Every week my aunt gives me a crumpled $5 bill.
I’m 23. She’s 72 years young, and has been doing this since I was a child. Over the years the amount of her givings has not changed. It’s always been the same, $5. No more, no less --unless it’s a holiday like Easter, Christmas or my birthday.
So far, she operates like clockwork. After I leave work, I make a trip to her house and her wrinkled hand would hold five dollars. Just five measly dollars.
I don’t know if she noticed the change in inflation. Today a $5 gift to someone is meager rations. A gallon of gas costs $3.23, milk is $3.67, and crawfish is the cheapest at $1.90 a pound.
When I was a child, my $5 would take me a long way. I would buy Cherry Heads, Lays Potato Chips at four for $1, Cherry Air Heads, Cherry Popsicles and a small cherry juice. Then I’d have change left over!
Now if I take one of my regular trips to Chill’s my tip is $5.
You just don’t give someone $5.
Unless, you’re teaching that person.
In a way, my aunt Mae is the greatest! She doesn’t hold shares or stock on NASDAQ. She doesn’t shop on Fifth Avenue. She gets by at Family Dollar for everything, especially now since they sell milk. Then she relies on Social Security and is in need of a new TV.
I don’t ask her for money unless I really, really need it. Most of the time, I don’t need money. I’m a shopaholic, who loves to buy a new pair of sneakers all the time. And I do feed my habit. I’m two generations her junior. She uses her money for church collection, whereas I’d get something frivolous, sometimes. She knows I have a glove box compartment full of sweet Cherry candy in my car. Still, if I waste the money or not, she always hands me $5.
Five sweet bucks for me!
Her gifts has taught me that no matter what the amount is that someone gives you, they thought about you. Something on their heart told them to give you a gift.
Now, a rich man may not give you a dime, but the poor man will. Appreciate him. Some people never knew their father or mother, even if they knew them, they probably never looked to say ‘here cat, dog, this is for you.” Or nothing.
It’s not about what I can get with the $5 today. Five dollars isn’t really measly. I know that when she gives me the $5, its 5 more than what I had. So, I’m grateful.
Because I can always say my aunt gave me $5.
