“What does ‘Money’ mean to me” by Liza Gnirke, Massachusetts

MONEY

PenTales Intern Matthew Gutierrez takes to the street to talk to New Yorkers about money

Meandering through the streets of NoLita, I stopped in a local coffee shop to gently prod the usual café-goers for a donation.  The pitch: “Help a growing boy build a working, on-the-ground definition of what “Money” means to you.  Please!  (Smile invitingly and politely).”  As it turns out, I’m socially awkward in face-to-face interactions and feel weird asking people for donations (even for so noble a cause), so I ordered a vanilla latte (140°, skim, no foam) and retreated to the nearest corner-seat I could find.  But, being the idiot genius that I am, I whipped out my MacBook, hopped on the wireless, and meandered through my Facebook Chat List in hopes of accomplishing this Herculean task thrust upon me.  (Praise the heavens above that someone slightly geniuser than I thought to put cafés and internets together.  Right?)  Anyway, here’s what one friend had to say about “Money”:

“It’s rain! Like, ‘Make it rain on dem hos’? Sorry, I get a lil gangsta from time to time. But I dunno. Money is nice to have to live comfortably, but it’s dumb when people get too crazy over it. In life, we oughta be motivated by something else.  ‘Never for money, always for Love.’  NAME THAT QUOTE!  Before you Google it, it’s Talking Heads. “This Must Be The Place.”  Phenomenal song.  But ya, I think it’s safe to say everyone needs a little money to live.  I think that’s obvious.  But I definitely think you can sustain love without money. All you need is two people. I would say maybe money is even less necessary these days because formal dates and all that traditional ish are no longer a requirement.  It’s just Facebook and genitalia. And cuddling! Never forget cuddling!!  Anyway, I think money is way overrated and you only need that special someone to make you feel complete.  Never for money, always for love!”

Addendum: “Praise the heavens above for cafés, the internet, and Facebook Chat.”