Randy Rich and Ashley Rich

00:02 I am randy rich. I am 53 years old. Today's date is October 12th, 2019 on a Saturday location is Chicago, Illinois.

00:14 And my relationship is with my daughter Ashley rich.

00:21 And I'm Ashley rich I am 28 today's date is Saturday October 12th, 2019. We are in Chicago, Illinois. I am here with Randy Rich who is my father.

00:36 So thanks for coming in with me today. I know I didn't give you any pref, but you're pretty good at weenie things. So I think I asked you here because you did recently celebrated a birthday and I just thought it might be cool to kind of reflect on that and look back at the last 50 plus years and and get your thoughts on what you're looking most forward to coming up. And I think what I want to start with is when I think about you like that the thing that stands out in the thing that has been kind of a thread through my entire life at least is construction work.

01:22 And you clearly have a passion for it. So I just would kind of like to get on record. Like when did you get started? When did you?

01:33 Realize it while this is what I'm supposed to be doing. I didn't realize it till the end of my high school years is doing things that turn things up just to see how they were. I never replace me back together till I got the end and then then once I got

01:54 And actually building things the way they should be I just kind of went off from there and there was just something that's absolutely Taryn cutting into wood and making something out of nothing, but this is just something amazing to me.

02:07 Amazing to me to so something that start me there as you said doing things, right?

02:14 You're definitely a person who throws away the instruction manual not just ignores of it there. Is it away? So when you say doing things right was that you were watching someone do it or someone was teaching you how to do it or not?

02:38 But not to the extent of being taught in school situation is not how I learned. I mean I can read a book all day long and never get it. Right if I go out there and I make mistakes, learn from it and some as simple as I don't want some job sites. I can be at one house and a couple doors down or building. Also. I'm watching them to pick up a new tricks because it's like we made it look so easy and I do it the hard way I think so and that helps me I'm into this makes my job easier makes it

03:12 Things look better. I guess I've always been impressed. I can go visit a place a new house a building and and appreciate it. Pretty or because nice if we could clean but then I go back with you and you're pointing out all of these. Did you see the crown molding or did you see how they finish that trim? And it's just amazing to me. The I think I don't know if this became came before or after you became a builder, but you're like ability to appreciate structure and detail is just something that has always impressed me and I definitely for example and I was in Europe are there so many times and I was like man, I wish my dad was here cuz it's a 10 times or more impressive.

03:58 Why you saying out there? I know it's myself a lot. You're pulling up somewhere and I told different people that I look at a building and I don't look at it from your face value. I'm thinking okay. What material do they use underneath there is something was to give way, you know, I would get into it to replace or fix it. So I'm always looking stuff like that which is which is pretty cool for me.

04:23 I kind of read up traveling and I feel like traveling has been another center point of our family you and Mom have done an awesome job of helping are can I explore the world? I wonder is that something that you've always wanted to do or is that something that sort of evolved you went somewhere one time and realize well, it's kind of cool to explore from mice my family took vacations and absolutely enjoy being away from the everyday normal. We have it. It's kind of a Reviving you awake and watch you everyday and then when you come back, you know it real it's really nice. But then again it did involve, you know, when she was going and see something you kind of see how their people do things and you kind of get interested in that you try to try to feed off of those people.

05:15 And I actually had a conversation with the gentleman I ran into at at airport recently. He was from Australia and he had done a lot of traveling and we're discussing all the different places. We had been and it made me realize how lucky I am. I mean you and Mom have financially made it so that I could really go anywhere I wanted and I know that you don't look at that in any sort of jealous way, but I wonder if you look at that and you would like to visit those places or if seeing me and Erica visit those places, is it enough?

05:53 By far I would just send you you to you and Erica seeing the world. It is such an accomplishment for me. I mean there is places. I would like to go see if I didn't get to do it. I mean, it's not that big of a deal for me, but I think your mother and my both are our happiness is seeing you to thrive and doing the best you can and the amazing grown-ups the group amazing people choose turn out to be there's no other reward than that. I mean it's the best.

06:33 So where are those places that I would like to be that you would like to go? I would like to see Germany and I would like to see Australia.

