Because the boy is in Hawaii, most of my time this holiday season has been spent with my parents. And it’s been oddly refreshing… We visited the brother in Philly on Christmas day and had the chance to see his new place, an old cigar factory-turned-loft and I got to finally meet Charlie 
He’s a very shy but sweet cat who loves playing with a red shoelace.
Anyway, what I want to remember for the upcoming year is how blessed I am to have been born into my family, with an admirable brother who is following in the footsteps of my very hardworking parents. I was just in the kitchen talking to them, asking them about how 401ks work and housing mortgages, and that of course led to another conversation about how hard they had to work during their youth to secure two homes, pay off my brother and my college educations without financial aid, for my mother to be retired at 50, and for their bi-annual vacations including cruises to the Mediterranean, etc.
I can understand why they look at the way I spend money and get so frustrated; I seem to always forget that they had to struggle through grad school with the language barrier and also hold a side job to pay for continuing their education. And two years out, they saved enough for the downpayment on the old Elmhurst house – much like what my brother is doing now.
More than anything, I’M frustrated with myself. It’s unclear to me how or when material things became so ‘necessary’ to me, but I’m hoping to change that slowly. It’s true that my only expenses right now are leisurely / frivolous ones; my lunches are paid for and technically, so is my rent – so for 2009, I must monitor exactly where my money is going & continually evaluate / re-evaluate if my purchases are for things that will build myself and my family a better life.
2009 Resolutions, 3 days early:
01. Save money & make smart purchases, start tithing!
02. Walk with God, fellowship?
03. Be good to the rents, maybe a monthly dinner out.
04. Less anger.
05. Be a good steward of my position at work (this one, is of course, from the brother).
