$8.76

$8.76

That's the total in my bank account this morning. I suppose I should be happy that I am not in the negative numbers with my bank, the way I am with my condo fees or my credit cards. I am happy enough to ignore my credit cards, but my condo fees, as of this month, will have to be paid. That's just the way it is.

$8.76. It's not the only money I have. Thanks to the generosity of supporters I have almost $400 in my PayPal donation account. This is my November money, not my October money. That $400 is being transferred to my bank account this week because the November bills have already started rolling in, things like my cell phone bill, my Telus bill, my electrical bill, they all come in before month end with the admonition that they are due on such and such date in November and payment on time will avoid interest charges. I can cover those bills, and my condo fees, and my groceries for November but I will do that in November, not now. It's only October; I've spent my October budget.

$8.76 is just enough money to cover the cost of one beer if I wanted to go to Trivia at Swan's tonight. But then I also need the $5,00 cash for the entry fee. Maybe I can scrounge around in my truck and pouch and around my apartment to see if there are a couple of Toonies floating around, that's the Canadian $2.00 coin. If I can find that $5.00, I might go out tonight.

$8.76 is also enough to cover a carton of milk, one that I can pick up, even one that is heavier than I can pick up. It might also cover a pint of cream, just in case I want to make another pumpkin pie. I have the dough in the fridge, ready to roll. I have the other ingredients in my cupboard. Making pie is a fun thing to do. It would most certainly fill my day and evening.

$8.76. I could just leave it there. I have to do laundry today. I have plenty of food in the fridge, plenty of wine in the rack, plenty of laundry to be done. I have laundry soap. The laundry is shared in my building but there is no charge. It's part of those pesky condo fees.

$8.76 is enough to get through this week. I'm okay. I'm not worried. Truth be told, I've already decided to steal $30.00 from my November budget for bit of entertainment this week. It will be in my bank account as soon as my November money is transferred from PayPay, probably on Wednesday. I have a full tank of gas in my truck; that should last for the month of November. I still have that $50 gift card for The Keg that Tonny gave me for my birthday. I'm not poor. I'm not even broke. I'm just making budget decisions like never before.

Soon it will be the end of October. I will begin spending my November budget, albeit a few days early.Then, suddenly, it will be the third week of November and I will be worrying about my December budget. Then January, then February, and on and on. This is not an ALS problem; this is a life problem. Perhaps I am, in an odd way, fortunate. I know that this will end fairly soon. I also know that as time goes by, I will be less able to spend. I will have fewer needs. Then, one day, I will need nothing. That is an ALS certainty.