In February, pre-challenge, I bought tickets to see David Sedaris. It is very rare I buy tickets like this; the last time was to see Spalding gray, in the late '90s. My Guy and I have loved to listen to Sedaris on National Public Radio, and read him in the New Yorker or get his books. The $45 tickets were a huge treat. I was shocked at the time; it had been so long since I had gotten tickets for a performance that I had really thought it would be maybe $18, or perhaps as high as $25. If I had been on the challenge in February, I still think I would have gone, however it would have made a huge dent in my budget.

It is an unpleasant decision to have to make: 20 pounds of cheese or an unforgettable memory. Usually I choose cheese, since so many unforgettable moments are free. Tonight I was glad to have paid for this memory. I felt joyful in his presence, and am sated. And, the next time a favorite performer comes around in 2014, I’ll probably pay for tickets to see them. I don’t mind paying….every 8 or so years.