My mother’s name was JoAnn. As she neared the end of her life everyone called her Grandma Jo including me.
She became increasingly concerned about money. So at every turn she skimped, saved, and in general did everything you would expect from a skinflint.
One day she was eating a candy bar. She never seemed concerned about eating healthy. Her attitude seemed to be when it's time for you to go, you are going. As she got over 80 she seemed to do what pleased her; the consequences be damned.
I made mention of her candy bar.
She was always proud of her good deals and great buys.
“I got this candy bar for a quarter”, she said.
In the year 2021 that was a good buy. A candy bar the size (it was large) she was working on would have been about a dollar.
“Yep she said I got this at the bargain store.”
In his area we have a couple of stores that sell dented cans, or things that are (or have) expired shelf lives. Most things are cheap and there is usually a good reason.
She said, “They were four for a dollar. (pause) But… I had to throw three of them away because they weren’t any good.
“So”, I said, “That candy bar cost you a dollar.”
Concern spread across her face and she explained all over again that the candy bars were four for a dollar which meant that each on was 25 cents.
I then said, yes but if you had to throw 3 away that makes this one, the only one you can use cost a dollar.
I couldn’t tell if she didn’t understand. More likely she wanted that candy bar to be a bargain and no one was going to convince her otherwise.
©David L Arment