Adjusted Philosophy 102 - Save for the Rainy Day

A good friend of mine, by name Bassy, usually have the above quote - save for the rainy day - at his lips almost always all the time anyone spends money to get a good food for himself. We both met during our Industrial Training at one of the Nigeria government's parastatals. Let me tell you more about my friend Bassy and his usual quote.

Bassy is a gentleman and very hard working. But he lives an austere form of life that left him not much endearing among the folks in that firm. He is tall and dry (you know what I mean) with a very stern looking demeanor. And most of the guys, excepts the likes of Bassy, love to explore whatever enjoyment it is that life throws at them. My friend's miser upon himself became so obvious that during the noon break, when every other persons are savoring their lunch, Bassy will be busy with his usual snack (Gala) and a bottle of Coca Cola. People around will usually cajole him to order for a plate of food that has no much financial difference from the snack and Coke, but Bassy will always encourage them to save for the rainy day.

One day, Bassy's "save for the rainy day" philosophy was very much challenged after one of the friends, who is very much close to him, made an unexpected comment concerning that. She said to him: "Bassy why save for the rainy day when you're already drenched?" "See how dry you are and oftentimes you complain of one sickness or the other and will usually spend money to go for one medical test or the other because you fail to consume foods that are nutritious to your body that would have assisted you in keeping healthy" Bassy was very much embarrassed as he was put on the spotlight by that question that left and indelible question mark on his stern face. To all present, the situation was not funny at all until the following day during the noon break when to the greatest surprise of all, Bassy was seen ordering for a plate of food with extra meats and fish.

That day the whole canteen went agog as Bassy finished the first plate and asked for an extra. When he finished eating, he heaved a sigh of relief and exclaimed: "Ehee! At least once in a while!" From that day on, Bassy was given a new surname - "Once in a while Bassy". In fact out of appreciation for the good he did to himself, many persons around volunteered to pay for Bassy's plate of food.

That day marks a new beginning as Bassy was seen every afternoon ordering a plate of food like the rest of us. We always remind him to save for the rainy day and he'll usually respond: "Please do, but not when you're in the rain already."

Lesson: Be balanced and do not mar your health while saving for the rainy day. In order to remain alive when the rainy day eventually comes, that is, if you're not already in the rainy day.