Name Brands

I see all these people buying store brands and off brands of things under the belief that it is "the same thing, only cheaper". I am a poor person and I HAVE to get more bang out of every single dollar I spend just to survive, so I can tell you that it is not always true unless you are in the "it's better than nothing" state of mind. So, I am going to go down a list of name brand products that actually are worth the extra money that you pay for it. I'm also going to reveal a few secrets from a poor person.

Tide and/or Gain: I have been in many arguments with wealthy women, poor women, and middle class women over name brand washing detergents vs. store/bargain brands. Yes, at face value, it appears that Tide is over priced. However, it is very powerful. When I use Tide, I actually put HALF or less of the recommended amount per load and all my clothes (and I have kids, mind you; dirt is their favorite toy) come clean the first time. Some are allergic to Tide because it IS so potent, but then there is Gain. It is not as strong but your clothes will still get clean from it the first time. In the event that I only had like, say...thirty bucks and there were things that I absolutely HAD to have, I would just buy a smaller size of Tide. A SMALL bottle of Tide actually lasted me SIX MONTHS. That is with doing laundry on a DAILY basis. I have used the bargain/store/"knock-off" brands and here's what happened to me: I would use the recommended amount per load, my clothes would NOT come clean the first time, so they had to be washed again. That means I used MORE of the detergent AND I had to run my washing machine AGAIN, which used my power and I also had to pay for that. It wound up costing me DOUBLE in two different ways. The same thing is true about bleach. Clorox is actually not that expensive and I have actually seen it cheaper than off brands for the same size. I usually only pay $1.50 to $2 for Clorox. Another little secret of mine is that you CAN bleach black clothes IF you do it right. If you have a special place that you're supposed to pour bleach in, fill it up ONCE (pour it fast) and always start the washer BEFORE you put your clothes in. By the time you put your clothes in, the bleach is extremely diluted and won't damage your clothes unless your clothes are of poor quality. This keeps the germs at a low level. Now, I am not completely knocking bargain brands. If you're single, you don't have kids, and your clothes don't really get "dirty", then by all means, bargain brands are for you. 

Dawn Dish Detergent: I'm not talking about those fancy new versions of Dawn. I'm talking about basic Dawn in the plain, boring bottle. It is always $.98 at Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart has become wise to this and therefore, many stopped carrying it in that size because they know people are smart.) I wash my dishes several times per day and I can always use less of it and my dishes are easy to clean because of it.  Dawn usually lasts about two months in my house.

Windex: It gets the windows clean the first time and doesn't leave a film. You use less and therefore it keeps longer.

Steam Mops: I like Shark the best. You don't have to buy ANY cleaners and it doesn't make your house smell like cleaner. Sometimes it is hard to breathe with those cleaners. This would be something to use your tax refund on.

I am going to take a break from talking about products and simply share some insight from what I have learned from experience.

It is very hard for we impoverished individuals to get what we need to get done in the most efficient manners. We can't afford gas efficient cars, we find difficulty in taking care of the slightest things. Many of the snotty wealthy still look down upon us and believe that we can't handle money just because we are not one of them. Have you ever noticed that Social Services never knocks at their door? It is because the wealthy can afford lawyers that can sue the pants off of Social Services, whereas they knock on our door, provide a lawyer for us if we can't afford one, and then that lawyer does what Social Services tells them to do. Plus, they view us as "filthy", yet they are the ones that can afford a $2000 Kirby (vacuum) while we have to dig through a yard sale and budget to afford a $10 overused Hoover. I hate them for thinking looking down on us but I do have some pointers that will help us out.

Many of us who work and pay taxes during the year get tax refunds. What we do with that small windfall can shape the rest of our year. I once spoke to a rich woman. I mean she was ACTUALLY rich and she wasn't one of those that claim they are not rich when they are. She is rich, she knows she is rich, and she brags about being rich. I asked her if she was born into wealth. She said she wasn't. I asked her how and she told me that instead of using her tax refunds at the end of the year for down payments on cars and things, she would set aside $500 for bills and she would invest the rest in CD accounts. She said she did that for five years and then finally started reaping the benefits. Good for her but for those of us who can't afford that type of risk, I have some advice. Much of this was learned the hard way or it was stuff that I wanted to do but my controlling, short-sighted husband would not permit me to do.

