Susan's Scribblings the Blog

I noticed that during the game show “Family Feud,” host Steve Harvey shakes hands with the losing family and, if they are African American, he tends to say to them in an under-voice, “You did good; you represented well.” Shortly after I came to this realization, I saw a Satanist in the news and realized that we should all be thinking about representing well.

Showing one’s good side can be an individual, group, gender or larger societal thing, so Mr. Harvey could tell any family they represented well; they represented something well to get on the show, after all. Lately, however, overall we seem to have lost our sense of decorum. Children have less respect for adults, driving can be a tail-them-and-flip-the-bird nightmare if somebody misbehaves in the fast lane, we clobber each other for the latest bit of expensive junk and create whole hierarchies over that same junk (Apple wars, anybody?) So I watched a “bad guy” do something I’ve never witnessed before, and when it was over I was left scratching my head.

David Suhor appeared in a Pensacola city council meeting on July 14 to give the morning invocation, as have religious groups of various types in the past. In this case, he appeared representing the Satanic Temple in the West Florida area. There was a short meeting on July 7 about discussing prayer at the council meetings, allowing Suhor to give that week’s invocation, and possibly stopping the practice of prayer in general, which you can read about here from the local CW TV network news feed online:

http://wkrg.com/2016/07/07/the-satanic-temple-of-west-florida-will-deliver-invocation/

And here is some feedback on how the ultimate event came about in the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/07/20/why-a-satanic-temple-member-wants-to-perform-rituals-before-a-city-council-in-the-bible-belt/

Without a quorum, no action either way was taken on July 7, so on July 14 a man dressed in what I will call the type of basic Satanic uniform–a hooded robe–one might expect to see, prepared to speak and was immediately drowned out by a large Christian presence invoking the Lord’s Prayer. The major concern at both meetings was that this man speaking at all would cause evil havoc to manifest itself. The council chair had the most disruptive people taken out of the courtroom.

The religious front was standing for the Almighty, and I’m certainly on that side of the fence, but as I watched the clip I wondered who was really the most polite of the two factions. The Christian supporters shouted and showed very little bonhomie, even given the opportunity to show the way to the good side by example. Suhor calmly told the council that he could wait until things quieted down. After an agreement was reached to have the room be quiet while he got the matter over with, Suhor sang. Having just seen the touchingly poignant and fun film Florence Foster Jenkins about the famous off-key singing sensation of the early 20th Century, I’m glad the fellow had decent pipes. His song mentioned the fruit of forbidden knowledge and anarchic principles and ended as expected with “Hail, Satan!” Then it was over.

The world has spun a few times since then, and Pensacola is as it was.

I don’t know how I feel about the dark side representing well when the good side seemed a bit frustrated, but I know that we are still on polar opposition when it comes to the presence of evil among us. It will probably continue into ages well past our own. That doesn’t mean we can’t all work a bit harder to be polite and represent humanity itself well.

 

You know you’re good friends with somebody when they can ask you to blow off your usual evening mall hop together so she can watch the Olympics, and you say it’s fine.

My best friend of over 25 years usually goes to the mall with me, but the other day she called me and said she really wanted to watch Michael Phelps win more gold medals in swimming. We humans are set upon doing certain things, liking certain celebrities, harboring certain rituals. The mall will be there next week (though Macy’s may not be, judging by their decision to close 100 of them), but the Olympics only happen for two weeks every four years, and watching big events like swimming on demand is impossible to enjoy with the same fervor, because you will likely have accidentally found out the results beforehand. I understand completely.

The summer games are not really my thing, though I will watch gymnastics or synchronized swimming if they are on at a good hour.  The networks of NBC have events on all of their main and spinoff channels, but won’t be more specific about when certain events are going to happen, so I feel content to watch the news later on, or read the paper the next day, to find out what happened.

Mostly we–meaning the United States–seem to be staying at the top of the leader board, and we have some seasoned competitors like Michael Phelps who can really rack up the gold medals and hold the attention of swim fans worldwide. He won the evening my friend watched, but did lose an event later on. Hey, it can be that way, just like getting a bargain blouse at the mall but missing out on that purse that caught your eye.

Next week there will be a lot of track and field events, which neither of us likes, so the two of us will do what we do best: Olympic-style mall walking.

School will be starting soon, and I think that we could solve many of the problems which can arise from intolerance and bullying if we could all teach our kids of all ages to use two simple words:  “That’s interesting.” Instead of ignoring or picking apart something new, as well as the person who introduced it to you, those two words can open a door to a better understanding of the world around us.

Especially for pre-k and kindergarten, when children will be exposed for the first time to the various fish in the entire cultural net, the discomfort of a new environment, and the sudden demands of a structured schedule imposed by an adult they don’t even know, the experience can be complicated by all the new lifestyles surrounding them.  When overwhelmed with so many unknowns, a child has to start sorting and disposing, and sometimes that leads to saying things that can lead to bad first impressions and the formation of mismatched cliques and pecking orders which might be difficult to readjust later. If a child can simply say, “That’s interesting,” it leaves room for discussion.

