The $40 Car Wash

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Today, when I sorted through the mail, most of it was junk. There was my cell phone bill, my Town&Country magazine, and then I saw an envelope from my alma mater, Brandeis. I knew what they wanted -- money.

Moments later, Nathan called me, reminding me to come to the high school hockey car wash. I asked him how much the car wash was. It wasn't that the price mattered; I just wanted to make sure I had enough money with me to pay for the car wash. Nathan told me that there was no set price; you just gave a donation. I told him that I'd be there in 30 minutes.

Given that Brandeis costs $48,648 a year now, I don't think I could ever justify giving them any money when I had previously. The thing that kills me about the dips in the economy is that college costs have never taken a hit. Maybe someone in academia can explain this to me, but why don't we ever see ads on TV from any college advertising "Hey, two years for the price of one!"

After Nathan called, I ripped the Brandeis envelope in half and pitched it in the trash, and I then headed off to the Congregational Church to get my car washed by the high school hockey team. When I pulled in, I saw Nathan, rolled down the window, and he said, "Mom, go over there."

I pulled up to a table, and the hockey coach came up to my window. I said, "I'd like to get my car washed," and then I handed him $40. He asked, "Are you sure?" I said, "Yes, of course. My son's on the team, and I want to support the team." He told me to pull my car into a designated spot, and I did.

Nathan came up to the car, and I rolled down the window. I said, "Hey, I just paid $40, so the Saab better be squeaky clean when I leave here!" Nathan said, "What? $40, Mom?" I said, "Should I get out of the car?" He said, "Most people do." I am usually not like most people, but I got out of the car. :-)

I headed toward the table that the coach was standing by. He came over to me and said, "Thanks, again. Nate's a great kid." I said, "You're welcome. Oh, he's okay." :-)

Give Brandeis $40 or give my son's hockey team $40? That was a total no brainer today and will be for the rest of my life. The car wash, the bake sale, the food pantry, the Pan Mass challenge...they'll always get my money; Brandeis won't be getting money from me anytime soon. <3