Anyway, these are a few suggestions, that are contingent upon the need. If you get a huge, $5,000 refund, then maybe you can do all of this at once. If not, do what you believe is best for improving your situation. Always make a list of what you need/want to do with your refund/windfall, include the estimated cost, and STICK TO IT. Make several drafts of it. This will help more than you realize.

Advice On How To Make Your Tax Refund (or any small windfall) Work For You:

#1: Car Care: If you're poor, your vehicle is very important. So, pay your insurance six months in advance. You get a "paid-in-full" discount for doing it, and finance charges equal up to $200. That may hurt when comes out of your refund all at once but it is definitely worth the brief ouchie. My estranged husband refused and we lived to regret it because we struggled every single month to do it. Paying in advance could have saved us a lot of stress and money. Also, we always had problems with tires blowing out and parts wearing out and our car would break down quite often. It was a good car, even though it wasn't much to look at. Replace all four tires with brand new tires, buy a spare tire/rim, and also fix all minor problems with the car to prevent the problems from growing. Also, fill up your gas tank and change your oil. If you're still making payments, pay a few months in advance if you can't pay it off. This won't let you skip payments but it will shave some of the interest off of it.

#2. Bills: Pay your rent or mortgage, in advance. If your home does not meet your needs, try to find a new one or improve the home so it does meet your needs. Pay the deposit, pay the rent a few months in advance*, if the same electric company serves that area, it shouldn't cost much to transfer the electricity from one address to another. *Paying rent in advance works well, especially if you need to buy time, but be sure to bust your rear and save up for the next time the rent comes due. If you're not employed (which would be why paying in advance buys you time) hit the pavement every single day, even weekends, searching for a job. It's best to pay the high bills up so you have more money to pay the smaller bills. The more you get done with your refund, the further ahead you can get or the more time you can buy. No matter where you are, whether you want to move or stay, pay your electric bill in advance. I know that sounds strange because you don't know what it's going to be but use the last bill or the highest bill as a reference and put that amount onto your account. I actually DID do this and it helped, although my estranged husband had no interest in working, so we fell behind two months later. Pay off your small debts. Even if you owe it to a friend or family member, if you pay them back, they will be more willing to help you if you get out of a jam. My husband did not believe in paying people back or helping those who helped us. He once screwed over a CHURCH who LOANED us the money to put the lights in our name and this was a church that had given us money countless times to pay that dastardly insurance bill. (You remember me saying that this was a pain in the rear, right?) His sense of entitlement cost us dearly in the long run. He wondered why people didn't really want to help us anymore. If there's someone who buys you cigarettes, milk, or bread, etc. when you don't have the money, remember them when you get a windfall. Get them a gift to show that you appreciate their kindness.

#3. Food and Other Necessities: Buy groceries (even if you are on Food Stamps) and stock up on things like toilet paper and cleaning products that you know you will need. (Tide, Dawn, Windex, and the Shark! Ha ha!) Buy necessary small appliances that can save you money in the long run. If you need a new refrigerator, get one or pay to repair the existing one. Buy shoes that you NEED. Depending on the size of your family and the sales available to you, get a new pair of tennis shoes for every day, a nice pair of dress shoes, and an excellent pair of work shoes (you will thank yourself later) for everyone in the house that it pertains to.

#4. Save: Try to put $50 to $100 in a jar or safe box (fireproof) for emergencies later in the year. It's just a good idea, although many of us are unable to.

#5. Children: Your kids need things but try to get each of them one nice toy. It's not for their birthday, it's not for Christmas. It's just because you love them. Maybe take your kids out to a skating rink or something that you normally can't afford. Just try to remember to put a smile on their face. On another note, however, if you pay everything up and you get ahead a little, maybe you can just afford it out of your paycheck.  

#6. Small Splurge: Being poor, it is hard for us to enjoy life because there are many luxuries that we just can't afford. So, even though this can set you up for a good year, save $50-$100 to have fun with. Buy a DVD player, go out and buy yourself a lobster dinner, or get an iPod. I know it sounds like some very weird advice because we are poor but being poor doesn't mean we are not allowed to have any fun. There are many wealthy people who don't live within their means so don't feel bad about splurging on a little something. Many of us that are poor are still much happier than the wealthy because we know how to cherish life. They do not.

#7. Charity: Give at least $10 to some sort of local charity. It's just a karma thing and it will simply make you feel better to help someone.

#8. Education: If it's available in your area, maybe you could put a few hundred dollars toward a short course that will help you gain employment or move up in it. I'm not talking about college (although that is a good idea if you don't have any children) but a short course that can help you get a higher salary.

