So I’m ambling through the grocery store with my cart and my stuff and I’m at the front aisle where the magazines and tabloids are displayed and a tall gentleman there at the display area suddenly turns to me and in what sounds to my untraveled suburban ears Jamaican-accented English says, “What this means – kicks off?” He’s rather urgent in his question and I’m startled and don’t immediately understand what or why he’s asking me and I say “What?” And he points to the section of the tabloid he’s holding and it’s the Astrology column. He points to the Capricorn listing which begins, “March kicks off…”. Oh. I see. “Begins. It means begins or starts off.” I smile. He eagerly says thank you several times.
Oh I wish I could make everyone that happy. Or at least bring clarity to their lives. Should I change jobs? What does this sign mean? Where should I go? What should I do?
Right now, I would like clarity on two issues:
Who to select as our natural gas provider? Dominion Power, WGL, NOVEC, etc. Apparently WGL still delivers the gas in the pipe to our house but how and who we buy it from can be different. We can get it from a variety of purveyors who promise us savings. Great savings. But I’m suspicious. I don’t believe any of these entities has my best interest at heart. They are in business to make money and I get that but I don’t want to make a mistake. Meh.
The other issue I need clarity on is whether to add Medicare Part B to my health insurance portfolio. I already have BC/BS but I got a flyer in the mail from BC/BS touting the benefits of adding Medicare Part B…. Double meh. Again I don’t want to make a mistake.
I am a Gemini. I can argue both sides of an issue. I can argue all day long. This is my favorite participatory sport.
I can weigh the benefits of an issue as well as any Virgo. I can impulsively choose and choose wrong or right as well as any Aquarius. I can forthrightly state a position and stubbornly (Taurus) and enthusiastically (Sagittarius) lead (Leo) or even strongarm (Scorpio / Aries / Capricorn) a group into an action. I don’t cry much about stuff but I do grieve silently (Cancer) over sins of omission. What I lack is balance (Libra). I can worry an issue for months without a resolving action which is infuriating. It means that item on the list is never crossed off. It’s always pending. The paper references can’t be tossed until a determination has been made. And the cost of making a mistake will mean that I will be paying more for something for which I could pay less. If I pay more there will be an opportunity cost – that is to say, there will be something that I can’t have or do because the funds have already been allocated elsewhere.
Where is that kind person who will answer my “What this means?”
First world problems. Yeah that’s right but not even cool first world problems. Old people problems. How boring.
December 2019
Forced Perspective 