The Money Machine
Oh, to have a money machine! Anytime you need cash, you just push a button and voila - instant money. Talk about having enough cash to buy whatever you want - new shoes, clothes, iPods and HD TVs. Expensive restaurants in San Francisco, Broadway shows in New York. Fancy vacations to Greece, Sweden, Samoa, the South Pole (before it melts!) And gifts for everyone!! (Did I mention I'd like a new cycling jersey?)
Heck, in these economic times, a money machine could make the difference between meeting or missing a mortgage payment.
A money machine is a dream that's even better than a money tree. With a money tree, you have to water it, make sure it gets sunlight, protect it from frost, and harvest the bills before they're gobbled up by squirrels and birds. (Or does a money tree grow coins, sort of like cherries and acorns? I forget)
Okay, so I'm making it all up about this money machine. Right? Er... not exactly. I was at the grocery shopping for chicken and dumplings recipe ingredients (and maybe some tequila for my best margarita recipe. Shhh, don't tell..) when I came across a woman with small kids - and they reminded me that the money machine is all too real.
This woman had her kids in a shopping cart, and they were whining for some Starbucks treat. (Whatever happened to sneaking your kid grapes from the produce section? Ah, but I digress...) The two kids were nearing a meltdown - "Mommy! I said I want a cookie and my own milk! Starbucks is right there. Stop the cart NOW and buy it for me NOW." To which the other kid said, "Yeah, me too!"
To her credit, the mom was cool, calm, and collected (she didn't flip out!) She told her complaining steeds: "Mommy doesn't have any money. But look - there's a money machine! Let's put the card in and get some cash"
"Yeah, Mommy!"
The money machine, of course, was an ATM. And all I could think was - don't do it!
Forget that her kids will grow up to be gold diggers and entitled little brats (or maybe even a Tiger Woods affair mistress. Doh!) I didn't want her to magically get money from that machine simply because I'd already lived what she was going through.
Continued on the next page
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