

Good luck, TMF Runkle, in your new home. Both of us have made big moves this month.

Thank you, Motley Fool.

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