May 2009
President’s Podium
A couple of weeks ago, I attended a “Gold Party” at Alice Naudus’s house. Apparently, at this type of party, you come bearing all your unwanted, broken, mismatched gold and a professional is prepared to hand you it’s current market value in cash. Even though I was skeptical, I fingered through my jewelry box to take an inventory. After about 15 minutes of sorting and untangling, I realized that, aside from the same few pieces I wear over and over again…the rest of it, to me, was just “stuff”. So I put it in a bag and toted it over to Alice’s to see what this man would offer. At the night’s end, I was delighted to scurry back to my car with a small fortune.
Driving home I thought of all of the many different ways I might spend this new-found money. It would be really practical and responsible of me to put it towards the boys’ tuition next year or for dorm-room furniture Meg may need for college in the Fall. Within seconds my mind quickly drifted to something more self indulging. Maybe a new patio set, or a sectional for the family room. Hmmm...how about airfare to Disney and park tickets for five? Massages and facials-a-plenty sounds just lovely, and the rest could go to dinners out with Kevin. I finally rested contentedly on the decision to just to put it in the bank and forget about it; after all in this economy, financial cushions are becoming non-existent to most. When I arrived home, I was absolutely shocked at my husband’s sincere encouragement to spend it on whatever my heart wished. “Go ’head, MG! Treat yourself to something!”
Today, as I still try to decide what to do with my stash o’money, it inevitably has begun to deplete in little stops and starts. $150 went to the gardener for a Spring clean-up. $279 went to Amazon.com for a double decker rabbit hutch. $120 to Applebees for a family night out. $65 to Atlantic Nursery for pansies, seed and a birdfeeder. $50 extra was tagged onto my weekly grocery allowance for a worry-free spree at Stop N Shop. I finally said to myself, “STOP MG! Save the rest for something big, something meaningful, something like new blinds and curtains for the living room or a covered glider for the deck.” As the visions of sugarplums once again began dancing in my head, I suddenly remembered that while spending some money and acquiring new things can be fun and somewhat satisfying – all that glitters is not gold. “Things” and the joy attached to them is always fleeting; the fun and satisfaction inevitably temporary.
Here I am, smiling at this big loop called life. We learn, we run, we stumble; we learn, we run, we stumble. Here, I’ve rediscovered the profound but simple notion that lasting and fullness of joy comes from the non-monetary. Deep routed serenity, peace and joy come from things like faith and hope and love, our family and our children.
So while I may have great fun spending some money on a new master bed, a shed for my yard or on artwork for my empty walls…the lesson I’ve learned here is like the old MasterCard commercial: PRICELESS.
Our Babies Made Us Friends,
Mary Grace Roach
President, NCMOTC