Money. It’s likely to bring up immediate reactions. I’ve had a mixed-status life regarding attitudes about money. One of my parents came from the hands-off, polite-people-don’t-discuss money perspective. The other parent saw discussing money as fair game––“I got this at fifty percent off on sale!” As a teen I became aware of friends whose lives were impacted by the ever-present stressors of generational and situational poverty. In my twenties I was part of a collective where pooling our money was expected: What’s mine is yours. 

The gate was open. The goats were out. “Ellen!” I yelled. My sister was here all week, and I was sure this was her doing. “Ellen, you left the gate open!” Ellen emerged with her planting outfit, dirt on her knees and hands, her tools sticking out of her apron. “I was sure I closed it.”