Tessa's Blog 11/2/2011

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I admit I should have known better than to bring up “giving” in Chatswin when I wasn’t talking about hickeys or Christmas gifts.  But what’s happening here is out of control.  All I proposed was that the student body not dump their untouched lunches into the trash and now… now, it’s a blur of animated videos and Sarah McLachlan ballads.  Oh, and the coup-de-grace: Clarisonic Face Brushes for Floridians, courtesy of Dalia’s bogus trip to Orlando.  Why didn’t I run when she raised her hand at the assembly?  Why did I call on her?  I’m a sucker for a raised hand.

There’s so much more we could be doing.  Credit where credit’s due – at least Dalia didn’t suggest “Red Bull for the Decaffeinated” or “Nose Jobs for the Lower Class.”  But let’s dig a little deeper, people.  How about donating blankets to the homeless or volunteering at a free clinic?  Something – anything – other than cleaning Florida’s pores. Besides, I’m sure the Red Cross already has that under control.

I thought introducing my homeless transsexual friend Gladys would clear things up.  It didn’t and, again, I should have known better.  I should have expected it to make George and me Chatswin’s charity case, precisely because we don’t need to be.  It would be a stretch to say we’re well off, but we’re certainly not hurting.  And we don’t need all the items Dallas has bought on Sky Mall.  Correction: All the duplicate items she bought on Sky Mall. Although the rechargeable salt and pepper mills are quite lovely.

In the end, I figured out what to do.  So, I guess – shudder – thank you, Chatswin. Thank you for teaching me it isn’t what you give, it’s that you give.  Since I wasn’t the ideal candidate for a glow in the dark bocce ball set, I decided to give it to someone who is – Gladys.  She loves it.  And the money pawning it got her.