Semiotics of value.
Money is anything that gives you the thrill of getting money with little or no effort.
Work is not money.
I have always had more than my fair share, but the years I spent in Las Vegas totally destroyed any sensibility I had as to what it means to work hard and be rewarded.
I lost a good job at a Strip casino as a Sous Chef because I walked out in the middle of a busy Friday night shift when I received a call from a police officer. He said he was from the North Las Vegas police department and he was calling because my dog, Chopper, was impaled on a chain-link fence he had tried to jump. Normally, Chopper was an incredible jumper, but there had been some rare rain activity, so evidently, he tried to jump this five-foot fence and slipped and failed to clear it, landing on two chain-link spokes.
When I got the call, I didn’t even think.
I was gone.
As a chef candidate, I was on the short list.
This was a list you wanted to be on. It was basically a resting area right before you landed a plum Executive Chef position , hopefully at one of the larger, more prestigious Hotel-Casinos.
I threw all that out without a moment’s notice.
I introduced myself to the policeman who had called. The officer told me that several people, still gathered around, had tried to approach Chopper to try and help him, but he would not let anyone get near him.
The officer talked about calling Animal Control to give him a tranquilizer so he could be removed from the fence. I don’t recall exactly what I said to him, but I’m sure I nixed that idea right off the bat.
I told everyone to stand back and I walked up to my little boy and said in my most calming voice, “It’s OK, buddy, let me lift you up,” and he remained perfectly still as I picked him up and took him into my condo.
He was cut bad and I did the basic blood-stopping and cleaning, but immediately after drove him to the emergency pet hospital where he underwent surgery and received several stitches and a few shots.
I stayed at the hospital for seven hours as they fixed up my best friend in the whole world.
As I gently placed him on his favorite soft blanket, Chopper looked up at me in gratitude.
Money.
Money to a musician comes in many forms. One is just playing music, period. Then there are tips which make every player happy. When someone cares enough to put a tip in your case or jar, they are giving you the highest compliment possible.
But there is one that tops them all.
I did a one-hour show at Sanctuary at Wilmington Place up in Dayton, and the nursing home residents were a joy to perform for. Singing along when able, I received several rousing rounds of applause, but one woman told me she loved my show and this is MONEY!!!
Stay well.
