A thrift store in Carmel had a half-off sale yesterday and today. I paid cash for my stack of books at the book store.
I mentioned that cash is important, especially for people who don’t have bank accounts or credit cards.
“Without cash, what would those people do?” I commented.
“Those people always find a way to get their money,” the woman behind the desk said.
Wow. That wasn’t what I was saying at all. She was obviously a Republican. I looked around. Of course she is. I am in Carmel.
My circle or circles of friends are mostly writers, teachers, and Democrats. We are used to sharing stories of empathy, and having concern for immigrants, poor people, indigenous people, people who haven’t had the fortune we have had, or the generational wealth, etc.
I was married to a Republican, but he had no generational wealth handed to him. His mom was a single parent and a teacher. He had a high-powered rain-maker job, so he fell in line and became a conservative.
I was raised in a blue-collar household, also with no generational wealth, but I’m good at saving and living on the cheap. My mom cut coupons out of the newspaper, and I started shopping in thrift stores in high school.
My first year of teaching I earned $8600 for the entire year. But my rent was $62.50 a month, my car cost $3000, and my job included health benefits. I bought my own house at 28 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Today was the day we were supposed to boycott chain stores and credit cards. I got my cash yesterday and had my plan for the day – only shopping at small businesses and paying cash for everything. But my favorite thrift store was closed, and the restaurant where I was going to get a gift certificate and a beet salad was also closed. Then I noticed that other small shops were closed as well. How could I shop local and small if the stores weren’t open?
Then the nightly news showed Donald Trump arguing and talking over Vladamir Zelensky and actually kicking him out of the White House as the rest of the world watched in horror (except Russia).
Life is insane sometimes. Echoes of the pandemic today, and by the way, the Bird Flu may be our next pandemic. Birds have sickened cows, cats, and some dairy farmers. Once the virus goes from human to human, we are all screwed.
Buy those N-95 masks, folks, just in case.
I hope you have enjoyed this cheerful post.
FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER! 