We have all seen the results of our social divisions and prejudices, so why not stop them as soon as we can? Take a few minutes to tell your youngsters to try saying those words when they come across somebody who seems different, and see what happens.  Children will like to talk about themselves, and they will learn from each other what makes our whole world interesting, while they take their front row seats to the future.

The political conventions are over, but the media deluge has just begun. We will now have four months of campaign propaganda and mud-slinging. And that’s from the voters.

The ads on television will choke any rational thought from our minds by Labor Day, with two more months of paid drivel to go. Why do we do this to ourselves?

I know who I am voting for, but no ad can convince me I’m going to make the right decision. I think that, like many voters out there, I’m doomed to make a “lesser of two evils” choice, and I will hate myself the whole time I’m doing it.

Voting should not feel like a choice between tooth extraction and oral surgery.

Lose the tooth, you say, and just get a new one. Go through the pain and save the tooth, some others of you say. You see the dilemma here.

I don’t know how often–if ever–we have had this kind of electoral year; one in which the candidates are not ideal, but the parties and their supporters so divided and polarized that our country is unlikely to feel good come November 9. In fact, nobody may feel good slogging into the polling places on November 8.

Who we vote into the White House will either stabilize the country or send it into turmoil. When they take office barely eight years after our markets tanked and nobody had faith in the economy, and plunge into a world still trying to handle issues with global terror and extremism, we will be on edge, shivering with apprehension if not winter’s cold.

Why do our leaders take office in winter? It’s our most vulnerable time with unpredictable weather, so why add unpredictable politics into the mix?

Whatever happens, we have to wait it out until the time comes for us to install our next leader. With the Olympics coming in one week, I’m hoping the paid products outsell the paid politics, at least for a couple more weeks.

I want to delude myself for a few weeks more that everything will be okay.

Did you know about the helium shortage? If you blow up balloons for any reason, you’re probably aware that the stuff which causes balloons to float is at a premium these days. If not, unless you’re a welder, a silicon wafer manufacturer or run an MRI machine, you might not have known about it. Helium is used for all these purposes.

The government stores helium in Texas, and recently prices increased dramatically.  The government’s reservoir seems in danger of failing to produce enough in the next few years, and we are responsible for three-quarters of the world’s supply. The leading helium tank manufacturer found in most party supply stores–Balloon Time–has actually added a label to some tanks indicating that some of the gas in the tank is air (with only 80% helium). That means your balloons may not float as long as before.

So now we have another government hurdle to clear.  Let’s challenge our candidates and offer to vote for the one who does something about the helium issue. That will put some starch in their shirts (or blouses, depending on whom you are addressing).

Some time ago I had the awesome experience of changing a faucet aerator by myself. The act saved me the expense of having a paid professional step over my threshold for $75.00. Now suddenly, I can’t get this aerator off.  It must be stuck on either because of calcium buildup, or I have the wrong tool, or maybe it’s really lefty tighty righty loosey.

So I was reading a depressing piece in New York magazine about all the horrors of where our food comes from, and one blurb mentioned that, before you consume octopus as a delicacy, you should remember that they are smart enough to unscrew jar lids by themselves to retrieve a treat hidden inside the jar.  I have witnessed this fascinating act in videos. You know where to go to see I’m right.

Anybody have an octopus for hire?

If you’re one of the legions of people who watch reality shows about hoarders, you might have strong feelings about Marie Kondo, the guru of empty garages, the queen of clean who puts the “ohm” into organization, and the warrior of putting waste in its place. You may think she should visit every hoarder on earth, or you may think a little mess is okay.

I haven’t tried the methods in her books yet, but I realized I had started practicing one of them recently without thinking about it.  The bulk created by long sleeve sweaters and tops makes putting them away for the summer difficult, but I had started folding the sleeves down instead of over, and it decreased the bulk considerably. It’s interesting to at least watch her videos on the website (http://tidyingup.com). Ladies, if you collect underwear and find yourself with a cluttered drawer full of drawers, watch and learn and gain room for another binge at that popular pink undies place.

Our attachment to stuff is chronic and a problem when you consider how much room our planet has. The whales don’t need our clutter, and aliens might make destructive use of it if we were to send it into space, so we need to re-purpose what we have and not drown ourselves in stuff we don’t need. I’m planning to get the book and take a look into what it takes to organize and remove clutter. Who knows; if somebody comes out with a show about minimalist lifestyles, I might be on the premiere episode.

 

Pleasant surprises come in all forms. I had the pleasure of watching a product being custom made for me, and though it’s been done before over the years, it was a breath of fresh air to see an art like this taken to a new level without losing its style.

