The Fifty-Dollar Ham
April 13, 2009 By: almostgotit Category: America, Honey baked ham, Uncategorized, budget, family finances, finances, givingWe spent Easter with dear friends, and we were put in charge of the ham.
It’s not difficult to find ham in Tennessee, but there’s plain old ham and there’s delicious, yummy, breathtakingly *good* ham.
So once a year or so, we have been in the habit of visiting a certain store which I shall not name here for legal reasons.
At Christmas and Easter, the lines are so long that the store moves its cash registers to a booth outside, and hires a police officer to manage the traffic going in and out of the small parking lot. I went a little earlier this year to get my ham, and had to stand in line anyway.
I shuffled past the displays of side dishes and flavored mustards, declined the free sample of smoked turkey breast, and finally arrived at the counter where I ordered a smallish half-ham. My mouth watered as the clerk presented me with the fragrant, foil-wrapped prize, which he opened for my inspection.
Ah.
“Yes, that will be fine,” I said, politely swallowing my drool. I only peeked at the price as I was walking to the teller. I had just selected a *FIFTY DOLLAR* ham.
$51.27, to be perfectly exact.
That’s 25 meals at a local homeless shelter. A week of groceries for some American families. Half a month’s wage in rural Russia. Two and a half flocks of ducks for Heifer project. A year’s worth of learning materials for 11.4 school children in Zimbabwe (or 5 school children in either Mozambique and Rwanda). Four complete sets of immunizations for children in Haiti.
And part of one wonderful, celebratory meal a year for eight good friends in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Do you struggle with things like this, too?
April 13th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Ah, it’s amazing isn’t it. There was a thing in Little Rock years ago where people where asked to eat off a certain amount of money each day that was the equivalent of what was spent on food for either the food pantry or the homeless shelter. I can’t remember which. The amount was something like 8.97.
So my friends spent that when they went to the grocery store. They were going to eat the 8.97 meals on a particular day. In the meantime, she had the rest of the groceries including a $10 steak that she and her husband were going to have for dinner that night.
But my major complaint isn’t that those of us who can afford it eat high quality food, it’s that the food pantries and shelters and such tend to have such poor quality food.
And that’s why I’m so thrilled that you plugged Heifer Project. Incredible charity, and I hear from my friends who have spent most of their lives working in Third World countries that Heifer is highly regarded for always coming through when they say they are going to do something and then really making a difference when they do. Check it out: http://www.heifer.org/
April 13th, 2009 at 10:45 am
For what it’s worth, I don’t know the cost, but at my lunch with friends yesterday, we had salmon fillets shipped from Alaska. I’m betting that the breakdown in cost was similar. Three fillets for nine adults and one 3 year old.
April 13th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
I sometimes find myself feeling guilty about the incredible lifestyle we enjoy (most of us) here in America. What bothers me more, though, is the abundance of oppressive, corrupt governments abroad who keep the people in those countries from the happy, productive, and abundant lifestyles that they also are entitled to. I attended a funeral at Arlington over the weekend; that place is such a profound reminder of the men and women who were (and are) committed to helping us preserve our lifestyle here in America—including the ability to work hard and enjoy the fruits of our labors—and the cost of that.
A friend of mine who is now sadly gone strongly believed we were all put here to help each other. I think she was right about that, and it’s important to remember (and you, almostgotit, are a role model for serving others!). But I hope you and your family enjoyed your fifty-dollar ham. You supported the economy and helped pay somebody’s wages when you bought it. And isn’t it a great thing that you could do that? Happy Easter Monday!
April 14th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Sounds like you have good taste to me!
Yes I struggle with my choices, with what I like and what I can afford. Often I feel that if I can’t afford what I like then I’m depriving myself. That’s hooey and out of skew with reality.
Comparing relative costs is important in & of itself. Comparing relative costs is important as a tool to frame the abundance we are blessed with. Here is a another frame for abundance: http://sweetwilliamnow.blogspot.com/2009/02/poverty-abundance.html
We are called to be responsible stewards of our abundance. We are called to be responsible stewards of our impovershment. We are called to be conscious of our abundance and the poverty within ourselves and within the human family, whether it’s in Africa or just over the mountain in Jellico, TN. And we are blessed with choice and called to make informed choices so to work to shape future choices.
Why is inexpensive food so nutritionally impoverished?
But just pretend how is it irresponsible for one to purchase a savory ham in celebration, to enjoy with friends and family and in prosperity and harmony, especially while you are in health. Being with and enjoying dear friends is a blessing. Enjoying prosperity and harmony and good food with dear friends is a blessing.
Now me, I wouldn’t put up with the cars and a police office managing parking in a small parking lot, the lines. Nope, not even for a large ham. I’d turn and learn to bake my own ham. Or better still grill a savory lamb roast, with garlic cut into the roast (they’re yummy!), mint jelly, potatoes, carrots, and a side of peas w/ pearl onions, and copious amounts of red wine, and spend $50 on Rita’s or Magpies’ cupcakes.
Soooooo I sense you’re especially thankful for the ham and for your family and friends, and fellowship, and a day to celebrate. Nice.
April 15th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Yes, it bugs me too.
On a lighter note, isn’t this the universe making itself right with the Target Waffle Iron??