During a recent launch, a friend remarked that I was "accounts payable." I laughed in her face. Oh sure, who doesn't need the moolah? But really, I wanted to know what it meant. NOW!
Did it mean I was owed money? Money's easy: You earn it. You spend it. No biggie. What's with the labels anyway? Of course people owe me money and I, in return, owe others. So goes the circle of friendship, family, forfeiture and finance.
But really, what mattered? It got me to thinking about my own list of "Accounts Receivable." For my services rendered, what could I reasonably demand in return? How high a premium could I place on my skills and emotion? After much soul-searching, I think I have it:
MY CHILDREN. In 2006, Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today, wrote a Mother's Day column. In it he wrote, consulting job analysts at Salary.com, that a stay-at-home Mom's salary would be $143,121 annually. (Multiply for numbers of years on duty and adjust numbers for inflation!)
I'd love to be able to say that I'll take the cash, thank you:) In the real world though, you just keep your fingers crossed and hope that these kids make the same effort with THEIR kids someday.
What I do expect from them really, is for them to be independent. They should apply critical thinking in all aspects of their lives, act responsibly and be of value to society and country.
MY (FUTURE) SIGNIFICANT OTHER. If this person does exist, I demand total honesty. You shouldn't tell me it's okay when it isn't, goddamit! I'm a big girl and can take care of myself. There may be better-off, cuter or smarter men, but real men of integrity are hard to find.
FRIENDS (WOO-HOOT!). You owe me your loyalty. The form of extreme loyalty that I'm able to give. The kind where you just know that I'll pull through for you during the toughest times.
MY "PEOPLE." More than servitude, I expect them to trust me. It's important that they know I value their efforts and do not take them for granted. They should be aware that I never make a decision that is not to our mutual benefit.
MY GRANDSON, GABRIEL. Love forever:)
Very moving. I have always known your brilliant take on life and its myriad offerings will not just be inspiring, thought-provoking but a short journey in itself. Thank you for sharing. Sad to say, that when I start counting my blessings (good and bad alike), I know instantly, that the life, people like us live would be a lifetime of IOUs. Not that it really matters, if we get to 'collect' or not, as you say, we can only hope, and that more than money, may all of them whose lives we have touched, pay it forward.
ReplyDeleteI really lucky! Very rarely do I get short-changed:)
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