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NOTHING LASTS FOREVER,
EVEN COLLEGE |
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After 31 years, I finally got a raise. With my
youngest child graduating from college last month, I am no longer
supporting deadbeat children. The spigot has been turned off.
"Let’s celebrate!!" I said to my
wife, who has financially suffered along with me for 31 long years, which
was when our first child was born. "How about a trip to Tahiti or
something?"
"That would be nice," she replied as she
turned the pages of Architectural Digest, already contemplating where next
year’s tuition savings would be spent. "But so would a remodeled
kitchen."
Deciding where we would spend our newfound savings
might take some time. But we were looking forward to the challenge. The
only thing standing in our way was making sure all children were employed.
We gave the youngest a month to find work following
graduation. And find work he did, capturing an entry-level job at a
financial services firm.
"Congratulations," I told him when hearing
the news.
"Your rent will begin July 1st."
"WHAT!!!" he cried. "How about a grace
period?"
He was living in our rundown, beatup house in San Diego
along with his brother while they attended the University of San Diego. Of
course, it wasn’t rundown or beatup when they moved in.
"You’ve had a grace period of 22 years," I
answered. "Now it’s my turn."
Since we considered it an historic occasion, my wife
and I flew down to San Diego on July 1st to personally collect
the rent. The 22 year old had been working for a few weeks, and his 23
year old brother had been working as an engineer following his graduation.
It was time for both to pay up.
But first we wanted to actually watch them go to work
in the morning. So we got up early on Monday, July 2nd, and
were right there when they came out of their rooms and headed for the door
at the ungodly hour of 7 a.m.
"I’m so proud," I slobbered, fighting away
a tear. "I never thought this day would happen."
"It’s just a job," the 23-year old sleepily
replied. "Don’t get so excited."
"I could care less about the job," I said as
I stared at both of them with such admiration. "I’m just thrilled
to see both of you with your pants pulled up."
Sure enough, not a shred of underwear could be seen
protruding from their waistline. Their shirts were tucked in, and their
pants were hitched above their butts, belt and all. What a magnificent
sight!!
They were not as impressed as my wife and I. They just
shook their heads and sluffed out the door.
"Are you forgetting something?" I asked, my
palm outstretched.
They came back inside to write their rent checks. Not
having written a check before, it took longer than usual.
They tried to get a credit for nights we stayed at the
house when visiting or on business in San Diego, but to no avail. And when
we reminded them they would also be paying utilities, I believe they
considered running away and joining the circus.
The college dream was officially over. The real world,
where people work, write checks, and pull their pants up, beckoned. They
didn’t look happy about it at 7 a.m., but my wife and I certainly were.
As the door closed and they went off to make money, we
stared at the checks. We thought about depositing them in the bank and
saving for a rainy day. Instead, we booked two nights at the Rancho
Bernardo Inn, only a 25 minute drive away.
As we drove to the hotel, we thought about the boys,
hard at work making money. We commented that we should at least let them
know where we were. So I texted them at around 6:00, right after they got
home.
"At Rancho Bernardo Inn. Just finished a relaxing
massage at their spa and now getting ready to go have an expensive dinner. Thanks
again!!!!"
Payback is a beautiful thing.
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