My mother had a saying, “for free take.” One time when I was about 15, we went to a restaurant that for dessert served a cart filled with bowls of various nuts. My mother had experienced this restaurant before, so she knew what to expect. She wore a dress to dinner with huge pockets in anticipation of the “cart.” When it came, she emptied each bowl of her favorite nut offered and shoved them into her pockets. I was so embarrassed! She must have repeated this type of “for free take” attitude every where she went.

As a result of not wanting to be like my mother, (besides thinking that her taking huge amounts of every thing was actually stealing), I take two toothpicks and that’s it. Thou shalt not steal….