Values

Last night at dinner we had the following conversation:

Elena - Mom, can we make that rice thingy? For breakfast again, it was so good!
(She is referring to a rice porridge that I bought back from GSA in Minneapolis. It was Mahnomin wild rice hand gathered in canoes smothered in heavy cream -ok, maybe not so native, maple syrup, toasted nuts, and dried fruit - get your own here: http://www.hellskitcheninc.com/all-items/porridge-kit/ )

Mom - That wild rice is actually hard to find, and pretty expensive.

Elena - They don't have it at Echo Hill? I've seen it.

Dad - yeah, but not the native kind, it's different.

Mom - It would be really cool to take a trip to Minnesota and see them harvest it and learn about rice. That would be cool! (to Jake) We should do that for sabbatical...we should travel all over visiting sustainable food sites.

Dad - and how are we going to pay for this?

Mom - we could get a full bright? Or write a book and get an advance! (spoke with authority, like one of us has ever written a book, let alone gotten an advance). Then we could rent the house to who ever is our replacements and....(extensive external mental planning)...maybe we should start saving now!

Dad - So....we either save for the kids college or go on sabbatical.

Elena - Mom, which one would you pick.

Mom - (looks away with guilt...)

Elena - You should save for college. I want to go to college.

Egan - I want a monkey riding a pony.

And there you have it folks....