06:45 The most popular place. I think I'd like to see most intriguing as you know, I absolutely love the history of World War II and so much stuff that's happened in Germany or in Europe. And there's so many things that can be seen, you know, and a surrounding countries is really where most of that has happened and that's so much history and that's what I look at today. I mean so much of a history is it not even being studied and that almost scares me, you know for sure and it's a totally different feeling in those countries, right? Because there are structures there that existed before our country was founded and so it's it's not even two hundred years ago. It's like thousands of years ago and where they build things

07:45 In your contract I said no. No I said that the people live by hand hand saws and Hammers and those people are they actual Carpenter? They can really make things look amazing. And yeah.

08:00 I think I'm going to ask you I look back and I'll ask your mom. And your she always tells me different things. But I say when I look at you girls and I think I feel like I was part of your life a lot. But then I look back against like my gosh. I miss so much stuff. As you guys are growing up didn't did you ever feel that? There was times that wow, that's not here or something like that. I know I don't know and I mean as you say that I try to think about was there a time when I was like, oh, I wish my dad would have seen that and I'm sure there were some high school basketball games or something that you didn't come to but I mean, I probably wouldn't come and watch myself play high school. So I'm sure that there's no

08:50 Memory I have

08:53 That something important happens that you weren't there and I think even if there was a time when you weren't physically there, I think I've always known that you're emotionally invested in me. And so

09:08 Yeah, I honestly can't think of a time when I was when you weren't there.

09:15 You're the worst time to just be like there's going to be times. I made a stand and I'm so far from where you started out to learning. Which absolute was your mother getting you this place. As you are. I might have thrown a few few different ties to help to ground you a little bit like they got you excited, but I think also

09:44 You you say how far are Kate and I have come but it's it's interesting to me that you look at it that way because I I turn around and look at I haven't done anything compared to what you and Mom have done maybe on paper like maybe I have an extra degree or some extra letters behind my name, but when I look at sort of how you guys have transformed your life, especially financially, I think that that leap is just something that I don't even have to worry about making now because you made that leap

10:21 So I think it's an interesting perspective that you would look at Erica and I is doing all of these things and then I would have this list of things that you and Mom did that is I would say equally long.

10:33 I suppose we would yes, but then again, I guess when you live at a testing different, you know, not a lot. I mean just because you can do something to me nothing. I was like, you know how well I got this here to do this. I enjoy doing this as much as anything and wish mine was playing outside doing crazy things a boy would do and then and then as far as you know, trying to transition financially gal everybody wants to get ahead and then

11:05 Not single ever got to a point that I was way ahead. But then when you get so far, do you think it's really not worth it to me anymore? Cuz like yeah, I look back and say once we got each other that's that's that's the whole thing for us.

11:28 So

11:30 I think another thing that I'd really like to have on record of us talking about is our faith because you're when I think about my spiritual journey, I certainly look to you as one of the one of the rocks that has always been there for me spiritually and I guess I just kind of like your thoughts son.

11:56 When when you started your faith Journey?

12:02 When I started like I said when I was young I did a lot of wild things and then I actually publicized around 9 or 10. I went to a it's like a Christian Youth Group Bible school, I guess is what it was and knew nothing about religion. Nothing about God and has not had been at church but it really didn't mean anything to me then and it started their you know, what they do have some questions and then as the years went by the time I got the high school, you know, something was kind of poking out my and something just was missing and then my strengths of my face is so strong. God put a you say it was a young pastor at the time in my life and the more we study together and then God took over so from a young Li Age release 1718

13:02 The answer for there for me since then. It's been a fight everyday.

13:08 I go one way and he'll pull by akan and vice versa and but he's going on. I know he never gives up on me and that makes it so strong and and it's just a feeling as you know, you don't want once you become saved. It's just I don't know how the people does not save can even get up in the morning and walk outside. It's if it's that means that much to me.

13:32 And so

13:35 Us

13:37 Coming to the face early in your life. Do you think that

13:43 How did that influence how you raised your kids completely knowing right from wrong and doing right? It made it easier. What's people around me? You know because they might do not do the same thing as we was when you guys were young and which I'm a strong believer in the young girl that you teach people at least show them correct way the more they're going to follow that and even if they won't fall it right thing and then met 10 years 15 18 years down the road. They remember something and it's missing and it's always right there and it'll come back.