#9. Legal Issues: This really goes back into bills. If you are on probation or something like that, pay it off or pay as much as you can to lift that weight off of your shoulders. 

One Don't:

Don't get something expensive that will add to your monthly bills without thoroughly doing your research on it. People buy iPhones without realizing that they might not be able to handle data charges. Many people use their tax refunds as a down payment on the car without taking the payments and hidden fees into account. Yes, a new car may reduce unexpected problems but it can also add unexpected stress.

An Interesting Personal Story:

Back in 2006, my husband and I got our refund late (July!) and we were separated at the time. We split the refund in half, getting $1,313 each. I bought things for our daughter and unborn son and I treated me, my daughter, and my father to a nice dinner at Red Lobster. I got lucky and found a place that did not require a deposit, and had cheap rent. Plus, it suited the needs of me and my daughter. I paid two months' rent in advance, spent money that was necessary for the minor repairs to the home, paid $200 in advance for the light bill and paid off an old traffic ticket.

My husband let his mother take control of his half of the money. She made him buy a crappy beater that he didn't even get to pick out, and he had to make payments on it that he couldn't afford. Instead of going to a certified mechanic, he went to a friend and wound up wasting money and the "repairs" didn't even hold. He paid the insurance for one month. A large portion of his half of the money disappeared. He wound up coming to me and asking for money because he blew all of his on nothing. The car broke down soon after he got it.

In 2010, we were together and we got a refund even bigger than the first one. He refused to hear any of my logic. Instead of paying the insurance in advance, he bought a $600 game system. I had to twist his arm to buy things that our children needed. He refused to buy me any new clothes or shoes (I was in rags and my shoes were falling apart). My father helped us no matter what our need was and my husband avoided him at all cost because he didn't want to return any kindness that my father bestowed upon us. I slid my Dad a $100 bill and my husband screamed at me for hours for it. He wouldn't even treat my Dad to dinner. We paid our electric bill in advance, paid off our car, caught up our rent--even though we needed to put money down on a new place, but again, my husband refused. We gassed up our car and I made sure that our children got the clothes that they needed. I also paid to get pictures developed. He refused to buy groceries for us because he hated spending cash on food. We bought a few DVD's. The rest of our year was miserable.

Be careful with your refund. 

Katie's Cancer Cause

I really admire this young and amazing girl. For every view, she gets a dime donated to her cause. She started her own charity to bring Christmas gifts to children with cancer. She's a guardian angel for those brave little kids. I would appreciate it if each of you would click on this link ten times. It will be less than five minutes to view it ten times and even if you only pay attention to it one time, just keep clicking play over and over again. I have shared it on Facebook and with a few friends in different parts of the country. I would love to see this video go viral. This is one incredible little girl with a heart even bigger than she is and she is trying to spread Christmas cheer to children who have cancer. She started this charity all by herself and it only takes a few clicks and a few minutes of your time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ocvake4D6M&feature=colike

Threshold

I have a lot of patience. I have to. I deal with hard headed idiots on a daily basis who either ignore what I say so they don't have to deal with it or they are so deep into their opinions that they don't want to admit that they are wrong. I put up with a lot. I really do. I have several relatives that lash out at me because their lives aren't so great right now and they act like it's my fault. Even if what they are dealing with has nothing to do with me. It isn't and they all are stupid for doing it. They get some sort of high from making me stressed and miserable and that only proves how pathetic they are. But try telling THEM that.  Then I have the relatives who talk smack about me. I am nothing but gossip to them and they have no respect for my privacy. One relative in particular, enjoys putting me on the spot with my private issues in a room full of people but they chicken out in the presence of my father and another relative. That person loves to get deep into my business and when they can't force their thoughts on me, they lash out. Publicly. Then after they know they have infuriated me, they make a public spectacle out of it, hoping that people will physically attack me for being angry at their thoughtlessness. Then there are people who "help" me but I pay dearly for it. Basically, it's a situation of, "I helped you so I can abuse you however I want and you can't say anything to me because I have you in a moral paradox and can call you ungrateful." People like this almost make me unwilling to accept help. There is one person who isn't like that at all. I am very grateful to this person because of what they do for my family and for me. This person grew up with my father's family and this person is awesome.  

