Every time I pull up to a gas pump these days, I want to cry - or put my fist through the LED display on top of the pump, neither of which is productive. When I bought 'Tite Blanche (back in 2000, it cost me about $13 bucks to fill up the 15 gallon tank. It cost four times that this week - and prices continue to rise.
I pay my rent and bills without a second income in the household, 'cause it's just me. I look at my budget every single doggone week and make decisions on what I can and can't afford to do. Or go to. Or eat. It's called being a grown-up.
I don't expect the West Kingdom to weep for me, much less miss me if I decide not to attend an event because it's not in my budget. I don't really care if the Kingdom perceives me as "not SCA enough" based on how many events I make to. Someone actually posted that - "not SCA enough" - in a huff this morning. Despite the way it seems sometimes, the Kingdom is not a hive mind, it's made up of as many opinions as it has people. Some people will miss me, some people won't notice my absence, some people will roll their eyes when I show up in Japanese dress, or mutter imprecations about the f******* hurdy gurdy, some people will respect me for having my priorities straight, some people will thank me for playing for the dancers.
It is what it is, boys and girls. Times are tough all over.
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