I spent some time with Venerable Mom this week, helping her navigate the vagaries of the health care system while she lay in a hospital bed awaiting some tests. Somewhere in our discussions (which, in the parlance of diplomats, were "frank and open") she said that she didn't like what she was paying for her portable oxygen tank.
I've known for many years that Venerable Mom revels in thrift, but I couldn't let her statement pass without comment. "Mom," I said, "first, you don't need to economize; and second, if you do want to reduce expenses, cutting back on your oxygen consumption isn't where to start."