You know how sometimes, you get an eerie feeling, like the world is out of whack? A kind of discombobulation, when things are not as they should be. When your world view is set on its ear. That happened to Mrs. HM during her visit with The Pony last week.
It's a well-known fact that The Pony does not care about helping people. Documented on his FAFSA application during the college-applying phase of his senior year. The Pony answered honestly, not even trying to make himself look good. For example: "Would you like to help someone who's been in a tornado?" No. The Pony explained that surely there were people better-suited to helping cut up and move downed trees than he. And when we were in The Devil's Playground after Genius, my true people-helper, had absconded for college...The Pony flat our refused my suggestion to go help up an elderly woman who had fallen.
Anyhoo...there we were, The Pony and I, at Riverwind Casino, cashing out our winning tickets. There's an option on those machines at Riverwind. In lieu of taking your change, a box pops up that asks if you would like to DONATE your change to CHARITY. Since I use my change every day for 44 oz Diet Cokes, I always click that I DON'T want to donate. That I want my coins.
WELL! The Pony gave me the stinkeye. " REALLY? I can't believe you!" Seems The Pony, upon cashing out, always donates his change. He'd mentioned it last time we were there, but I hadn't seen him in the actual people-helping act. So I'd casually mentioned it to Farmer H, who almost went apoplectic. "Tell him not to do that! Why is he giving away his change?"
I can see Farmer H's point. A specific charity is not listed. For all we know, the charity is the casino itself. I'm pretty sure that since reportage of the win/loss percentage there is not regulated, the designation of what constitutes a charity might not be regulated, either. Or maybe it's just a generational thing with Farmer H and me, not wanting to give away our hard-won coins.
Anyhoo...I cashed out a couple tickets, taking my 37 cents, and 53 cents. Then it was The Pony's turn. He had 97 cents on his ticket. He must have heard my intake of breath. "Okaayyy! I won't donate. Here. You can have the change."
Perhaps I'm a bad influence. I deterred The Pony from helping people, in favor of helping ME.
6 comments:
Charity begins at home!!
fishducky,
That's good enough justification for me!
I see your point about the casino possibly being the charity that benefits, but if this is the only way the Pony is able to 'help people' I'd let him continue. It's only a few cents and he doesn't do it everyday.
River,
Yes, we're from such different generations. Farmer H and I would pinch every penny, then write out a check for a specific charity we wish to donate to once a year, like Siteman Cancer Center, or St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or the American Heart Association.
The Pony would never think to donate like that, but he'll gladly give up his change for an anonymous charity. Especially when it's so easy, and done by touch screen.
I do a similar thing. Big charities often have many staff members who all need paying so a lot of what they take in goes to them and the people who are supposed to benefit actually get very little. since one of my sons was recently homeless for a while, I see other homeless people in a different light now and if I have some change in my pockets I will drop a few coins in their hats or boxes. not every time, just when I know I can spare it. my own boy didn't beg on the streets, he came here and got a hot meal every day and then got a job so now he's doing okay and has a place to live again.
River,
Good for your son, I'm glad he's doing better. We saw a guy Wednesday at a truck stop, begging at the entrance ramp. He had three or four bags of McDonald's food sitting at his feet. I told Farmer H that he probably cursed those people giving him food. This reminds me that The Pony DID insist I stop that time by our local McDonald's, so he could give his allowance to a veteran holding a WORK FOR MONEY sign. Funny how I felt like the truck stop guy was a scammer, but not the veteran.
Post a Comment