I think we worry about the wrong things. For example, more people are killed by donkeys annually than are killed in plane crashes. And more people are killed by church picnic tuna salads (from salmonella poisoning) than shark attacks.

We also worry about money too much, and about how to solve problems. Certainly, we spend more than we should on things that don’t matter. Because every now and then, something will come up and slap you in the face to make you realize how pointless materials and perceptions are.

We ran into a money problem last year that really had me wondering how I would buy food that month, despite the beautiful home and cars and pool we have. It was a cash shortfall, based on a problem with one of our children. I looked at my husband and just said, “What are we going to do?” He didn’t know.

I talked to my sister in Atlanta and she told me she once borrowed $5000 against her Lexus when they had a problem.  Well, I went online and looked for car title loans, and sure enough I found Car Title Loans in Mountain Brook. I didn’t have to go anywhere – I just filled out the forms online in about 15 minutes, and got approval 15 minutes later, and the money the next day. We needed $4000.

I’d do that again, anytime necessary.  I hope it won’t happen for a long time, but it’s good to know it’s there as a backup.

Elephants can’t jump. Every other mammal can.

While that may make you stop and think, isn’t it a little obvious? My sister is more than 400 pounds and she can’t jump either. But I love her.  She’s really the sweetest person. And she can still bust a move on the dance floor. Good thing if she doesn’t jump then.

My sister is also pretty smart about money. She saw our mother struggle with the bills when we were growing up, and that was tough on all of us. It was hard to do without, but even harder to endure the stress. We all work, we work hard. Two jobs usually. But sometimes there are emergencies and at first there ain’t nothing you can do about it. But you find a way. My sister found a way to get emergency money for things, like the time she had to go help her daughter in Chicago. She was in the hospital and needed help getting back in her home. So my sister went and got a car title loan to pay for her airfare there.  It was $320, and her car was worth that at Car Title Loans in Forestdale. They got her that money the next day, in time for her to get to Chicago in time.

Elephants know how to dance too. They just don’t do it with money like my sister.