Beggars & Peasants

Not all peasants are beggars, but some certainly are.  My neighborhood, in particular, seems to be overrun with panhandlers.  I live less than a mile from where I work (it saves on gas).  Well, yesterday as I was driving home  (yes, even peasants can have cars), I stopped at a red light.  It was a hot day and my windows were down.  The next thing I knew, I heard a woman’s voice from my left saying, “Excuse me Ma’am.”

I looked over and saw a woman walking along the sidewalk, hair undone, t-shirt with a big stain down the middle.

“Yes Ma’am?” I replied.

“Can you help me?  I’m trying to get something to eat,” she said.

I told her that I did not have any food with me.  She came closer to my car until she was right next to me.   While she glanced back and forth through the front and back windows of the car she replied, “That’s okay, just give me a few dollars and I’ll go to Coney’s.”

My car is a bit old and beat up, but I of course am wearing my office clothes and my purse is on the seat right next to me with the top open.  Great.  The light has been green for a few seconds now.  “I’m sorry, I don’t have any cash on me,” I said as I pulled away.

As a rule, I do not give money to strangers. I am afraid that if I do it once, they will wait for me everyday at the stop light.  Panhandlers who are displaying a talent, such as jugglers or street musicians, are different.  I feel that I can give them something with a clear conscience, as I feel a certain reciprocity in a situation like that.

And of course if I have food, I have no problem giving some to someone who asks.   I guess I will pick up some snacks to carry in my car for the next time.

Ciao.

Chill Out!

I don’t have air conditioning, but I do have a very peasant way to keep cool on hot summer days. I stick my foot into an ice filled bucket.

I scraped this ice out of my freezer (even peasants can have freezers!).

Coffee Time!

I am going to show you how to make coffee at home for a fraction of the cost of store bought coffee.

You will need a strainer, ground coffee, a coffee filter, and a mug. Set everything up as in the second picture. Heat up the water, and pour it through the strainer.

Even peasants can afford to drink coffee.

Involuntary Simplicity

The New York Times just released an article describing how some American families are “voluntarily” going back to basics. Selling their possessions and moving their families into semi-nomadic housing arrangements are all part of an effort to escape a consumeristic lifestyle. Experts have coined the phrase “voluntary simplicity” to describe the so-called movement; I call it “The Peasant Life”.

This raises an important question: Just how “voluntary” is the downsizing of our lives? With gas prices reaching $4.00 a gallon, food prices going through the roof, and public transportation that is still full of crazy people, what’s a peasant to do?

Living in America

This blog is about peasants living in The United States of America. If you live in America and you do not own productive land or machinery, then don’t kid yourself — you are a peasant (this blog is for you!).