There is an infographic that shows the highest salary is in all fifty states. I noticed that I had opinions about this.
One of the career winners was a football coach. Really? Is that indicative of our preeminent values as a nation? Who decided that they should make as much in one day as I made my entire first year
of teaching third grade? I was annoyed. They should have done it differently.
Then I played out the imaginary scenario in my mind. Sean Payton rings me up.
"Hey, Lori Odhner? Thanks for taking my call. Catch you at a good time? I heard that you have solid ideas about what I should get paid. The NFL and I have been tossing around some numbers but I wanted to get your input before I sign."
Considering the fact that I
have in my lifetime spent precisely zero on either professional sports tickets or an HBO channel, and that I am one of the minority left on this continent that do not watch the Superbowl, the conversation seemed unlikely. I did buy a lacrosse stick for my son last year for his birthday. It was pretty pricey.
Why should I get a vote on how someone else spends their money?
I started to see signs of my self importance
elsewhere.
"They shouldn't have taken such an expensive vacation."
"That college for their kid? There were better options."
"They spent more on a night out than I do on food for a week."
One of Benjamin's favorite words is pompous. It about summed me up.
While those instances involved money that went from someone else's
pocket to yet another person's hands, I deemed myself a worthy broker.
My self inflation extends to the cash I share with John. Although arguably I am more personally involved in transactions that involve him, probably it does not entitle me to get huffy when he spends fifty bucks.
After all, he socks three quarters of the resources that make up our account, yet I have more than my quarter of
judgments. Even for marriages that are more financially equitable than ours, controlling thoughts can snake in faster than a knot of rattlers.
I think my attention is better focused on infographics about altruism. I wonder who would win the highest rank. Probably not me.
