Thursday, August 21, 2008

Sometimes Life is Not Frugal

Sometimes you just have to squeeze your eyes shut, pinch your nose, stick your fingers in your ears and go "la la la la la!!" to keep from feeling the the effects that some things leave on the pocketbook.

We've made "major" road trips 3 times this week now. So 3+ tanks of gas paid for. Ouch. First we went to McDowell for the reception (that turned into a longer trip than planned, but so worth it!!!). Then we went back up to the Valley Tuesday evening so Daniel could spend a few hours "pickin' an' grinnin'" with Aaron (who was in for a couple days and we haven't seen for 2 yrs) and some of his cronies before coming back home that night (got home at 1:30am). And last evening we drove to Gordonsville (1 hour 1 way) to meet Mom to pick up our peaches from PA that she and Grandpa had picked. Each trip was well worth it, benefiting from time spent with friends and deepening those relationships, the time driving where Daniel and I could talk and visit and grow closer together and deeper in love, and of course the jars of pretty, delicious, yellow, canned peaches on my pantry shelf will be enjoyed until they are all (gone).

Here lately I've been finding myself going to the chiropractor twice a week. 30 smackaroos each time. BIG ouch on the pocketbook with no visual gain or benefit from writing that check each time. But a BIG sigh of relief from physical aches and pains. On the plus side - It's been about 2 years since I've been there regularly (so maybe 2 years of no chiropractic bills??), he now has an office MUCH closer so I'm not driving nearly as far, and the discomfort in my arms HAS lessened considerably. The sad realization is that I will probably need to keep on seeing him (or someone) long-term to keep things from creeping up and becoming an issue. I guess this is part of not being a kid anymore (yes, I wanted to say "getting older" but figured that most of you would just remind me that I'm not "old"). But it is aggravating when we're trying to be frugal and use our $$ the best way possible, and along comes something unplanned and unbudgeted for that will require "alot" of $$ for a while.

So yes, the trips to visit friends and to get the peaches - well worth the gas $$. The chiropractic visits? Worth it health-wise, but I wish it didn't have to be. The best part!!?? I won't need a chiropractor in Heaven and we won't have to drive to see our friends!! Woohoo!! And shucks, that's for ETERNITY, I guess I can deal with temporary here on earth :)

And now I'd best get back out to the kitchen and get started on canning peaches if I'm going to have canned peaches sitting on my pantry shelves!! :)

2 comments:

Sally said... [Reply to comment]

We are discovering that a diabetic diet is not cheap! You don't fill up with bread, pasta, or rice. And to keep the heart and vascular system (not to mention weight) in the best possible condition, that means low-fat meat--lots of chicken and fish. (Diabetics have triple the risk of heart disease as regular people.) Remember, the lilies of the field neither toil nor spin, yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of them.

Halfmoon Girl said... [Reply to comment]

My hubby and I were just talking about how our vehicle insurance has gone up. We try to make all our trips worthwhile too. Your peaches sound yummy!