REFLECTIVE MOMENTS So many questions, so few definite answers
There are many puzzling events in one’s lifetime, puzzles that result in many unanswered questions. Here are some of my personal puzzles:
• Many friends and acquaintances have confirmed that this particular problem is not unique to our household, which means, there are many orphan socks out there, possibly looking for a forever foot.
There are 10 socks accounted for when the laundry begins. When the laundry ends, only nine socks remain. Searches of the interior of the dryer come up empty and that includes checking out the lint capture device.
What to do? Wait for the next laundry day and hope the missing sock appears or worse, that the dryer will eat another sock, hopefully to match the existing orphan.
Yes, ’tis a puzzle.
• That brings me to paper clips, mostly the smaller For Moose Jaw Express ones that are more commonly used in office situations. How, pray tell, do paper clips manage to attach themselves so neatly to each other in a necklace design while left alone in a box on the desk?
Just the other day I reached into the box for one clip and came out with several, all attached and looking not the least bit guilty for whatever was taking place in the box, with the lid closed.
When this happened during my office-working days, it was usually someone in the sports department who wanted to see my reaction. Even hiding the clips didn’t stop the jokesters.
But at home, there’s only Housemate, and I don’t think he knows where the paper clips are kept, so that lets him off the hook.
Yes, ’tis a puzzle.
• Back to the laundry room:
I have been taught to turn my white tops and sweaters inside out — just in case there is a leak or other substance lurking in the washing machine. The inside-out-tops are then put into the dryer. When they come out of the dryer, those tops are no longer inside-out but outside-out. How and why does that happen?
Yes, ’tis a puzzle.
• I do it all the time, and so does nearly everyone I know. We greet people with the question: “How are you?”
The responses might range from: “Very well, thanks for asking,” to “Not so good right now,” to “My dog died, the cat ran away looking for him and the kids are fighting over who gets the dog’s toys.”
The question then becomes: do we really want to hear the answers to “How are you?”
Yes, ’tis a puzzle.
• And finally, some other puzzles: Why do people carry their cellphones into the bathroom then complain when the phone falls into the toilet bowl? When did wings become the most popular piece of the chicken? Why are potatoes the main ingredient in most clam chowders? Why do many people think squirrels are cute, rather than rodents who could cause damage in the neighbourhood? Why do some drivers drive with their handicap sign on their rearview mirror when right on the sign it says not to do that?
Yes, there are many puzzles.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net