Ffungo from Cabaret Discordia (Do NOT click on that link!) shares a few incidents that proved to him that the Goddess knows what he needs before he does, and it ain't world peace.
I have a story to go with Ffungo's. Eris once bought me a tank of gas. Really. When I was first married, we lived near Modesto, CA. Though we were living on our own, in a dump, on BB's income as a bartender (I was unemployed), with no savings whatsoever, we somehow took it into our heads that this would be the perfect time to move to Sacramento. And I, Pam, should immediately take a job there and do some apartment-hunting on the side.
In retrospect, it was a spectacularly, embarrassingly awful idea, particularly when you watch me commuting three hours a day from Modesto to my near-minimum wage job at Monkey Ward in South Sacramento. Why did I do this? It was Christmas and the retail season. Gas was expensive, as it always is. Why didn't I just find a local job, and have us save up for a move? Somebody once said a person can only gain experience after doing stupid things, and well, now I have a helluva lot of experience, what else can I say.
Anyway, one Saturday, Wards was packed with customers. We clerks were so busy we hardly had time to stop for lunch. But that was all right, because I had no money for lunch. I had no money for gum. I had. no. money. BB had none, either. And what was worse, my car was on Empty. I would not be able to make it home to Modesto until right around, oh, payday. What could I do? (Yes, yes, I know. Spectacularly awful idea. Shut up.) I wasn't the type to steal from the till; my life was already complicated enough. So though all the other employees were strangers to me, I steeled myself to hit up somebody for some gas money. I could just imagine the ensuing conversation. ("You live where? Geez, what a spectacularly awful -" "Shut up." "Hey Connie, come and listen to this!" "Shut up, dammit!")
Suddenly I glanced down, and what th - ? There was money on the floor, right in front of me. I picked it up. Twenty bucks! I looked around and sort of held it out a while, waiting for some little old lady to shout in alarm that she was missing her kitty litter fund or something. When nobody showed up, I pocketed it. Sheer relief gave me a buzz for the rest of the day. Saved! Money "randomly" falls into the hands of the desperate! All hail Discordia!
This affirms my complete and total belief that god/the universe/the Force/whatever actually exists. I've had that happen to me several times. I remember having no gas, no money until payday and desperately not wanting to ask anyone I know for a loan. I said, "Ok. I need some gas money. And some left over for lunch would be nice." And I found a random 20 in a jacket I never wore. Coincidence? Maybe. Still miraculous and wonderful though.
And honestly, one look at Britney Spears is enough to thank your lucky stars that you were poor when you were stupid.
Posted by: Kimberly | July 27, 2004 at 02:44 PM
The universe opened up for you! Cool.
Posted by: jo | July 27, 2004 at 03:46 PM
$20 in CA? Well, that should've bought you at least two gallons. Where do you find these great links?!
Posted by: Sheryl | July 27, 2004 at 04:39 PM
$20 in 1990 for a li'l rice-burner like I used to drive was probably worth a tank and a half. It was a real score.
Posted by: pam | July 30, 2004 at 03:22 PM