It's really funny how everyone uses the same joke to make themselves feel better in a nudge-nudge kind of way. It may start differently, but it always ends the same: "Well, maybe I'll win the lottery! Har dee har har!" What's sad is, obviously we're not joking. Everyone's lives would be different with money. Whoever said "money can't buy happiness" is a complete idiot. If I had money, I'd be the happiest person on the planet, because I wouldn't have to worry. Worrying is what gets me down. Worrying leads to stress, which leads to anxiety, which leads to emotional breakdowns.
Imagine, if you will, that you were a celebrity. Not a crazy celebrity, like Britney Spears. Just a normal, Liam Neeson-like celebrity. One who is famous, but not for having emotional meltdowns. Rich enough to be set for life, but not in rehab for the 6th time. Imagine being able to buy whatever car you wanted, whether it be a BMW (are those the really expensive ones?) or a Ford Escape. Think of how amazing it would be to scoff at your electric bill. Going out to dinner with friends 3 times a week? No problem - drinks on me!
Now imagine a normal person. Think of how they scrape together pennies every week to be able to pay for groceries. Imagine not knowing how you're going to make it through the cold months when you can't afford the gas bill. What would happen should you get sick, or you got laid off, or your car broke down? I don't mean people who are drains to the system - I mean honest, hard working people who can barely make ends meet and can't afford the decent things in life, let alone the finer ones. I mean the people who have the best intentions, but whose luck just isn't as good as others.
What those people wouldn't give to have money. And I'm not talking about Tom Hanks money. $5000 would change these people's lives. They could stretch two grand for months. They know the true meaning of budgeting - unlike Lindsay Lohan, who can go on a day-trip to Forever 21 and blow $250 on socks. Seriously. Can you imagine? It's sad, really.
I've always wished for a world where money wouldn't make you or break you. I've longed for a life where I wouldn't have to worry about my next electric bill payment or the upcoming rent. I can't imagine what it must be like to go to a mall and spend blindly until you have an entire new wardrobe. Is it jealousy? Hell yes, it's jealousy. I'm as green-eyed as they come. Snooki charges $20,000 for an appearance at a nightclub, but I've basically lived off of Campbell's Soup for three months? How is this right?
I don't want to throw myself a pity party. My mother has been absolutely wonderful to us since we've moved to LA. She moved us out here, paid for our airfare, and outfitted our apartment with whatever we needed. She's paid our rent, sent us cash, cosigned our lease, and wired us deposits. She bought my brother a car. She's sending my step-father out to move us 1.7 miles away from our current apartment, because we can't afford to move ourselves. Does that sound like a joke? Sadly, it's not.
LA is a tough town. I felt like I was on the usual path - Girl moves across the country with a few hundred dollars. Girl is average looking with awesome customer service skills. Someone will see girl's potential eventually. 2 1/2 months later, girl has 2 jobs. That's the norm - even better than the norm, from what I've heard. But things just keep popping up. And as positive as I try to be, I can't deny the fact that this is all about money. 20 minutes of Julia Roberts' salary would set me up for 5 years. It's sickening.
But I am still grateful. I'm grateful for my wonderful friends, who have been keeping in touch with me since the move and are always available to give advice. I'm grateful to my family, for their encouraging words. I'm grateful for my health, when not all of us have such luxuries. And most of all, I am grateful for my mother. Without her generosity and support, I would have been home 2 months ago. I'm not sure how much more she has in her, but I'll be thankful for every minute she spends listening to me complain, and every dollar she sends me for food. I only hope I can offer that kind of help to my children someday. Thank you, thank you, a thousand times thank you, Mom. You are amazing.
But back to my original thought...Isn't it crazy that $5000 could change your life? I'll bet Oprah Winfrey spent that on dog food yesterday. So, while I'm not in the best place financially, I implore you to visit my other blog and donate to my cousin and his family. I think of how much I complain that I can't go out every weekend - and then I think of my cousin, Joe, whose family has given up everything to sit with him day after day. And of course, there is nowhere else they'd rather be. But things will add up eventually - and it'd be nice to give them a little cushion. Think of how far a few dollars can go. I hate to put this on you, dear friends. But they deserve it.
http://www.prayersforjoep.blogspot.com/
Spread the word. Every little bit helps.
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