Story time! Join me with a mug o' hot chocolate or something equally yummy.

My father left my mother when she was pregnant. Incidentally, she was pregnant with not one baby, but twins. My older brother was three at the time and, I imagine, was into everything. I still cannot conceive how my mom made it through that period of her life.

My father bought my brother a $4 pair of used shoes and took it off of the child support billing for that month. One day, my twin asked for a pair of $20 school pants. My dad complained incessantly. I believe he has spent more money for cigarettes, potato chips, lemon marmalade stuff, and weed than on all of his children combined.

This is not to say that my brothers and I ever went without. My mother, on the other hand, never gave into anything even remotely self-indulgent. As my brothers and I vacationed with my father and the woman he lived off of at the moment, my mom worked full time and gave us everything possible. We had warm beds, clothes, food, and love within my mother's home. I did not believe that we were poor.

It disturbs me that social class relies so heavily on money. Sure, money is great, and some even say it makes the world go 'round. Money cannot make up for an abuse or neglect or disrespect or run of the mill dysfunction. I wonder if it would be cheesey of me to say that I am happy without ridiculous amounts of money. Well, I am. So there.

Good night, every one. Sleep tight.