SECRET STASH

Life is full of little emergencies like forgotten flowers for the prom date or a hotel room for one night when the car breaks down 200 miles from home two days before payday. Invariably, after much grumbling, Dad breaks out his hidden sock that contains just enough 50-dollar bills to cover everything. For smaller matters such as a new pair of shoes for a job interview or forgotten until the last moment school supplies Mom somehow found enough “laying around” the house. How do you think some people make things like raising a family look so easy? The need for a Secret Stash has long been established.

Our Secret Stash is gone. Put away the dream of a huge flat-screened TV. Drive your old car for a while longer. Your clothes could probably last another 3 years, there’s nothing wrong with them, and they cover you body and keep you protected from the elements just fine.

Not only is our Secret Stash gone, America’s collective Secret Stash is currently being plundered with many a promise to re-pay. “I’ll gladly re-pay you when” (fill in the blank)… I’m sure I’ve heard that many times more often than I’ve actually been re-paid.

At what point do we realize that we have enough stuff, large enough houses or exotic enough vacations? Let’s make do with what we have for a while and concentrate on seeing that other people have at least what we now take for granted. While we’re at it we can see what other people have that we don’t; and find out how they’re doing it.

Hold on to your 27-inch color TV and last year’s coat and hat for another year while we collectively replace our Secret Stash. It’s gone now, and I for one plan to replace mine.