What can you do with $100

My husband works at a medical residency and as part of the training, doctors have to practice various medical procedures and examinations. One such examination is the ultrasound. I am a big supporter of education and probably would have volunteered myself to have an ultrasound done at no charge, but as it was, they offered me $100 for said examination. Score! This post really is not about the ultrasound, but as long as we are on that topic, I might as well digress. I’ve never heard of an ovarian cyst discussed in a positive or even neutral light. Normally you hear “she had to have her ovaries removed because she had a cyst the size of a football” or “she passed out because of the pain caused by a cyst on her ovary” or “ she spontaneously combusted because the doctor told her she had a cyst on her ovary”. Because of the contextual implications of having overheard such discussions for the last 26 years, I was shocked to be sitting in the exam room, legs up on the table, with 6 doctors surrounding me and hear the words spoken casually “see that dark spot there—that’s a cyst”. I went into a state of panic and couldn’t figure out why no one else in the room seemed at all alarmed. Finally, after what seemed like 5 minutes, one of the doctors explained to me that cysts come and go and that there wasn’t anything wrong. Whew.

Moving on—so, I got my check for $100 and when I went with my husband to the bank to deposit the money, he suggested that I cash the check rather than putting it in the bank. What? Seriously? See—when a check is cashed, there is no longer any obligation associated with that money. Cash means that there is no record. Cash means that this money has no responsibility. Cash means that I don’t have to think that maybe I should have paid the Geico bill with this money rather than buying a new t-shirt. Cash is the best thing in the world because I can put it in the waterproof box in my sock drawer and think for weeks, months, even years about what I can buy with my cash. It is better than gold or cold fusion, or a 0% interest no payments for 3 years credit card with my name on it. See—if money is in the bank and we talk about buying new shoes with it—that offer is only good until the money is spent on something else and then the shoes are no more; but cash, well, cash is different. Cash is a dream. It must be savored. It must be treated with respect. It must be cherished.

So far, I’ve thought of the following ways to spend my $100: office supplies, a coat, garden hose, water bottle, workout clothes, yoga videos, titanium mugs, warm socks, hiking boots, shoes, earrings, camisoles, cardigans, funky short dress pants, nice jeans, a swimming pool (okay, I know that one doesn’t add up), books, take my husband to dinner, dish towels, bath towels, anything Dragonfly sells, nail polish or a massage.

So, basically I’ve spent the money 6.8 times, but at the same time I haven’t spent it all. Cash glorious cash. I think I’ll spend it another 10 times before it is gone…or else I’ll blow it all on Wednesday—I have the day off of work!