before life took a **** I meant to write this down. Last week.

From the family car to the toilet seat to paper cups to fast food, there are brand names, psychological symbols of ease & laziness &waste, wherever we look (in most parts of the so called developed world).

A few days ago i saw a ford escort and that triggered brief memories of the family car when I was pre-10 yes

It really got me tjinking about the dumb"nuclear family" model and how in our isolation (in USA) we replace meaningful relationships and activities with things like fast food, movies, what have ya.

At least i know that i do.

Well now that I'm a pauper i see the great stupidity of the nation. The asshats holding lots of cash allow consumerism to bankrupt them.

People with full time jobs living on credit, for example. Theres just way too much. No matter how much money folkd make they manage to waste most.

Living cheaply empowers us so very greatly, to give to the poor and do social work such as publishing or referrals to services etc.

But not if we are living vacation to vacation. Paycheck to paycheck, etc. If we live like that there is little chance to help others .

Only when we realize how little we need and still be able to produce joy, art, compassion, reform, and understanding...

Will we grow beyond the cage of consumerism.

I meant to tslk about food industry more and how in some ways destroys culture of home cooking but for others, provides inspiration for cooking ..

Ie buying the cooked chicken at the deli rather than expecting kids to wait...

Usa land of the pre emptive strike... Not much waiting happening here lol ;(

When i was in the military , food was my comfort unfortunately, and this went on for a long time..

When we acquire pickiness or become dependent on corporate power to meet our needs, we are no longer providing for our families ;(

My parents were fiscally quite poor. They did not experience "plenty" until the near end of my dad's life. Then back into poverty.

If he had appreciated my mother's effort to provide good food and not viewed eating out as a reward, I would have learned to appreciate the hard work both of them did.

Perfectionism is a tough nut.

P.s. until working for Sematech my dad liked gardening. It did not happen in texas sadly but when he finslly moved back to ky he reacquired that green thumb.

We were impoverished materially but had food always. Squash, corn, beans, peas etc