As I was walking home with the flowers I thought about how much they cost and what our maid is earning today. I felt a little guilty at my good fortune to be able to buy flowers and not have to worry about feeding a family tonight.
I wonder if Carlos Slim ever thinks about things like that.
8 comments:
The maid is thinking about how lucky she is to have a job working for a real human being and Sims is thinking about that next peso. Flowers are nice, I grow them in my fields next to my vegetables, a mans got to eat...
I had that thought the other day as well. I was driving home and one of the women who sells flowers on the street had the first Mariposa ginger flowers of the season. I bought 3 bunches - she gave me a deal rather than change :) - at the tope and felt kind of extravagant. I knew I could get them for a little less by next week at the flower market but I was so happy to see them. Three bunches for $50 pesos seems so little at times but I started considering what it means to her and what it would mean to those who work for so little. It's a conundrum, you are right that in so many ways it is just luck of the draw.
Jonna, I do try to remember that when I buy something like the flowers or even a filete de res, that I am providing a job for someone. They may not have the money to buy flowers but I hope that they have enough to feed their family.
Blue agapanthus, but what's the other? The remind me of Louisiana ditch glads, but can never remember the name.
Imogene
Imogene, it is orange crocosmia.
I don't know if Carlos Slim thinks like that but I think of him quite often and wonder if he will give back to Mexico for all he has received from her. He has the power to make Mexico a better place and he should.
Joan
The woman who cleans my house is a local photographer/artist who has a house cleaning business so she can afford her passion. Couldn't be a better arrangement -- she understands my "photoing" mess. And the girl I have doing yard work is the younger sister of a former student (now friend) who is working as a photographer out of Austin. He is a Clark graduate and his little sister will be in another year. She wanted a job outside for the summer and I wanted someone to work my yard. Neither of these people are paid a lot, but it's providing them with what they need at this moment in their lives. Cost me $90 every two weeks for the housekeeping, and the yard girl gets $15/hr. And I don't have to do any of it. Win-Win.
Frank, I try to think of it as a Win-Win situation but I know that the difference in my life and hers is huge.
Post a Comment