Bang for Your Buck posted 10/17/2009 11:34:19 AM | 10 kudos what's this?     report abuse

ColdinWisconsin

In this economy we are all looking for more bang for our buck, but in reality, I think our personal lives go through these recessions as well. There comes a time to reevaluate if the investment you have made in someone produce's dividends or if it's time to cash out.

Whew! I can practically hear people getting riled up here...but hear me out.

I believe in the simple things in life and pinch pennies wherever I can. Having said that, you couldn't pry my "shout" stain stick out of my cold dead hands. My Tide either. Outrageously expensive, both products consistently provide me the most bang for my buck and double their value by not only cleaning my clothes well, but they don't come out all nubbly and looking like an old cat bed. But...I buy cheap hamburger and drain off the extra fat. It's just going in chili and such anyway...few of us can afford a meal which is mostly meat.

We all try things out and in the end choose whether something is worth the effort we put into it. We are working for this ching after all.

It's no secret that in this small town we are battling H1N1 virus. Over 37% of our school population down and the doctors telling us to Please....don't come into the clinics! We find that during this plague we again rely on each other. It's the ties that bind small communities and groups of women get together and make pots of soup and distribute it to homes. The men are frantically out trying to mow lawns between frosts and rain for their neighbors.

My home was hit as well and I find myself battling it too. As I lay on the couch last night moaning on the phone with a co-worker who has quarantined herself in the basement so as to not infect her family, we realized that we rely on each other to a very large extent. She moans that all she wants is my chicken enchiladas. I whimper that all I want is some of her homemade apple cider. Gallons of it. I'm so freaking thirsty.

Once we got off the phone commiserating with each other, I really thought about our friendship. It's lasted since the day we first met...about 11 years. I don't know who made the first overture, but I do know that the reason we are so close is our value systems.

They are not the same.

She is sick. She should probably be eating/drinking chicken soup. And more than likely someone will make it for her and try to slide it under the basement door while she is sleeping. But here is the thing, I know she loves those fookin' enchilada's and if I could stand for more than 10 minutes without falling over, it is that that I would make for her. Why? Because it is what SHE wants and likes. I love this woman, and if you really love someone, there are times that what YOU want have nothing to do with things.

My sister, she abhors soda waste. A kid walks through her door and they are promptly handed a plastic cup with their name on it. You are thirsty? Go find you own stinking cup. Personally, I'm not all that thrilled about her obsessive tradition, but God Dammit, it's important to her. Who am I to place a value on what should be important to her? I love her, therefore I honor her choice.

Sure, selfishness is the flip side of this coin. At least you could look at it this way. Here in Wisconsin we are in the throes of our wet, cold and miserable season. I myself just got new carpeting and frankly, it may be the first and only time in my life I get it. Please take your shoes off at the front door. The way I see it, you will get the full effect of this chuck of fluffy heaven by really getting a chance to dig your toes in.

I had a friend who laughed at me and walked right up my stairs in their wet muddy shoes. Why? Because it would get dirty eventually they said. And right there I saw the value I got in return for my friendship. Some people can only see the value in what is important to them.

I guess in a way I see it as the highest form of disrespect. To know what is important to someone and refuse to give it to them. To belittle what they find important in their lives. The things they have invested in. Vested themselves in.

My sister...the cup labeler...she's dropping off a package of boneless skinless chicken breasts for me today. So I can make those enchilada's dontcha know. I've GOT chicken soup in the freezer, but I love that gal and she's gonna get that spicy, messy pan if it's the last thing I do today. And I'll just bet you 50 bucks she has her husband drop off TWO gallons of apple cider outside my door.

My boss, after working a 16 hour day drove the opposite way from his house to drop off my daughters homework because he knew it was important to both me and her. A small gesture you might think but it was huge to me. It was a thank you for the last 10 years of being there when he needed me. It wasn't flowers or a gift certificate, it was simply what we wanted and needed. What held value to us. And he with his tired and stressed out life took the time to do it. Yes I value that man.

In large and small ways, each and every day we show each other how much we value each other. We really do.

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