14:30 Yeah, that's my hope with Sunday school, right? They sure like to be Rowdy and act like they're not paying attention. But like you say, yeah, it could just be that one day that one kid and then it's all worth it for sure. Absolutely at that time. We'll touch Harvest out there a big Harvest.

14:59 So

15:00 I know that the church that I have joined here in Chicago is quite different than the church's I grew up in and I guess I would do it. I wonder what your thoughts are to you. What is the biggest difference or differences that you see?

15:20 Between the two styles of church and one things to do for me simply cuz I come for my you know, what country is is so much more diversity, which I truly thinks amazing, you know, we first come up here. I thought now that's just great but you being a college Church you had

15:42 Every different person there and I thought that was pretty amazing and how God can draw everybody together and you basically have you know,

15:57 One eyed person that said today.

16:12 I don't think get tough enough, you know showing people what really is going on. What's really going to come down the pipe or one of these days and I figure that so many people are are going to be left out. So there's not enough fire and brimstone is not near enough fire and brimstone good old-fashioned Revival said that I'm here to scare the hell out of you.

16:43 So you do bring up this idea of diversity and and I think that speaks to another.

16:50 Send like to talk about which is I've been in Chicago for a while now and this kind of Feels Like Home to me in some ways, but I wonder how you felt when I first told you that I was going to move to Chicago.

17:05 I think the first thing was why he would visit there before and beautiful town. We will City, you know, we didn't want to come in here and it's big, you know, I'm being my daughter that makes it even tougher, you know, not knowing what's on the outside world your four hours away from me hard for me to protect you from down there. So very very scary and definitely FaceTime in there knowing that he was going to protect you or do what was right and two different worlds, Illinois town to Chicago. Yeah, that's just like and day between them. What would you say one or two or three things that maybe you changed your opinion ever change the way you look at it after cuz you visited Chicago several times now and you stayed with me in my apartment Hyde Park. So it's you realize that it is Chicago is not just Michigan Avenue.

18:05 So yeah, what what are some things that maybe now you would you could look back and tell yourself? I know you don't have to worry about that or this is going to be way different than what you think. It's going to be just amazing love Community. I mean, I would have never guessed that so many diverse people could live in one area and get along. I mean no matter where you're at. I don't care what part of the worlds are in you're always going to have bad and good but the good way out ways of a half and Hyde Park. It's just it's just a great community. And you know, I thought I would never find any place in Chicago that I would say was a good place to be I stand corrected there. So,

18:48 And I do like the idea, you know the first thing you think of when you think Chicago or a big city no matter where might be is, you know, the big fancy lights and everything when you get right down to it should be there whenever I went on a mission trip down in a hundred 11th Street, you know that open your eyes and just from a few streets in the city, you know, people are really struggling compared to you know, you get up towards Michigan Avenue and no doubt, they're struggling but they they got some money work which makes it look like they're not I would say for me that is a big

19:27 Sing I've learned having lived here for a while is that it Chicago is the city of neighborhoods and that it's it's not all it's definitely not what we see on the news, right? It's so much more complexity in good ways. You know, there's a lot of compassion a lot of neighborly affection more than

19:52 Five or six little towns is close together East little town in a small are in the small part of the state is completely different Southside in another town and sometimes in the same part of the little in a little town where you're at Earl Hindman.

20:19 So I said I kind of wanted to reflect on your life.

20:24 Now that it's over but looking back. What are you what are you say, you know a memory or two that just really stands out for you either from your childhood or from Erica nice childhood.

20:43 Looking back

20:49 My childhood, I didn't know most of what I wanted to I did have a lot of supervision and I think that helped me become where I am.

21:07 I'm lost right now. You guys taught me you open my mind you open my thoughts. I live in a small town my tire life. That's why I use a small town, you know, if we visit a city or something. It was a visit when I let you guys when I finally decide okay, you know, you guys got to go to college and stuff and you need just like some of the songs that you guys were the other women in my world there. I never looked at the world. Like I didn't tell you did that you guys actually went to college started going to different countries and stuff that we can afford to send you to I think that was a great achievement my life. I think that was one of the better things

21:55 It really stands out in my life. It's his because I was so sheltered. I guess to the world. I must say and once you guys up my my eyes, you know, then after you started going where you was and got your own life. Then I got to thinking we'll make that wasn't a good thing to do because now you're not around anymore, so you're not next door.

