Keeping up with the Joneses

This will sound judgmental, but all of the Jones' are not related. So you can choose which ones you chase.

1. At one point, I would have said, try to keep up with Marion Jones. Now, with new information, I say, "Do not chase her." Apparently, she was on "the clear" and involved in a check fraud scam. Now she is broke, and going to serve time in jail. SIDEBAR: She cried, and nothing happened except the news noted that she cried. END SIDEBAR: What is this lesson? Don't lie when you are recorded and documents are around. Have integrity. Now she isn't even going to be remembered as the one who had the medals. She is erased from the books! I hope they have pictures. I pray for her young children and that in the 6 months and 400 hours of community service that she finds peace and opportunity to change history again.
   
2. Michael Vick is not a Jones, but you know how when people make it big, they get adopted into your family until they do something stupid. Then you don't claim them anymore. What is the lesson learned from this? If you are making millions of dollars, do not bankroll illegal things that white people care about...especially if you are on camera on a regular basis. Also, do longevity assessments of your friends. Did you meet them before or after you went to VT? I am praying for him and his family because I don't think his mistake should have cost him his career. Others have murdered wives and run away to be caught in a trunk. (If you can't figure out which one this is, this should tell you something.)

Was all of this decision-making because it looked like the Joneses had things that they didn't, and they were trying to get them? When is enough money, fame, fanfare, etc. enough? We are all watching them learn that freedom is priceless, and even if they had bank, they couldn't buy it.

I know some Joneses. I am a Jones. It's fun. About half of the time. The other half of the time, there are people chasing you and you don't know why. I am not even close to the finish line.