Don't Believe All The Discounts You See



Daughter's computer died and she called us up all upset, looking for her brother, the computer engineer, to order her a new one.  We said, don't worry.  He'll order and we'll pay.  (For my kids, I always pay, even though they both earn very good livings.)  Son checked out Dell's website and found a laptop for her.

Being frugal, I remembered Dell offers a 10% discount to teachers.  When I couldn't access the code online, I called and got a very nice young man to help.  I placed the order, my only problem being the computer would not be delivered until Jan 10.

An hour after I placed the order husband got an e-mail from Micro Center offering the same computer for the same amount of money I was paying to Dell.  I called and made sure it was in stock.  I then called Dell and asked them to do something about the price.  After all, buying it directly from them should be cheaper than buying it through a middle man.  They said tough.  If you don't like the price, cancel.  I cancelled.

Daughter is now sitting with her brand new computer, happy to have immediate gratification.

(Today Dell is offering the computer at Micro Center's price.  We could have saved $44 if we bought it today.  But, then she wouldn't have it so I'm not complaining.)

The Gift Of Time

All pictures from Basel

Old City Gate The math teacher in me made me take the next two pictures.

We went to Basel to see the only Jewish Museum in Switzerland. It isn't much of a museum but I have to see my heritage wherever I go.

Synagogue
Museum

Train Station

Bridge over Rhine River
Munster Church

Ceiling of Munster church--I was so proud of figuring out how to take this using the "live view" on my camera.

Of course, the bank--only one of about a zillion.

Relaxing by the Rhine.

View of city by Rhine.

Tara was celebrating her 58th birthday with her son. She took him out to eat and she took him shopping. At the end of the day she asked, "Where is my gift? All I did was spend money on you today?" Her son, a young adult of 25 look at her and said, "Mom, I gave you the gift of time." Tara was not happy. She had a wonderful day with her son but she wanted something material to show for it.

Tara and I are very different. There is no gift anyone can give me that is better than spending time with my children. Although I had a wonderful time in Switzerland, the best part of the trip was that I spent a week with my wonderful daughter who has grown up to be an extra special adult. Seeing the sights with her, watching her navigate the maps so we could explore the cities on our own, pick up German expressions and relax with a beer or a shared snack was something I will never forget. And, although my husband (her dad) is jealous, we will do this trip thing again. (Our first mother-daughter trip was to Spain when she graduated college.)

I'm glad that I can afford to travel with my daughter, but even if we stayed home and went to some free museums or roamed the streets of Manhattan or the streets in the city where she resides, I would be happy.

No trip or gift is better than the gift of time.

Much Better Than Tropical Fish

A mother's love is something I never understood. My mother used to drive me crazy with her incessant worrying. I had to call her whenever I went somewhere and when I got home from where I was going (even after I was married). She drove me crazy. And then, something happened, I had my own daughter.

Now, if you ask either of my children, they will tell you that I am not exactly the maternal type. I used to turn the clocks ahead because my little princess could read numbers before she could walk and I wanted her to go to sleep early (dinner at 4, bath at 5 and bed at 6). She knew that I never got up before the clock said 7:00 so I used to distract her until the clock said 7:02. (It took her a while to catch on to that. I enjoyed outsmarting a year old child.) In fact, for years I told everyone that I would never have children, my tropical fish were all that I needed.

If someone had told me how I would feel when I had this child, I would have told them they were nuts. I felt awful while I was pregnant, yet I relished every little kick or movement while she was inside of me.

Words can never come close to expressing the way I felt the first time I held her and how I feel about her, even today, every time I look at her or think about her. Things are not always great between us. I know there have been many times when we did not like each other but there was never one moment when I did not love her. To this day, I can think of no one I love more than I love her (or her brother).

Today, as my precious bundle of joy turns 28, I recall her lying in bed with me, rubbing her bottle all over my belly, to give milk to her unborn precious baby brother, I remember her sitting on the living room floor, cutting out pictures beginning with the letter K and yelling in "how is clock, kitchen?" and her fighting with her first grade teacher because she wanted to use a picture of a knee and a knife as her "k" words. I remember her falling off the podium as she gave her fifth grade salutatorian address, after the principal predicted she would fall because she was always reading. I remember the pain I felt as we packed her off to college. It was as though someone put their hand down my throat and ripped out my heart. I remember the joy when the phone call came telling her that she got the job she wanted with all her heart.

My special, wonderful baby girl lives many hours away from me now. I miss all our theater and museum trips and how she likes to wander the city aimlessly with me. But, I know she is happy. She has a fantastic job, a beautiful house and a very special boyfriend.

Happy birthday daughter. I love you more than you will ever know.