the adventures of pamalicious

As I was cruising down I-20 this morning blaring Duran Duran out of my open windows, I almost stopped dead in the freeway as I saw a camper towing a car beside me.  My first reaction was to throw back a few haterades because of the fact they could even get that sucka out the driveway. How much does it cost to fill that so and so up?!  Doesn’t that thing get 5 MPG?!  Whew!

As gas prices and food prices rise, it makes me think vaguely back to the last time this happened and how it kinda glossed over in my world. I don’t think I had any responsibility for my own upkeep then, lol  So I can’t remember it that well - NOW I am in it and I want to forget it!

I watch GMA every morning and they have all kinds of stories about folks choosing gas over food (!!) and the choices we are Americans have to make.  Well of course a lot of folks know - black americans about to get on a whole nother agenda.

When I heard the story of the woman not giving her kids b’fast to buy gas, it just went right over my head because that’s not an option!  Where are her survival skills?  Ok, I don’t know all of her situation - but I do know a bag of rice, some butter and some sugar makes a dandy breakfast. I know that bread and peanut butter makes one as well.  I know that hell beans can make a breakfast if necessary.

I feel that a couple of things are going to start happening as gas approaches $5.00 by 4th of July like they say.  White people are going to get drastic (sigh( and we are going to go into survival mode.  We, no matter your income bracket, always feel one check away from being broke and know how to act accordingly.  Why do these things catch them so off guard.

I am however seeing some cracks in a lot of my ‘middle and upper middle class, I got a good job and live in a cul de sac’ black brethren.  You know we run a very good game and can fake it all the way till we make it.  However, the whole gas thing is starting to penetrate our facades and I hear slight whining off in the distance.

Currently we are spending between $700 and $750 A MONTH on gasoline for that mofo the Durango.  My wedding gift given with love might as well been the damn clap!!  That’s a huge chunk out of anyone making less than say $100K a year a month.  That totals $9000 a year that can be spent on gas. That’s a lot of money.  Seeing as the rest of your bills are not going away, and you might wanna EAT and in general LIVE - a whole bunch of us are quietly having to take Tylenol PM to get some rest at night. 

Having been on both sides of the fence, the single mom in me is beside herself with grief for her fellow sistas.  How in the hell with this mess can you make it?  You always do, but this has got to be a serious kick in the cervix for a lot if not all of you.

I’ve begun to look at our activities, our groceries, our disposable (oops we don’t have that anymore) income.  Family Trip CANCELLED!  the quick pre-packages cute let’s try this food CUT.  It’s hot as hell, but stews, chili’s and the crock pot are up in my house.  I bought the BAG OF CHICKEN QUARTERS!  I have a pocketbook full of coupons.  I’ll be rocking this pony until further notice, my ‘no we can’t do that right now’ to my child has increased by 25% (this I am not happy about).  Library here we come, I need a sale at the thrift now!

As I was packing I found my Y2K stove and lanterns.  I’ll be moving those to someplace we can get our hands on them.  I don’t know which direction this is going in.  Should we get a gun?

No, I’m not in panic mode, but it’s T-I-G-H-T and I’m (well we’re) stressed, and I can’t shut my mind off, and I want to rebel and go get a mani/pedi and sew-in with some new clothes.  I’m tired of bringing my freaking lunch!  I’m glad I really not only love but like my family - cause we bout to get out the monopoly and get real acquainted with each other, lol 

I see folks about to not be helping folks.  I see folks not about to be asking you over unless you bring yo own shit, cause you not bout to eat/drink mines.  I see folks bout to have some sweet ass yard sales etc.  because it’s getting tight.

So my question is: Have you admitted that gas is kicking yo ass?  Have you went into black folks mode or are you always there?  Have you seen your coworkers (especially the toubob - start to worry)?