So, I take it and I take it and I take it by the shovel, full. And those people believe that I am supposed to eat it and like it. I'm supposed to ask if they would like to abuse me more. I am supposed to appreciate the abuse. Over and over and over again.

Well, I have had my fill of the negative people that I just spoke of. I am gridlocked, like in my previous blog, but desperate times call for drastic measures. Nobody ever got anywhere without taking a risk somewhere. Some of the negative people are trying to talk me out of it because they want to keep gossiping about how sorry I am and how I will never amount to anything. Their favorite subject is how I mother my child since many of them are against breastfeeding.   

I tell SOME OF THEM (because not all of them can be trusted) my plan and they are in shock. "Hey! Where are you going? We weren't finished making fun of you and gossiping about you! Wait! Don't go! We want someone to make fun of! Hey! Who are we going to bash for no reason just because we're PMS-ing? You can't go! You were born to be my punching bag!"

So, let me ask you...Is there someone out there that you give crap to on a non-stop basis? By the shovel full and you just get some high off of bullying that person? How long do you think it will be before they have had their fill and suddenly can't be held responsible for their actions? I'm sure you will call the police because you are a coward. "Oh, they hit me!" -But you won't tell them how you tortured them for so long.

It's just like Aiken DSS. They torture people. They treat families worse than the KKK treat black people. They keep coming after the innocent, poverty stricken people and they call it, "help". They tell you not to take their actions personally when they attack your children, which IS personal. One guy had his fill and shot them up. DSS responded by acting like victims. They don't care about a person's threshold. They pushed that guy until he stood up for himself. They put him to death. The poor guy was actually a hero. He was no criminal. He just got his belly full and was no longer responsible for his actions. DSS wasn't worth his life but he was so distraught and had Battered Victim Syndrome to the point that he could no longer think properly. My only anger at him at all was that he should have made sure that there were no children in the building because DSS would have probably used children as human shields.

So, be brave, all of you who are being bullied, it doesn't matter who is bullying you. They are the cowards and you, yes YOU are better than they are. Pity them. Then, when you can't take it anymore, try to think it through and resolve the problem in a way that won't land you in jail. Breathe and walk away.  



DISCLAIMER: I abhor any kind of violence and I do not like guns. What someone else did to DSS is not how I handle things. I was simply stating an opinion that they deserved it and that I am glad that no children were hurt.

"Get Over It"

I see a lot of harsh feelings against people who have had some sort of trauma. Rape victims, people dealing with the loss of a loved one, victims of child abuse, the military, etc. Sure, it might get old to hear someone talk about the same thing over and over again, but did it ever occur to you that whatever happened is still real to them? Maybe they can't stop talking about it because the wound is still fresh and will always be fresh in their minds. I lost my grandmother in October. I speak about it almost daily because every day, when I wake up, dealing with not seeing her again is like I find out she just died every single day. It's new everyday. I've received emails from "friends" saying, "I like what you say on Facebook and all, but I'm tired of hearing about your grandmother. Everyone loses a grandparent so get over it." I wish it was that easy. I have accepted that she is gone but I miss her so terribly. My infant son gets excited when he sees her house. He bounces up and down when he sees her pictures; he doesn't know that they are pictures so he will often yell at the pictures when he doesn't hear, "Grandma sees that baby, yes she does!" I haven't visited her grave.Not just because I can't get there, but also because I don't see the point. It is where her physical likeness has been laid to rest but she is not there. What purpose would be served by going? To lay flowers? Virgil wouldn't know why we're there and I would rather plant flowers at her house. I wonder why she wasn't buried there. She owned that land. My point is that I am not used to it. When you get used to a happy person all your life and suddenly you don't ever see them again, it immediately leaves a very noticeable dark cloud. There is another devastating loss that I have suffered and it's new to me everyday, even years later. I will never "get over it".

Loss aside, what about traumatic experiences? How do you "get over it" when it plays in your thoughts constantly. Don't you think they WANT to get over it? Do you think they aren't miserable with it plaguing them every day? Whatever happened to them, they didn't want it to happen. "Oh, the soldier who goes to war asked for it when he signed up to be in the military." Or, "The woman was asking to be raped when she walked by herself wearing provocative attire." That isn't the truth. The soldier signed up for an opportunity to serve his country and he knew that was possibility, but he didn't dwell on it. When the woman dressed that night, she was probably only thinking that she wanted to look beautiful and show off her figure. The grown granddaughter loved her grandmother one day at a time without even a thought that the day would come that she would never see her again. (Was the granddaughter supposed to avoid and not love her grandmother because someday she would leave this world?)

