How Much?

How much is happiness? A cone of ice cream on a lazy afternoon is happiness, market price at $2. Dinner with loved ones is a source of happiness, with approximately $50 price-tag attached to it. Movies with friends, $10, prattling over Starbucks, $7, satisfying the craving for blueberry cheesecake, another $7. All these are expenditures. They evolve around dough. So how much does happiness really cost?

Two friends and I visited a resident of an old folk's home yesterday. She was looking desolate; she courageously admitted she was. She stays in a private room solely. She has exclusive access to the amenities inside it, for a high price as expected. The downside: it secludes her from the world two steps outside her door, allowing her solitary existence to devour her, with her consent. It is taking its toll on her.

Immediately upon arrival, we wanted to enter the room to begin the conversation. The initial plan was to sit with her, say the Rosary, have a chat, then go home. I approached the door; she was on the phone. Not wanting to disturb her as the conversation she was having appeared to be of significant value, we left momentarily to visit other residents.

Fifteen minutes or so after, we returned to her place. She was still on the phone. Spending time with her was the only goal for the day, and so as not to waste precious moments, I brazenly knocked on her door. She might not be expecting our visit, but immediately upon recognizing us she put the phone down to entertain her guests. We later found out she was conversing with her niece. I guess our presence was more essential than the one she was speaking with.

We wanted to start the prayer. We took out our booklet, and with Rosary in hand we told her we would commence. But she declined. "Come chat with me instead", she requested. "I am lonely."

The home was three stops away from the bus interchange. The fare was at the minimum, at 0.71 cents per trip. She asked how much we shelled out for the visit; we told her it was insignificant. She insisted finding out the figure; we informed her of the numbers. She was happy to discover that a minimal, unworthy-we-often-disregard-pennies-and-dimes-in-our-wallets, was what it took to get to her place. She needed company. She was delighted to indulge. All it took was a lousy 0.71 cents bus fare to radiate an obscured, reclusive room on the fourth lever of that old folk's home. Her happiness: $0.71 cents worth of company.

A $2 ice cream draws a smile on my face. A 0.90 cent phone call brightens my father's day; he is elated to have heard her daughter's shrilling voice at the other end of the line. Gone were the days when men walked naked, with only the breath of air clothing their bare skin. Days had expired for a free, plucked meal. Spending is part of our daily living. Though at times they bring headaches, the cheapest and the most bargained commodities are the ones that give pure, soulful happiness. Our fare of $0.71 cents has the heaviest weight this week. I can bid double and bet another dollar multiplied thrice, if this may result in a grin on her elongated face. A rare chance for well-spent pennies. Happiness: priceless. :)