If it’s free…take it! By: Ryan Robinson
Free. Such a nice word isn’t it? Look up the word in the dictionary…or…I’ll just tell you myself, so you don’t have to. The word “free” has 49 different meanings and definitions according to dictionary.com. They range from: “enjoying personal rights or liberty, as a person who is not in slavery” to: “not occupied or in use”. However, I’m focusing on the word “free” meaning: “without cost, payment, or charge” and “provided without, or not subject to, a charge or payment”.
Hearing the word “free” can trigger such joy, happiness, and splendor. In some cases, like on Oprah, “free” can trigger an ecstatic breakdown with screaming and confetti. “Free” is a great word because it means that the person receiving that special something does not have to pay for it. Or, “free” could be something given to you or an item one could take without being penalized. All through our lives, we have witnessed people getting free things, whether it is others, or ourselves.
For my Uncle Glen and I, however, we stretch the word “free” to the limit. Usually, the saying, “Nothing in life is free,” gets bounced around a lot but I don’t believe it. There are so many “free” things around us; sometimes we just don’t notice them. Let’s go to the mall for an example, more specifically, my favorite part: the food court. Now, when I go to Paramus Park’s food court, I always go to the Chick-fil-A and get the Chicken sandwich with fries and a drink. (My favorite) However, as I’m ready to go, I don’t just go back down to the mall…oh, no. I get sneaky and try to get more food. Not by stealing of course, but by getting free samples. I take one mini pretzel off the basket at Aunt Annie’s…get a chicken sample from the guy in front of the Chinese food eatery…try a piece of beef from the Japanese lady right on the Chinese food guy’s heels. But, then I’m not over. I strike again by going to the Aunt Annie’s on the lower floor and then the big jackpot at Le Gourmet Chef where there are samples every 7 steps in whichever way one walks.
The mall isn’t the only place for free things. Try local…at the Shoprite in Oakland! Free cookies for the “children”…a piece of bread from the bakery…then ask the lady with the sample product of the day cart to try a piece of whatever she’s trying to sell. Then on the way out, grab a book of coupons or a free calendar for the year!
It really is amazing what you can find for free if you really pay attention. I have to agree with my Uncle Glen and my mom when they say, “If it’s free…take it!” It’s a good time to try new things, eat a little something if you’re hungry, take a bank pen on the way out of the bank, or even take those little shampoo bottles at the hotel! Free is always good, so remember, if it’s free…grab it while you can, because it may not be there the next time!
Speaking of free…this New Year’s Eve (2009 going into 2010) my friend invited me to go to Times Square with her to her dad’s office building to watch the ball drop! It was FREE, so I couldn’t refuse. Here are two videos, one of our walking trip to Rockefeller Center and the other in her dad’s building watching the ball drop.