My First Memory
I graduated high school in the spring of ’96. I stayed in the area because we have a university so I worked and went to school. During the summer of ’98, in June (I remember because it was around my birthday), I hadn’t decided what to ask my Mom for my birthday gift. I was 20 that year and maybe I just couldn’t decide.
Around my birthday – no more then a week before – my Mom took my little brother (then 16 years old) with her out of town to buy another vehicle. Though we grew up in a poor area, my family has always done well. My first car was my Mom’s old one, given to me when she bought something different. That car was passed on to my brother when I got a car, and so on. However, that year, my baby brother got a truck. Mind you it wasn’t anything expensive, a few thousand, and it was paid for in cash. He was so proud of that truck. (It is actually still in the family – my Dad has it now and put a flatbed on it.)
But I remember being so upset that she bought him a car. I remember feeling like I deserved something.
And here is where credit cards/spending/money started playing an emotional part in my life. I had just got my first credit card around that same time. Whenever it was, I had the actual card already. I was so proud that I had my first card I remember showing everyone in my family. I remember a cousin laughing and saying what did I need a credit card for. And up until being upset with the purchase for my baby brother, I had no clue.
During that time I drove a Bronco. I loved that truck. I still love Broncos! It was an older one so it was big and it was in great condition. Before a tornado/hail storm in our area, the outside was flawless. I took excellent care of it and figured I would have it for years.
Getting back to the birthday, car and feeling owed I made the first purchase on that credit card. I bought a cd player for my car. Not just any cd player, it came with a remote. All of my friends teased me for getting a remote control cd player, I mean how hard was it to lean forward six inches and change the song or turn it up?
If I remember right it was around $400. I think I have a good memory but it is surprising at how clearly I can see all of the events surrounding this.
During college I did the same thing – I went shopping if I was *whatever emotion* – of course, one does have to count boredom as an emotion. I ended up with an impressive collection of cds, movies and books, 99.5% I still own today. (I don’t consider myself a packrat but I don’t buy something unless I really like/love it so why get rid of it?) I could find something from back then if asked – but I doubt I’d remember anything surrounding why I purchased it.