I love this short story because it shows the plight of the working poor (count me a foot soldier there) and how we all want something in our life that provides a little light and joy now and then, as purchased in this world of growing expenses and dwindling incomes. My radical sociologist prof @ uni called this phenomenon the "Pink-Telephone Syndrome." He theorized that we all want a pink phone (from Ma Bell, this was the ''80s) when all that was available were ugly black ones. His theory of late-stage capitalism predicted the iPhone, viral media, and just about any object worship of the past 30 years or so. I have had to decide whether to eat or to buy a shiny bobble, many times over in my life. While I don't have a crystal pineapple (I sure would like one), I do have a painting paid for out of the rent money that reminds me of my now-passed Mum. The moment I saw the painting at a local gallery I knew I had to have it - I made the artist (a pal) take the painting down from the opening's wall and wrap it up on the spot! Now, like you, I have a "crystal pineapple" on the shelf.
I love this short story because it shows the plight of the working poor (count me a foot soldier there) and how we all want something in our life that provides a little light and joy now and then, as purchased in this world of growing expenses and dwindling incomes. My radical sociologist prof @ uni called this phenomenon the "Pink-Telephone Syndrome." He theorized that we all want a pink phone (from Ma Bell, this was the ''80s) when all that was available were ugly black ones. His theory of late-stage capitalism predicted the iPhone, viral media, and just about any object worship of the past 30 years or so. I have had to decide whether to eat or to buy a shiny bobble, many times over in my life. While I don't have a crystal pineapple (I sure would like one), I do have a painting paid for out of the rent money that reminds me of my now-passed Mum. The moment I saw the painting at a local gallery I knew I had to have it - I made the artist (a pal) take the painting down from the opening's wall and wrap it up on the spot! Now, like you, I have a "crystal pineapple" on the shelf.