The fact is that you can't live in fear. If you think about all risks, all the time, in all that you do, then fear will consume you and you won't do anything.

My husband caused me a lot of grief and it was very traumatic. Am I going to swear off dating for all eternity because of it? No. I don't have the taste for romance right now, but maybe someday I will. I'll just swear him off. Did I ask to be hurt when I married him. No. I believe I asked that he love me and cherish me, desire only me, no matter what happens. If I had known, I doubt that I would have refused to marry him because of what good that did come out of it.

I am not over it. The things that have happened to me, I may never get over. A new wound is opened everyday for each of them. I don't have scars. I have open wounds. So the next time you tell someone to "get over it" and it's something more serious than spilling their coffee, just imagine whatever happened to them also happened to you in the exact same way. Visualize every gruesome detail happening to you. Then tell me, would YOU "get over it"?

Gridlocked

There was a time when I would harshly judge someone for not trying to work or get their license. I mean, hey! Look at me! I didn't let it stop me from keeping a job when I didn't have a car. I would walk and hitch-hike to get where I needed to go and I usually made it to work on time, every single day. For me, my mother wouldn't let me get my permit when I came of age (she let my younger sister and brothers get their immediately when they came of age, but she didn't think I was good enough). Then I got married, thinking that my husband would. He was so insecure that he refused to even let me drive and when I would complain about it, he would point out that the vehicle wouldn't pass inspection. He always had an excuse. Well, he's long gone now and I am still without a license. I'll ask someone if they will let me practice in their car and they will say that they don't have time. I'll never get my license without practice. They LITERALLY will pretend I didn't say that. So without a vehicle, I can't take my test. Therefore, I can't get my license. If I had someone with me, I could PAY to RENT a car and practice in that and then take the test in it.  Again, no one has time.

Then there's also the fact that I can't find work. I am a convicted felon. [I probably just lost some readers for that statement.] I was innocent of the crime (I had no choice because of the stakes and the plea bargain) but employers don't care. Especially those in Aiken, SC. All of them. Even McDonald's. They all have a secret blanket policy against felons, which is illegal, but Aiken is renown for corruption, thus the companies and the county, itself, get away with it. Employers are heartless. They are snide and won't give someone a chance. They don't care that they are also punishing my children. They don't care that my children need a roof over their head. They don't care that my children need electricity to see in the dark, to power the refrigerator to keep their food fresh, to power heat to keep them warm in the winter, to power air conditioning to keep them cool in the summer, to power a stove so they can eat hot meals. They don't care that my children need clothes, shoes, soap, Bandaids, food, etc.  They don't care if you're actually innocent.

All they care about is hiring someone with a clean piece of paper, not even thinking that maybe the person with a clean record is just a criminal who hasn't been caught.

A manager at the Kroger on Whiskey Road in Aiken interviewed me this year and she was just as nice and polite as she could possibly be to me until she saw where I listed my felony. Then she spoke to me like I was the scum on the bottom of her shoes. She said that she had no room for people like me in her company. She also said some other choice phrases that I know were not listed in the interview handbook. She also refused to hire me because I was pregnant. She kept staring at my swollen abdomen AND mentioned that it's very important that I not miss any days; implying that when I went into labor, that was not an excuse to miss work. That is also illegal.

I had another interview at Wal-Mart for a cake decorator. The manager liked me, she liked my work ethic and my determination. She even commented that she sensed "good vibes" from me. She told me that I had to have a second interview with HER manager and that I should be scheduled for orientation later on that week. I waited in the HR room where two employees were on the computer. The head manager came in and said he was going to schedule me for the second interview but the girl at the computer said, "No! No!" and motioned for the manager to come quickly. She pointed and I heard her whisper, "She has a felony!" The guy looked up with an awkward grin and said, "Um, we'll call you." I am currently in an email battle with the two companies.

I loved working. I loved the rush of independence, I loved the break from home, I loved paying my bills, I loved being able to pay my way, I loved being able to buy things. I was so proud to be a working mother. But a corrupt system took that away from me. No one will hire me at all. My independence is gone and the felony will not be eligible for expungement. Now, I am called "a bum", "a leech", "a mooch", "scum", "lazy", etc.

