Anthology of Snippets

Have you ever heard of the proverbial rhyme called “For Want of a Nail”? I have. I know of that rhyme since I was in preschool, since I really loved to read, and I had access to many books. In case some of you have not heard of it, the rhyme goes like this:

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

Back then, the weight of the rhyme was not so evident on me. Of course, I knew that all that hullabaloo was because of that one single nail, but I never thought more of it.

One time, when my mom came to visit me, she went into this motherly lecture state, emphasizing on the difference between a “want” and a “need” – I was in elementary then. She said that “wants” are those things that you really like, but if you do not get it, you will still live or survive. On the other hand, “needs” are those things that you must really have. She said that an example of a “need” is good food, water, air, good clothing, tuition fees, education, etc. Whereas “wants” are toys, junk food, new clothes, and other flights of fancy. Suffice it to say, I think I learned a lot from that “one-time” talk. At any rate, I was never a demanding child, nor one who asks. I think she was setting the record straight before I get any ideas and start asking for stuff. LOL. It worked. And I am really glad I learned about it. It saved her and my grandmother a lot of money.

Fast forward to roughly 13 years after the episode, I got stuck weighing things over a new computer or just having my 6-year old computer fixed. It was badly NEEDed you know, so a new computer would have been lovely. Torn, I prayed to God for advice, and tapped into what my mom said. In the end, I stuck with my old computer, and it suited me well. At least, in the long run, I did get a new computer, but I did not get into financial trouble just because I wanted a faster computer.

What is all the fuss with the nail? You see, right now, I am in love. My heart is begging so much for a digital camera that I fear it would break if I did not get one. I could pull out so many justifications as to why I should get one, but I can hear my mom’s voice in the background. THINK! Weigh things! Consider the babies!

Although getting a digital camera means I have to shell out Php. 1,000.00 a month, which is pretty much doable. I am hesitant. I think I should just let my heart break itself over the misery of a digital camera. Maybe I will just save for one, rather that buy one on installment. Who knows? Maybe when the time comes that I have enough money stacked away, I might fall for something else? Hahahaha.. Besides, I really do not want to take the risk of getting into trouble… all for a nail [a digital camera]…