A Few Thoughts

Not to be all serious, but maybe just for a minute....

We are in Ruidoso/Alto, New Mexico, population 10,000. The town lives off tourists during ski season, where the population on any given day can quadruple. It is just beautiful here. BUT- it has made me think about a few things.

On my way in, I had to take two shuttles from El Paso. One guy picked me up at the airport, and dropped me off about an hour and a half later in a small little town where I was to get on shuttle number two. The town pretty much had one main street, with every chain hotel and restaurant you could think of. They also have a lot of pistachios there and there seems to be a war as to who can have the biggest sign to sell them. But anyway, I'm sitting in the lobby of the Best Western waiting for the second shuttle, listening to what is going on around me. The girl behind the front desk was talking about being sober now, and getting her kids back. KIDS?? She looked about 18. Then a guy came in and asked for the manager. He wanted to see if he still had his application for a job, because he could really use one. The manager didn't have a job for him, so the guy nicely said thank you and asked that he please not forget about him.

On the second shuttle ride as we were driving into the town, we passed an insane amount of trailers, just propped up out there in the desert. And horrible run-down homes.

Last night after work, I was starving, and as it turns out, everything closes here at 9:00. Even Taco Bell (???). But there is a Denny's that is 24 hours, so I drove down there around 10:00. There were four people working, and in listening in on their conversations, they all had to work all night, and the one guy had taken the job because he needed it so badly, but his wife worked during the day so now they don't see each other anymore. I left my super nice take out girl a nice tip.

Today I went to this Asian nail place I found (which is a story in itself. And I quote, "well if it wasn't for slavery, we wouldn't have Michael Jordan, so maybe it wasn't so bad"). I could just tell that the people there were struggling. I got a not-so-great pedi and tipped the girl more than I should have.

All of this has just made me realize how lucky I truly am. I might complain about money sometimes because of the way things are in the world right now, but the reality of it is that I am doing just fine. I have a good job, own a home that is not being taken away from me, and can spend all the time I want with family (at least when I am home). Is two extra dollars for tip really going to set me back? Nope, and they need it more than I do.

So just take a minute when you complain to think about the people who REALLY have something to complain about. Wow- I am going to make a great mom after that comment!