The Life and Times

[photo courtesy malingering]


I am learning some things about Poor.

I am learning that bread is cheaper if you slice it yourself. I am learning that sandwiches are cheaper if you skip the bread entirely. I am learning that I can walk almost anywhere if it means not paying two dollars for the bus. I am learning that picnics are better than restaurants and parks are better than coffeeshops and vodka lasts longer if you mix it with water. I am learning that sometimes you really can show up at someone's house without a bottle of wine. I am learning that the best things in life are free, except for things from Anthropologie, which are not free and which I cannot have. I am learning to not look at the Anthropologie catalog.

And I am learning that no one is too poor to buy ice cream when you are PMS-ing. Especially if it's mint chocolate chip.

I am learning that Poor is not too proud to email her old boss and ask if the new girl quit yet. I am learning that Poor is not too proud to knock on doors and call back twice. I am learning that Poor is not too proud to count out change and cut out coupons and sometimes cry on the phone to the boy she loves because what the fuck am I doing here?

And I am learning that when my favorite boy in the world suggests that, for a romantic date, we do Couples Day Labor at a local meatpacking plant, where we might lose a few fingers, but hey at least it will be memorable-- oh how I will laugh. I will laugh and I will laugh and I will laugh.

And then I will wonder how much it pays.