I called my mom when I found out that I can't buy the laptop. It's not that I can't afford the computer, but it turns out that we don't have internet in my apartment, and I can't afford the monthly payment. I vented my frustration to my mother, telling her how disappointed I am. This is just another disappointment among many. My current job temping is another big one; in fact, it is the big one. It is the reason that my feet hurt, that I ride a bus two hours each day, that I cannot pay off my debt as quickly as I would like, and the reason that I cannot use the internet except once a week. I hate my job, but crappy pay is better than no pay. I thought buying a computer would be a viable solution to my frustrations. I could use the internet at night to check email, apply for jobs, etc. Well, that dream died.
"You know," my mom said, "if you just got married, all your problems would go away."
Yes, she meant it seriously.
"Really?" I asked her. "Getting married would make me more marketable?"
She didn't answer.
"So, getting married will make the job I hate go away? It will get me a new and better position?"
"Well, no; but being married, some expenses go down, you know. You'd be able to share rent."
"I share rent now," I answered.
"I know, but maybe you would worry less about money."
"I'm not worried about money. I hate my job, I hate the bus and I hate beans, but I'm not worried about money."
"But you could..."
"I could what? What would it fix?"
"You'd at least have access to the internet!" she concluded, triumphant.
"Yes, mom, if I got married I would have internet."
I ended the conversation then, because I was angry and I do not talk when I am angry. I felt angry at my mother's attitude. Firstly, since her divorce, she ought to have grown out of the idea that marriage solves problems. Secondly, she acts as though I were purposefully delaying marriage, like I'm not interested in it and I need a bribe to get me to take the plunge. Gee, mom, I've always thought I'd die celibate, but if you think I could get wi-fi... Fairy tales have nothing on my mom when it comes to romance. I can just picture Cinderella standing outside the castle with a cardboard sign: will marry for internet.
