“There’s only us, there’s only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.
No other road, no other way. No day but today.”
-Jonathan Larson
I had one of the best weekends I’ve had in a long time a couple of weeks ago, doing something that I very rarely get to do…shop. Not just the “I’m going to the store to get a couple of things that I need” shopping; no, this was “I’ve got the money to go out and get whatever the fuck I want” shopping. I bought shorts. I bought shirts. I bought a wallet. Went out to lunch. Then went out to dinner. I’d forgotten how…satisfying?...it can be to be able to buy what you need, AND have what you want, without having to consult the checkbook for every dollar.
The week following my “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” shopping spree, I checked into a local hospital for a couple of simple tests, not really medically necessary right now, but something that would need to be done in the not-too-distant future anyway. I had my trusty insurance card with me, because I understood that the procedure was covered under most insurance. I either understood wrong or my insurance sucks. Let’s go with my insurance sucks. I walked out of there owing several hundred dollars, which I no longer had…mainly due to the above-mentioned shopping spree.
My first thought was, “Why the fuck did I do all that shopping the other day?” The money I spent on that fun, happy weekend would have easily paid for at least half of the medical bill. I still had other bills to pay, grocery shopping to do, and a whole lot less money to do it with now. I felt like I couldn’t afford anything “extra” now, because I didn’t know what might come up in the future.
But you know what? I don’t care. I’m finally fed up with worrying about money. How much I have. How much I don’t have. How much I owe. I’m tired of feeling like I can’t go to a movie, or buy a CD, or pick up a 6-pack or two to share with my friends, without going broke. I have a new philosophy: if I want it, and I have the money for it at the moment, I’m going to get it. I can’t worry about what might happen anymore; life is too short. I’ll take care of my obligations, but then I’m going to take care of ME. In a hundred years-shit, in 10 years- is anybody really going to care that I was a day late with the rent, or that I had to make double payments because I missed a month? I don’t think so.
And with that, I’m off to get that 6-pack or two and have some fun with my friends, because there is, indeed-
“No day but today.”
2 comments:
Good for you. You and I seem to be at a very similiar point in life. At work there was a 32 inch LCD HDTV tv on clearence, for 400 dollars, I of course had no money to get it, but I did have exactly $401 available on my wells fargo credit account, I just payed the IRS $1200 with that same account and I owe a boatload of cash on other cards as well, but at the time I just didn't care what's another 400 that i'll never have anyway. i either know people who have a lot of money and buy nothing with it so they'r ebored all the time or the people who are broke and have nothing to show for it, at least when I'm at home because I can't afford to go out and do something I'll have a nice tv to watch Norbit on, that and one dollar left over.
Mike, Jake you both are so crazy and I love it. Live for today cause tomorrow who cares. Life is too short to always, always follow the short and narrow road. What in the hell are you working for anyway. If you can't do something for your selves or frieds and family. Bill are not the end all Well not now at least Live on Boys!
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