My daughter, Sasha, has recently been asking me how I make money.  Young and inexperienced with such matters, I did not even attempt to explain to her 501(c)(3) non-profits, the nature of our work, and how we are supported.  So, Lauri and I simply told her that I speak to various groups and write.  Sasha seemed satisfied with this explanation.

A few weeks later I was speaking on a college campus and Sasha was there, in the audience, with Lauri.  Following my lecture and the Q & A, we all walked toward the parking lot to go home.  Sasha asked in her broken English, “Where you money?”

I had no idea what she was talking about.  She looked in my hands and started feeling my pockets.  Had she seen a vending machine and wanted a snack or something?

“Where you money?” She asked again, but with rising distress.  Suddenly, remembering the earlier conversation, it dawned on me what she was looking for.  She had been told that I got paid for speaking to groups and wanted to know where the money was.

Grabbing my hand, she tried to lead me back inside.  It has become manifestly clear to her that I had no money and that could only mean that I had been shafted!  Let’s go back in and get it!  I then tried to explain that it doesn’t work like that.  She found this explanation entirely unsatisfactory!