The Best of Us Can Find Happiness in Misery...

I have this friend who works a bunch and even invested in some stocks and is now semi-wealthy. BUT...he's still in college. Now most of the people in our group are all gung ho about his recent stumble upon good fortunate. I however, am not. First of all, we're in college. Being rich in college is like finding money in baby poop and bird saliva. Yes, you've got money but you're still buried in crap. I honestly feel like one of the joys to being in school is having the satisfaction of knowing that not showering for 2 days, eating breakfast at 12:30am, and being poor is actually encouraged. In fact, being or doing the opposite of any of those makes you a freak. I mean being a millionaire in college proves what exactly?... besides the fact that you obviously don't need college to be successful OR happy OR a reason to shower. Which brings me to my next point, happiness.

What makes a person happy? Is it cars? Is it girls? Is it money? Perhaps is the satisfaction of Karma. Or perhaps it's because when I was younger my brain was fueled by the Justice League and Sesame Street. Consequently, I now secretly hope to marry the red Power Ranger and bring down the no-good doers of our society. Now half of you are probably smirking but, I'm dead serious. You know those nosey people that sit around hoping to catch someone getting arrested, stealing, or damn near stop every time they see a wreck? Yeah, that's me. Note to self: [stop watching so much Law & Order]--Still, I really like when people 'get what's coming to them'. In fact, when I was younger I was so into the whole good-versus- evil persona that I would keep count of how many 'points' each 'team' got. A sense of justice makes me happy.

But, this post is about one of my semi-best friends, Soniya. Soniya just graduated-which I honestly didn't think would ever happen. Her name isn't actually Soniya and she didn't technically graduate but, these are minor details in a mixed Palestinian home. If you walk across the stage, you've graduated, and then it's time to get married. At her graduation open house last Sunday I was blown away at her amazing backyard. Her parents went all out, Kufta, burgers, lamb, chicken, 3 types of dips, 4 types of drinks, cakes, cupcakes, hummus, assorted appetizers, and even the matching napkins/table clothes. They had volleyball, soccer, a trampoline, horse shoes, and a hammock. They really went above and beyond to show their support for their daughter. What they didn't however know is the extent to which she cheated and conned her way through school. I love the girl to death but, lately she's just been around the wrong influences. It was time for Karma to be served.

Picture this quaint and happy blossoming teen girl swinging in the wind. Now picture the bag of pot nestled deep within her pocket, tucked away from her mother. Also picture the approaching 58 yr old aunt/neighbor going to hug her, ready to gift the 'well deserved graduation money'. For whatever reason Rosemary thought it would be cute to sneak the money into Soniya's pocket, acting like it was a drug deal. And for whatever other reason the gust of wind from the swing carried her pot out of the pocket and into the yard.

Then for whatever other other reason, I laughed.