So the next time you see someone who has less than you. Someone who can't drive and doesn't work, maybe you should think before you judge. You don't know what is holding them back. If they just outright tell you that they don't want to work, then fine. That is when you draw that conclusion. But before you hear that come out of their mouth, don't assume that it's the truth. More than likely, it isn't. More than likely, they need a serious "leg-up" and they just need a chance. Someday, you might just wind up wishing that you gave them one.    

Black Friday

Today, many people are rushing into stores (please don't kill anyone this year) and buying material items. I don't know why this world puts so much emphasis on material things. I know a thing or two about loss and those material things won't make you happy. Of course, never having money will also make you miserable. How do you find a balance in between the two? I'm getting off subject. I have done without for so many years that I guess I don't understand materialism in the least. Why is it that we always want more in this world when there are so many of us who have so little? I pity the materialistic. I really do. This starts the season of giving, but I do see that there really won't be any giving. There will be BUYING. Christmas is the season for the wealthy. It is not for the poor in anyway at all. I haven't been able to buy a Christmas tree in years. I haven't been able to stand on my own in years.
Why do people care so much about items that they can't take with them when they go? Are you going to have your iPhone and your checkbook in the casket with you? You can definitely request it be put there, but are you going to know it's there?
My philosophy is that I am wealthier than those with money. I think I just heard rich people all over the world gasp. Ha ha! I may not have as much as you have, but I have something better. I have a heart. A broken heart, but it still works better than the hearts of the wealthy. My heart makes me wealthy because it hurts when I see helpless people who can't rise above poverty and oppression. I have a heart to help those that need it. I have a heart that takes pity on the wealthy people who complain about how they can't get out of debt, yet they are absolutely ungrateful for the items they bought that gave them the debt in the first place. Pathetic. My heart makes me wealthy, even though it won't keep me warm or fed. But my heart is full of love that I have to share when many don't even know what that is.

Remember this while you shop today: If you see something that someone needs, buy it. Hand it to them and say, "For you." Then walk away. Maybe an act of generosity without a condescending tone will teach you something, though I know the wealthy don't learn anything.

I have seen many pathetic examples of materialism. I have seen an old woman remember every possession she has ever had, every dollar she has ever loaned out and wasn't repaid, every item she ever loaned out that was never returned, and all she thinks about is money. Sadly, she never remembers what simple things people have done for her and she is very bitter. This woman will probably live to be 100 and try to have her whole house buried with her.

Then I have seen many examples of sincere goodwill. I remember back in 2004, I didn't have a penny to my name, a cigarette to smoke, or food to eat. A woman working at the Willcox Inn in Aiken took me in and I slept wonderfully that night in a suite. I woke up to having an incredible breakfast that only kings dream of and I left with a new outlook on life. I stayed at a five star inn for free. I'll never forget that.

Enjoy your day of shopping until you drop, guys. Be careful out there as you spend money like it means something. 

Why Make a Holiday About Gratitude?

I have honestly never liked Thanksgiving. It makes no sense to me. Sure, I like the food served on this day, but I resent the fact that people only think about what they're grateful for only one day of the year. Why not be grateful everyday of the year? Think about the Law of Attraction for just a minute, part of it working is to be grateful for what you do have in order to stay positive. So, by that logic, it wouldn't work if it's only one day of the year. It's also manipulative. People talk about what they are a grateful for right before the month they talk about what they're greedy for. Well, that's putting it negatively. Maybe it's a way to TEACH the Law of Attraction. Ha ha! You spend one whole month concentrating on the things you're grateful for, then the next month, you get everything you want. This Thanksgiving is also pretty sour for me. Today is Thanksgiving Morning (it's after midnight, here) and it is also marks the one-month anniversary of the day that my Grandma passed away. She loved this holiday. So, not only did fate tell me, one month ago, today, I would never see her again, it is also the first holiday without her. I am very grateful to have known her but just because today is a holiday named for gratitude does not mean that my gratitude toward her is somehow amplified. There's no magick gratitude dust flying through the air today. I feel the same gratitude today that I felt yesterday and last month and last year. I believe the holiday is just to remind wealthy people to stop being selfish, immature brats.
And where did this ridiculous turkey tradition come from? The first Thanksgiving did not have a turkey. It had fish and geese. So much commercialism is based on a turkey. The truth was that it didn't become part of Thanksgiving until 1857.
I am grateful to be alive during this holiday about gratitude. Enjoy your holiday, everyone. Be grateful everyday. Not just today.