Thursday, September 15, 2005

flawed capitalist

My world view has received quite a jolt today. Friends jokingly refer to me as a primo Capitalist, since I am firmly of the belief that money, while it may not be able to buy happiness, can buy the most remarkably fulfilling substitutes. It was with this in mind that I figured what my mum needed after her stint in the hospital was a shiny new cell phone (spreading the gadget-love) to replace her ancient (and very solid) AMPS Nokia set. I would post a photo but I think Nokia have viewed it as an embarrassing throwback to the dark ages of AMPS and have swept the model under the rug like an embarrassing old relative. Anyhow, a shiny, sparkly new phone would cheer mum right up, thought I, and eagerly awaited payday when I could finally present my mum with said new phone. Today, at last, I got my much awaited moolah, and pranced about like a delirious pixie and harassed every cell phone dealer within a five mile radius of my home with ominous threats if they didn't get me a good deal. All was set.

This morning, though, mum sits me down and informs us all that she will be leaving next month to her sister's place in the US to put her name down for a liver transplant. She may be a while, since obviously US-nationals would be favored first if a liver were to become available. In the meantime, she would take my little sister along, as she was between educational institutions at the moment, having recently graduated.

Undeterred, I plowed on, of course she would need a cell phone in the states as well! I asked several family members who told me in no uncertain terms that a new cell phone was probably very low on her list of priorities right now. In a cleverly covert manner, I asked my mum if she wanted a new cell phone. The answer was no, beta, but it's sweet of your to want to get me something.

Brilliant. I spent the rest of the day walking about kicking dustbins with my paycheck in my pocket. What the hell do I do with the money now? It then occurred to me that all those ridiculously philanthropic sayings about how money only has as much value as what you can buy for others with it were not so cliche after all.

And so, here I stand, world view in ruins and with money to spare. I am now convinced this will be my double edged sword: getting tons of money and having nobody to spend it on. And you think God doesn't have a wickedly ironic sense of humor.

Misha at Thursday, September 15, 2005

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