Move Over Billionaires--the Gazillionaires are Shaking

The ‘Gazillionaires’

Every year, I look forward to the day when school is out. It’s true. I’m ‘that’ mom.

I wait patiently for the day to arrive and generally when it does, I’m the one you see waving that checkered flag. Yep, that’s me in the white hat that reads “Deadlines Amuse Me.” You can’t miss me.

After a few short weeks of bliss, the sports schedules begin and soon, I’m the one sticking up the white flag—yes, the one signifying surrender. Generally, by this time, I’m in my T-Shirt and Shorts. The shorts read: “Mom in Motion—Move Over” on the ass and the T-Shirt typically reads “Writer’s Block—when your imaginary friends not only quit talking to you but they give you that ‘duh’ look too.”

That would be me.

These days, school sports and tryouts begin at the first of July but by this time, moms and dads have already shelled out thousands of dollars from their savings accounts to pay for the best of the best sports camps. (You know what’s coming next) Yes, that would be me standing in line for financial aid for the elite summer training camps. Oh, wait a minute; I guess I got carried away. That line never opened but…they gladly take cash or plastic.

Now that school is back in session, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect. Okay, so not really—because I am behind on the “deadlines” that once amused me—but it sounded good. In any event, I’ve started to wonder where on earth the school officials think the parents in public schools earn their money? Really, I’m curious. I mean the first four weeks of school and I know I’ve dropped a thousand dollars to pay for this or that.

I used to think I earned a pretty good income. I’m not rich by any stretch of the imagination but I’m not standing in front of Home Depot (with my tin cup in hand) using their two by fours as some measure of protective clothing either. However, I’m starting to feel the crunch here. I really admit it. In fact, those cardboard feed-me signs are starting to look sexy.

Just last week, my son hit me up for his class ring. Now, keep in mind, my son made over $350 a week this summer as a baseball umpire. I’m not amused that he doesn’t have anything to show for it so I’m not rushing out to buy a class ring. I would have if he didn’t have the opportunity to call baseball games and earn his own money but right now, I’m not willing. He’s told everyone he can’t afford it and every single time I hear it, I postpone paying for it another week.

In addition, here’s what we spent on two kids last week. We bought two lunch tickets at $20 a pop. The kids came in for some kind of T-shirts they wanted at $15 a pop. The activity fees and student sports pass (or whatever they’re called) at something like $40 a pop and wait a minute…then we had school pictures and the sports pics too. Now, here’s the best part—the middle school is also conducting a fund raiser where every middle school child in this county has knocked on my door. As a side-note—I have two teenagers of my own. I can’t buy from every kid in the county.

There’s only one solution…everyone who lives in East Tennessee is a gazillionaire—except for me, of course. I’m serious here. The way we’ve been sending money out of here the last two weeks, you would think my husband and I had a new crop of Ben Franklin trees producing more than ever before. Really, at this rate, it’s more like Grover Cleveland and maybe that’s where the real trouble lies—everyone wants to see how long these trees will pluck green. My neighbors have fruitful ones—so do I. In fact, I think it’s the mentality around here. We all keep up with the Joneses but someone tell me—who are the friggin Joneses? I want to talk to them and ask them if they are gazillionaires.

Oh, and then there’s the weekends to fund. This generally starts with the “Mom! Everyone is going to the game and then tomorrow night we’re going to the movies.” No problem son, here’s a fifty—keep the change. Darling daughter, you too—have a coke on mom.

I could try telling them I’m all tapped out but what’s the point? They wouldn’t believe me. They really wouldn’t and here’s what I’ve recently discovered that my son does. If we tell him we’re finished handing out bills for the week and a buddy calls to invite him out—you got it—he burns our asses. He simply states, “Oh, I’m sorry. I can’t go. My parents are tapped out.” Or the one I love the most, “We can’t. My parents don’t have the money.” He doesn’t bother telling whoever is on the other end that his mom only works for him in the first place! I’m serious here. I’m not self-employed. I work from home and I have two bosses. I work around the clock for both of them—my son and daughter.

So again, I ask of you—where are the gazillionaires? I’ve been keeping up with the Joneses and just discovered the Joneses have moved up to a different income bracket—they must be right up there with Bill Gates. Since the schools always have their hand out for one fee or another—tell me please, how are you keeping up with the gazillionaires? Do the schools in your neck of the woods load you down with fees from day one forward? I’d love to know your opinion!

Until next time, Keep it Sexy—Read it hot!


Destiny

The Power of a "Thank You"

I’m often amazed at how quickly a person can ask for something but then forget to say ‘thank you’. I’m sure I’ve been guilty in the past but sometimes, when someone goes out of their way, a note of thanks is the very least to be expected.

In this day and age everyone seems to stay in a rush. It’s hard to remember to do everything we need to do but to offer gratitude, just a simple ‘thank you’ shouldn’t be something we have to add to a list of things to-do. Sometimes, it is.

I’ve noticed this more and more. Maybe it’s because I’m online so much and I often see acts of kindness but nothing to indicate the person received a thank you. Then there are those who ask for something in particular and when they receive what they’ve asked for, they simply forget to say ‘thanks’. Is it because we’re so rushed as a society that one or two little words are now forgotten or is it because it is more or less ‘understood’ and unnecessary?

My daughter has a boyfriend and I see him a lot. He’s a super kid. He’s actually the reason I’m blogging on this topic this morning. He picks my daughter up for school and he always thanks me for breakfast or whatever I put in his hand, whether it’s juice or a bottle of water. Sometimes, he even thanks me twice for the little things—and maybe there’s the problem. After spending time with such a polite young man, I now notice how often gratitude is placed to the wayside.

A few months ago, I experienced a situation where someone asked several authors to cover for her in an online forum-situation because she wasn’t able to be there for a planned event. I went out of my way to help even though I really didn’t know the author or her work. In fact, I sent several emails out to my buddies to ask them to stop by and chitty-chat. Several others did as well. Later, one of the authors helping out there asked me if I received a ‘thank you’ for it. I told her ‘no’ but I didn’t expect one. I really didn’t. Her reply was this, “You should’ve gotten one—excluding all expectations.” Maybe she was right.

This brings me to another round of questions. Is gratitude anticipated at all these days? Is it over-rated? Is it implied and others take for granted that they are appreciated? Most of the time, I tend to be in the group where if I do something nice for you, I think you’ll appreciate me and we don’t have to pat each other on the back—turn about is fair play, kind of thing. However, I never want to miss my chance to say ‘thank you’ so if I miss it—bring it to my attention. Maybe I missed a post on a Yahoo loop or maybe you wrote an extraordinary review I didn’t see—tell me about it!

I realize in my particular business it is very difficult to say ‘thank you’ to everyone individually for purchasing my books or attending my chats. I realize writers may miss a post where someone says “great job” or “I loved your book” and in that instance, how can authors better relay appreciation? It’s food for thought, I think. I want to be appreciated whether it is implied or spoken, and I think it’s important my readers, friends and family know how much they’re genuinely treasured and appreciated as well.

My daughter’s boyfriend is one-of-a-kind. He reminds me of one of my brothers—polite and mannerly. He simply never forgets to say ‘thank you’ and it makes me more aware of the fact that it only takes a second to pass along appreciation. On the receiving end, it’s nice to be appreciated and even nicer when someone stops what they’re doing long enough to notice.

Until next time,
Destiny

Coming to Whispers on August 29th! My most anticipated contemporary romance of the year!