What about those pink cases with tools that have pink handles? I saw them on display at maybe it was the Cincinnati airport. I cant remember. Im on the road so much.
Yes, Ive seen those. For Aunt Tally we should have blood red.
Flo laughed. But theyre expensive, depending on how many tools one purchases. Lets keep that idea in reserve. Perhaps we could negotiate with the firm to actually make a set in William Woods colors and sell them in the Logo store. The Logo store makes a valuable contribution to the budget.
Yes, it does. Liz had pored over the alumnae fund accounting returns to double-check them. The Fulton accounting firm did a good job. Shed never found anything to send up a red flag.
All members of alumnae and alumni associations in universities took their fiduciary responsibilities seriously, which began with understanding the income, cash flow, and running costs of the university. They all faced the age-old problem of when debt was useful and when it was not. In one sense, debt was a multiplier of wealth. In another it could break you in two. Debt, if acquired wisely, could allow a college or business to purchase equipment, which would save man-hours and build new, energy-efficient buildings. The truth was in figuring out debt-to-asset ratios and when the debt could successfully be repaid. The alumnae boards recommendations to the administration were held in high regard. One reason was that Flo had proved prescient about the economy over the decades.
I want to encourage you. Flos melodic voice was soothing. I just dont think T-shirts are the answer. Many of the alums being brought in will be eighty or older, some of them on a fixed income. Fortunately, thats a small number. Most are solvent. Still, I dont think we should tempt them. The money can come from younger alumnae who will also be attendingthe strong economic base. They, too, want more than a T-shirt.
Aunt Tally loves horses.
And horses are a big part of William Woods, but not every graduate avails herself or himself of the program. Course, the over-eighties are all women. Some actually majored in history. Flo laughed.
She likes to garden.
Hmm. Even a lady of advanced years can pot a plant. I think youve got it. Gloves in one of our colors, with perhaps Tallys birthdate imprinted: March twenty-fifth, 1909. Ill pay for the over-eighty crowd. Each of those women should have a gift.
Thats wonderful. Ill get right on it. Liz paused. Would you like me to clear it with Mariah?
Certainly not. Ill call her.
Flo and Mariah DAngelo had graduated in 1974 and both majored in economics. They cordially loathed each other; always had. Mariah headed the Kansas City chapter, St. Louiss great Missouri urban rival. Both women displayed brilliance and a certain cunning allied with good looks. Both married well in money terms, but in emotional terms it was anybodys guess. But as their husbands were fifty-eight and sixty, respectively, whatever straying they may have done in the past would have been curtailed by the usual lessening of ability in that crucial area of male anatomy.
In their junior years, both Flo and Mariah fell in love with a student, Dick Langston, at Westminster College, the then all-male school across town. Flo married him. Mariah eventually retaliated by marrying the head of a huge construction firm, a man much richer than Dick Langston. He was on the road a great deal, visiting sites. That suited Mariah just fine.
Flo, in one of her typical farsighted moves, bought a ton of stock in the company that would eventually manufacture Viagra. Despite the New Depression, sales kept growing. Plus, her husband benefited from it, so she did, too. She kept this to herself.
She is our treasurer. Liz dug the hole deeper, reminding Flo of why she considered Liz a pest, albeit a brilliant one.
Shes very competent at that. Flo gave credit where credit was due.
I keep meaning to tell you, you were right all along about complex derivatives. I should have listened.
Liz, if I couldnt fully understand complex derivatives, then no one could. I know that sounds arrogant, but there isnt a financial instrument I dont understand. It was all smoke and mirrors. You have got to realizeand I dont know when you willthat the market is not driven by intelligence. In a sense it isnt even driven by greed. Its driven by the male ego. And theyre sheep. Being a woman is a tremendous advantage, because we know when the emperor has no clothes.
A long, mournful pause followed. I know it now.
Are you and Tim in danger? She mentioned Lizs husband.
Things are bad all over, but were hanging in there.
All over, Flo said flatly. Indeed they are.
When do you think it will end? You know, when will the market come back up?
Flo sucked air in through her teeth. I dont know, but it wont be back up when the government predicts it will. I think two more years.
Gawd, Liz moaned. Two years.
Give or take. Flo didnt feel like hearing Liz weep and wail, if she was headed that way. Youve come up with some good products. Youll be fine.
Liz replied, Im learning a lot. Guess we all are. Ive learned a lot from you. Tim, too. We see things for the first time. Youve seen it all before. Helps me put things in perspective.
What Liz never mentioned to Flo or anyone was that one reason their company grew so rapidly was Tims selling skills. Hed learned by selling lemonade as a little kid, then graduated to a newspaper route. In college he sold marijuana and cocaine, investing the proceeds. Like Liz, he worked for a large brokerage firm and soaked up everything. The investments from his college business funded the start of their own brokerage company. Tims selling skills were complemented by Lizs keen judgment on rising and falling companies. Her management abilities completed the picture.
Flo, after thanking Liz for the compliment, then changed the subject. You know, I think of this often. Our alma mater is better managed than most government agencies. And we should thank our lucky stars that Kenneth Lay was not a graduate.
At this they both laughed, for Kenneth Lay, the now deceased head of Enron, had graduated from the University of Missouri, a wonderful state university. Unfortunately for Mizzou, he promised them millions. They based their budget on it and then he bellied up. Mizzou would pull through. But the crisis caused pain that would continue for some years.
When are you arriving? Liz asked.
In time for our first meeting. Its not that far a drivetwo hours
from where we livebut I think Ill come the night before. I hate worrying about time. Gayle Lampe lives on campus, and Ill bunk with her.
Gayle Lampe had been head of Equestrian Studies and had written a book that was the successor to Helen Crabtrees text about Saddle Seat. As Miss Crabtree was the leading light of this type of riding, this was no mean feat.
Youll have a good time. Im coming in a day early, too. Tim wants to be there. Well stay at the bed-and-breakfast.
Be good to see him.
Tim wants to celebrate Tallys big day, and we arent far from her orbit.
Honey, none of us is.
With that, Flo signed off, then dialed Mariah. Flo operated on the theory that if you kiss a toad first thing in the morning, nothing after that kiss will be as offensive. Although it was midday, she considered any contact with Mariah contact with a toad. She laughed to herself that comparing Mariah to a toad was an insult to the toad.
Mariah, Flo here.
The sandpaper voice, deepened with years of assistance from Lucky Strikes and good bourbon, responded, Yes, Flo, what can I do for you?
Liz Filmore has come up with the idea of getting garden gloves imprinted with Tally Urquharts birthday.