I walked into a Walgreen's drugstore this morning, feeling like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Tears were ready to pour down my cheeks. I couldn't explain to myself or anyone that that's how I've been feeling for the past two days.

I had to pick up some prescriptions and going to the pharmacy, I noticed the photo shop. I had left some negatives there to be developed about a month ago. We had gone to Big Bear and I had promised my sister, who lives out of state that I would send her some shots of the beautiful scenery and snow. She is home dealing with lung cancer.

I waited, and all of a sudden, from around the corner bounced the liveliest, friendliest clerk I had ever been waited on. She was just so pleasant, I wanted to stay and visit awhile but knew she had other customers. I told her that she had made my day. That didn't cost me a dime. The photos did but I knew they would. I seemed a bit lighter footed on my way back to the pharmacy and I knew there was a smile on my face and a bounce in my walk. Happiness is contagious. Money is not.

See? I got my mood changed, the photos for my sister, chocolate bars, and my daily heart medicine for less than twenty-five dollars.

On the other hand, had I not had the money, I would not have been in Walgreen's at all but I did and I was!

Then, again, I could have been at Tiffany's with a stiff faced clerk showing me some of the finest jewels in the land, with that mood I awoke with this morning. I could see him snubbing his nose at me when I asked to see a fine piece for twenty-five dollars, knowing that his commission would be less than a penny on a sale such as that, if there ever was one other than the one in "Breakfast at Tiffany'".

I would have gotten home, cried, had no chocolate for which to soothe my mouth and no heart pills and no photos with which to make my sister happy and come home with a gilded litter lining for the cat's box which would have been scratched to pieces in a few days.

So there you have it - the link between money and happiness. At least, my idea of happiness.

Learn more about this author, E. V. SHAW.
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