|
Money can't buy happiness? Okay, prove it.
The firm pays for the bus trip for a staff shopping outing each fall. Since I hate to shop on a budget, I'd never gone before. But this year, I gave in to the urging of friends and hauled myself out of bed at 5:30 on a Saturday morning. While I can now state unequivocally that outlet malls are not my entertainment of choice (no offense to Gurnee Mills), I did come away with a couple thoughts. One new, one recurring. New: Obviously I had to find something to do besides shop all day, so I now know no woman should wait until the age of 46 to experience a manicure and pedicure. They make you feel rich and pampered. Well, actually you would have to be rich and pampered to do that very often. One piece of advice though. Do have shaved your legs within recent history so you won't be mortified when they pull up the legs of your jeans. Recurring: Shopping is good for reminding me that we really do live in a land of plenty. Even on a fairly limited budget, it sometimes hits me with almost the force of a blow (often in Hallmark stores) that I am so lucky to live in a country where the main concern for many is not about where the next meal will come from, but rather, such life-or-death matters as every licensed driver having a car of their own to drive. Another one of those signs of age: Finding it easier to believe those stalwart defenders of our nation roaming the mall were kids in Halloween sailor costumes than the real thing. Fannie May "seconds"? Bizarre concept. But hey, I'm not going to complain about half-price. After all, the idea of lopsided candy with kerwhoppy squiggles on top really, really disturbs me as I bite into those mouthwatering, luscious, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates. I've always been the adventurous type, living life on the edge even while in the womb. Hah! Seeing how much of the nine months I could spend curled up on my right side snoozing could explain all my flaws being on my right side. Three cowlicks; crooked tooth; ear that produces too much wax (you really wanted to know that one, right?), weird little toe; dimple. I think I smooshed my right side. My idea of extreme sports is riding on a double ferris wheel instead of the merry-go-round. I propose there be three new requirements for presidential candidates; to a certain extent for all political candidates in general. #1. No attorneys. In my experience, fairly extensive, they usually think they know a lot more than they do. Masters of obfuscation. #2. Candidate must have had a job outside the political arena for at least ten years prior to running for office. Let them actually experience life as many constituents know it. No professional politicians who decide to "serve their country" the moment they're out of college. And #3, in the case of presidential candidates anyway, rich. But self-made rich, not family money. Let's get someone in there we can hope has experience in running something efficiently. Not just someone filled with high-blown ideas and no clue how to make things happen. Okay, perhaps #3 was a bit facetious. The point I meant to make was electing people who have a proven track record in the practical aspects of making something work--money unfortunately being one of the most easily gauged measures of success. |