22:22 So I guess then looking for it one thing that is coming up is that Angie and I are getting married next summer and you've already done that once with Erica, but I guess as you think about it are there.

22:40 Other aspects of my wedding or of giving me away that you think are going to be different then on Erica's wedding day.

22:51 I like to thank

22:53 That listen to be a lot easier, but I know from just letting you go to college. So then Erica going to college it's tough, even though we depart, you know, you live 4 hours difference. No doubt feel like a part of me a part of you. I'm giving away and be unique in some way it sits.

23:22 It's going to be great different it once that's once it's finally knows him. Then you are a you're the same person, but you're also a different person.

23:33 So along those lines you and Mom were married really young and

23:39 I've definitely taken. I'm not old by any means but I certainly have waited a lot longer to get married and I wonder how you look at that if what what your thoughts are on that.

23:54 I did over again. I would get married young again and was a big things is I was young when you girls are young. I was a lot more energetic.

24:08 The older you get the less you can do to so make that a group with you to show you what not to do. How much do grown up along with you wouldn't change it for the world.

24:32 Cuz it's there again, you know God and Faith cuz he's the one who gives his life and we wouldn't be where we are today. So I think about a lot I am still happy with my choices to wait on marriage and wait on children, but I do look back Barry finally with the fact that

24:56 There is never a time when are car I wanted to do something and you and Mom were like, okay you can do it, but I can't and that usually it was like Mom. Is it my turn yet or that Dad. Can I have a 2 so yeah, I think that was a really cool part of our family Dynamic and that was a fun way to grow up and fortunately neither Andrew nor myself has as physically intense jobs as you and Mom have had so hopefully our bodies will age, you know a little bit slower. But yeah, that's definitely a cool part of our childhood.

25:42 So you

25:44 You were talking about how earlier?

25:48 You don't like to read books. You don't like to learn in the classroom setting.

25:52 But I've always found that an interesting statement. I fully believe you that you don't like classrooms, but I really don't believe you that you don't like to learn because

26:04 I have always felt like I I know that Mom was the one who made sure her homework was done and helped us out when we got into trouble with with needing help with math or reading.

26:18 But I've always felt like I learned how to be excited about learning from you.

26:23 And so I just I guess I wonder why you why you think that you aren't meant to learn or you aren't meant for school.

26:33 I guess cuz for me to learn is kind of Hands-On. I mean I got a messed up and I can have some guidelines no doubt, but

26:45 He wants a guidelines gone. That's like, you know when you get we got a new toy for you girls for Christmas or something. It's like okay, I need instructions now cuz I don't I can't put it together. You know, we're halfway there and something's going wrong. I need I need to know why I can figure it out on my own but that maybe you're a little too independent for school is out reason. It's possible, you know, I can feel feel feel their Calibre and

27:26 I like to say, you know coming up from really not having anything. It's a whole different person then you know, you're you're the way you think it's different even though you are around other people that you think it's got everything together. It is still it's still in your mind. And I think I had a lot to do a school why you know, I held back but still too young to and I only way too young when I started and we could help me back three or four years and maybe I'd have been more energetic school. Oh, I wish I would have gone to college or I wish I would have studied this thing.

28:08 Maybe early I think I might I wish I would have gone to college looking back. Absolutely not I mean anything good. I absolutely adore of doing that just went off my Elias Diaz.

28:22 Really other than just learning from someone that had that knowledge on the job site. So I truly think whatever your passion is as you just need to chase that you can pull some stuff in from from the other parts the other

28:41 Jobs careers, but once you get a career you love it's you just want to know everything about it and I never come so easy to you and if it's easy to learn what you want you love what you're doing.

28:56 So one thing that you have I feel like learned.

29:01 Sort of later on in life is your business skills.

29:09 I've always been impressed. I mean you have owned many small businesses and I've always been impressed with how well you seem to run them and I guess my question is is this something that just came natural to you?

