Idle thoughts on consumerism

I was at a business (social distancing) the other day and saw the signs they had posted all over. "Get togetherness. Get happiness. Get individuality."

... As if togetherness was something you could buy at a store. Or happiness. Or individuality.
Yes, I can get my Product X from you made to my specifications, but if my individuality runs no deeper than my pizza toppings, the clothes I wear, or what brand of car I drive, I'm a shockingly shallow human being.

We are human BEings, not human GETtings.

I don't believe this store is any more consumerist than any other, or that these thoughts are anything new. They just struck me with particular force this time.

Our plan for next year: Superstar's Education

A year or two ago we started hatching plans for Superstar. As you may have gathered if you have
been a regular reader, Superstar lives up to his name. He is a wizard mathematically - he passed 9th grade math before 6th grade even started and just this week passed off 8th grade math for good measure*. His usual goal in school is to get 100% on everything.

His mother and I have been feeling that we needed to have him advance a year. Joy has also had a great desire since before we met to homeschool her children, though the realities of what-all that entails and the needs of various children have precluded that so far. So we thought and prayed and counseled with Superstar for a long time, and finally came up with a plan that works for everyone.