Episode 12 – Camp vs. Community Service

I am a nervous wreck as I watch first Bloomberg then MSNBC's coverage of the failing financial institutions translating to the demise of the portfolio I live off of. It's a bloodbath for most investors. "Take a haircut" is the phrase of the week, meaning the investors should absorb the losses.  I'd rather the commissioned managers "Take a pay cut" including the CEO's package both which seems to be grossly overburden some given what performance is.

I am not a happy camper today; Dow Jones had dumped over 3,000 points over the last few weeks.  Wolf is no help, "You'll be fine.  It will come back.  You just have to wait it out. I've lived through much worse than this."  Ok, so he has and all he said may be true, but what does it really matter to him when it's not his money nor does he assist me with my overhead and bills, the primary reason I am not willing to let him move in.   

I guess I am not in the mood for dinner or anything else with Wolf, except he is being a sweetheart to take me and my kids on an outing for the day. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" I remind myself. It's not his fault, and I am not his responsibility.  Great, I have just uncovered the reality that all that I am to Wolf is a somewhat expensive toy like his car.  I guess I'll have to rethink this relationship when I am in a better mood.  Today is not the day.

I open the unstamped but addressed to me envelop my fifteen year old has placed on my nightstand last night.  It's a letter she wrote on her way to her summer program but was not able to mail since it required airmail, a service no longer easy to maneuver.   

When I was a kid, there were airmail letters which were tissue thin paper with prepaid postage one would write on and mail from anywhere in the world. I went to the post office to get this for her, but find once again I have no such luck. "Have her send her letters from a US airport," was the post office employee’s advice.  Apparently, despite the ingenuity of the 21st century, one can write on anything but must apply postage from the country of origin in order for it to be mailed; an exercise in futility given where she is going to be.  It's not a real wonder why these employees are the target of the public's hostility.

Costa Rica is the community service d'jour private school kids are encouraged to partake in. Great, isn’t it?  Take from the "rich", give to the poor.  Who said Robin Hood was a hero?  He was a thief.  What about those values?

"Community service requirements are nothing more than forced slavery".  On this point I am clear.  "Adults messed up the world and its adults who should clean it up.  Kids should not be forced into doing an adults job."  My daughter couldn't care less.  Her dad is paying for her to have this great trip so why should I interfere is her rebuttal.  She's got a point.   


I open the letter, "Dear Mom, The first few days have been hectic. My flight was delayed and taxied for hours.  No movie, no real food, and no cd player 'cause my batteries were dead. And I was seated next to this boy, also on my trip, in bad need of a bath. Just Dandy! The group flight from Miami was cancelled leaving only two others from the trip in the waiting room with me.  They are self proclaimed Super Nerds (which is why it's ok for me to write this, I am not being mean), so I can't really relate to them. The kid who sat next to me from NY really freaks me out.  I think he said he has some form of autism. Definitely seemed so, he got up to go to the bathroom about twenty times during the flight. I've met our group leader and asked if I can sit next to her for the next flight."   

Apparently Costa Rica is gorgeous and she had fun.  Unfortunately the autistic kid wandered out of the tent in the middle of the night, entered another tent and was "beat up" by a boy my daughter knows from school.  No bruises, from what I heard, but her classmate was sent home four days early.  Not a great ending. One really needs to think about the environments they put their kids into. I hate to say, "I told you so."