29:28 Your business smarts, I guess or is this something that you would say? Oh, you might think that I'm doing good, but I don't really know what I'm doing, but their Union what comes the money but that's what my downfalls, you know, I like have money and but I learned along the way I absolutely knew nothing about managing money, you know building houses. One thing only the Hardware's different. You know, what you got a pre buy stuff where you know, you don't already have a house that you're not building, but you do have

30:06 In the say a retail shop a business and you can look ahead and you gotta be able to buy things at a bargain. I know you may have to buy it in bulk instead of 10 by 100. Make that extra $0.02 and Link the bike.

30:24 He is always learn from experience on myself, and I'm never

30:30 I never like to feed get me down. It's like it if if I Was Defeated you want to stand up and I didn't think I could accomplish it. I'd walk away from I'd go do something else. You know, I knew I couldn't handle that so I could go do something that that could be productive and I think we're at 5 to go there. Okay.

30:51 And

30:53 Erica and I at least when we were starting out in school neither of us showed a whole lot of lean towards.

31:01 Business or running their own businesses. Is that something that you were happy about or or did you

31:12 I think maybe you guys should have spent a little bit more time thinking about these sort of entrepreneurial things in case you might need them later. I knew early on that. I wasn't going to have a extra hand on the building through the back to get my business.

31:33 Yes, definitely and and I think I've said it to both of you before right no matter where you go in life. I truly think that's the one thing.

31:42 Weather be a junior college of somewhere as they get some sort of business because that's what country is built on and I mean that's that's what makes us country Drive. The big businesses are one thing but each to us each one of us needs to know how to manage money as far as business goes because there's so many opportunities out there. Whatever your passion is, you can turn into a busy and you don't have to learn the hard way. Like I did, you know where it took me 10 years to figure out how to save any money in a business, you know, you've already got some of the Stepping Stones building blocks party behind you in a year year-and-a-half and so definitely know even now, you know, you're about ready to get your PhD.

32:31 Yeah.

32:34 So in the last few minutes, I I'll switch gears a little bit.

32:39 And we don't have to talk specifics. But one thing I've always admired about our relationship is the way we can discuss just about anything and we can be completely and disagreement with one another but I think we always can end a discussion respectfully and I think

33:04 Politics especially we have very different beliefs, but my perception has always been

33:14 You're the person I want to talk to you about these things because you changed my mind about these things more than anyone and if you don't change my mind you at least open my mind. So I guess I'm wondering what how you look at those conversations. If you have a similar experience, when when we're having these discussions are or how you feel when you walk away from one of these talks where we've both just said completely different things to each other. Yeah, your mom didn't give you mine and you know how open-minded I tried always be and you definitely do so many things you change my mind on some of the things, you know, I'm old school. I'll never be changed on what I think is coming down the pipe, you know, and you you got optimism and I

34:13 That's great because somebody has to have but there's only things you know that to happen will ever get together on on those and but would you discuss it with my mind and it gives me another Angel to look at which before we talk like that. I never did that. You know, I I basically did it my way and I have my own opinion and if I didn't know the answer I made myself a scientist I get in trouble for making pizza, and I don't hold me accountable today.

35:00 Where do you see yourself in another 10 years question, it's funny because I'm a planner but when I look for it in 10 years, I really I don't know. I think I'm at a point right now where I'm very open to teaching. I'm very open to research and I'm just trying to

35:29 To listen and see where I'm supposed to be and where my

35:35 Skills are most useful.

35:39 Yeah, I think in the immediate future I'll I'll do a post-doctoral research position and

35:47 I'll just

35:49 My plan is to be very active about what I enjoy about that and what I don't so if I decide that I'm much happier in the classroom. I'll look for a jobs where I'm a teacher and if I decide that I really am good at benchwork. I'll pursue careers as a scientist but I think for my own peace of mind, I just have to realize that it doesn't actually matter. There's no right answer. I guess it doesn't matter but there's no right answer so I should just be honest with myself about what I enjoy and also

36:25 Listening to where I'm supposed to be.

36:30 Was that a mine on record? I would like to say that don't be afraid to step out of the box. So don't research it to death and make sure that's right thing. Try it on your face a lot and who knows it's a big world. There's a lot of stuff out there that you do not even seen yet. Don't be afraid to fail no matter what you do.

36:59 All right. Well, I want to thank you for agreeing to do this with me and I didn't really give you a choice but to offer days which we do.

37:18 I've always tried to be right then we quit.