10. Reality Bites

It would be easy to dislike Jim if he didn’t have that childlike giddiness to him. Anyone who knows him understands what I’m talking about. Beneath the surface of his public persona, he’s every bit a little kid who wants to be liked. His warmth and generosity were treasured occurrences, and when they appeared, animosity magically dissipated into a melting pot of goodwill. I didn’t understand the mood swings at first but when I finally did, it would be with more empathy than acrimony.

I got a call in the middle of the trading day in 2000 when we were actively moving merchandise back and forth, steadily making profits and rewarding our investors. The mood on our desk was intense as the market slid down a slippery slope.

“Hello, ...

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