You know, this is what's so sad about our economic times. People are down on their luck all over this country, and instead of focusing on the important things--helping each other, working for a better life, finding your way--we have this tendency to want to label ourselves. Poor people, they look at these rich guys and say, aw, they're rich, who cares about them and if they lose some money. They don't think about how they're hurting, too. They're hurting, just like anybody else is hurting. We're all human, because we all hurt. We need to be inspired by them. We need to be able to be inspired by each other.

I mean, I'm not some billionaire right now, don't get me wrong. But I've come a long way. I mean, I used to play these tiny back-bar gigs at night for some money and then work all day on the docks. And then...man. I remember when the union went on strike. Talk about being down on my luck. Talk about living it tough. And my girl, Gina? The only job she could find was working the diner all day. She'd bring home her pay because she loved me. But it wasn't enough. And I'd get frustrated, you know? But she always said that we had to hold on to what we had. That it didn't make a difference if we made it or not, as long as we had each other. And you know, when you're down like that, having each other...that's a lot.

And it's true, what they say...things are always darkest just before the dawn. Things got so bad during that union strike that I had to put my six string in hock. No more playing for me, no more extra money. And I'll tell you what--that put an end to my tough talking. Gina, she was even dreaming about running away. She'd cry, sometimes, at night, and all I could do was hold her and whisper that it would be OK. Promise her that it would be OK, someday.

And you know what? It all worked out. Selling my guitar made me realize that I needed to focus on getting a real career. On going back to school. Gina opened a salon for wayward girls. And little by little, we started to make it. Sure, we're not sitting in some billionaire's club right now, we're not living the super-rich life, but you know something? We're probably about halfway there. And I think someday we'll make it. I swear.