Living a little – A LOT!

You have heard the expression, “live a little”. There won’t be a more appropriate expression especially when you are pulling an “abesha” and start trying to save on, say, a paper towel by waiting for it to dry before applying it to a wet surface. Or when you roll your eyes at the price of a plate of raw fish that looks like a smidge on an otherwise clean and fancy plate.

“Live a little!”, you are told, “[spend that money, take that risk, break loose from that bondage – and go crazy – for once]. Yetabatu! zelalem ayinor“.

But what happens when you live a little – a lot!? When “living a little” becomes the rule instead of the exception and the “beal” treat becomes an “azebot” regular you pile on yourself with the vigor of a ram let loose in the mountains [a death-row inmate walking feet-deep in sand?! Or an Ethiopian finding himself infront of a buffet full of fancy food and nobody to watch him eat]. What happens when your plate no longer tastes good without that extra spoon of butter?! When Starbuck’s Caffè Americano becomes the drug you can’t start your day without?! When a weekend doesn’t feel like a weekend without a party to go to?!

Do you live, the way I do, in guilt – waiting for the day you’d be forced to pay for it [by God, or whoever holds the ledger on sins and excesses] with “tirff”?!

Or do you become American: entitled, dissatisfied and always pushing the envelope a little bit further?!