I didn’t give the Flexy store in the mall much attention when it first appeared. Custom embroidering and printing for apparel and accessories has not been part of the usual mall experience lately. The first time I got anything printed on a shirt was when I was still in elementary school, and that was at a mom-and-pop store in the then still thriving downtown shopping district. In my teen years, the malls had tee shirt shops, but usually the printing was blob shapes in Cooper font. Not very original. This store, however, has digital technology, enabling an immense selection of custom options in both vinyl transfer and embroidery.

So what took me inside? First, somebody was already in there buying something, giving me time to look and learn. Second, I had just officially named my writers group and thought I’d look into getting the name on a shirt. The man ahead of me got a front and back custom shirt with lettering and logos, and the price was reasonable.  I watched as the experienced associate behind the counter set up a huge sheet of vinyl in a specially designed machine, and the elements of the design were transferred by computer and etched into the sheet. With a custom tool rivaled only by those in a dermatologist’s office, the associate peeled away the selvage, leaving perfectly etched elements on a sticky sheet ready to center on the shirt. No sliding peel-away paper and little risk of error. In less than twenty seconds, the shirt was printed on both sides, and the Associate folded it into a neat package that would have impressed decluttering expert Marie Kondo, slipped it into a bag and the happy customer was on his way.

My experience was just as pleasant, as we looked through images for the shirt and figured out how to place the elements and in what colors (anything from bright neon green to basic navy). While I watched my creation come to life, a line formed and he had four new customers. The place has popularity, and the right mix of new and retro to make the tee wearing public take notice.

Not only was the buying experience a positive one, but the customer service was above expectations. The associate treated me like I mattered, he didn’t rush, and he kept his work space tidy. More mall store employees could learn from him.

So I have a one-of-a-kind shirt. For now. Wait until I tell my friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

associate peeled away the waste, leaving perfectly cut letters

With all the forms we have in this world, you would think one or two of them would be complete and perfect in every way, but there is always something missing. I wonder what Britons would have done if the ballot on this past week’s vote to leave the European Union contained an option marked “I Don’t Care Either Way?”

Recently I made a doctor appointment which required me to get lab work done. The nurse mailed me the form, which contained a laundry list of coded items with the important ones checked off. I dutifully went to the lab ready to gush the red fount of medical knowledge into a tube for the happy technicians who need a few of the things each day to stay employed. The first question the technician asked was, “Did you fast this morning?”

For the past several tests, I fasted and was told I didn’t have to.  I struck out this time.  Yet the form, for all its neat columns of numbers and abbreviations, didn’t have one marked “Fasting Required” for the patient’s enlightenment.

Then, of course, the patient doesn’t need to know anything on the form, do they? Just stroll like an obedient sheep into the holding pen and let the nice phlebotomist prod away (except if you had to fast first).

So many things can be done on tablets or other computers, but paper forms remain such a part of society that we have taken for granted the notion that they cannot ever be made better. We settle for what is out there, and a lot of it is shoddy. It isn’t always a matter of automating the paperwork, but of simplifying it. If any one human being has to do all umpteen tests available on one form, they would probably need hospitalization. Just do one for this, one for that, and a miscellaneous one for the others; automate the first two and leave the third on paper, where the print will be larger and there will be room for that missing check box.

Yesterday my high school held commencement, also known as graduation. The ceremony itself doesn’t change very much: the rituals, the speeches, the accolades, all follow a tradition carried on, essentially, because that was how it was done last year.

The seasons follow a pattern, but graduation should not.

Every year brings some new faces, perspectives and human drama which should be recognized at commencement. It isn’t just about the valedictorian, a keynote speaker or ill-fitting gowns in two colors. Graduation is about real human stories. No two people in the graduating class of 2016 went through the same experience. The yearbooks never tell their stories. I’m sure that if one were to go back into two decades of yearbooks, they would look exactly the same but for the faces.

Do schools still do yearbooks?

So the class graduated, and school is over until September. Over the summer friendships will change, beaches will fill with bodies, and in August relocations to college towns will be arranged. It’s a transition as old as modern civilization.

Of course, a few unfortunates will be attending summer school (if they still do that).

We’re in the middle of the longest days of the year, and soon they will grow shorter as autumn comes. The next class of senior students will start the annual ritual of something they now call “Project Graduation.” What’s up with that? Is it truly a project? When I finished high school, it was a matter of gathering all your required credits and making sure you turned in your school activity issued supplies. For me that was a band uniform. No problem.

Public schools still let out by June because most of the buildings are too old to require air conditioning under governmental grandfathering policies. School should really be a year-round thing, just as life and work are. Sure, there are breaks (I figure a week in June and July and the last week of August should do it), but learning and retention do tend to fry off in the summer heat while kids are tanning their bodies at the beach and sunburning their heads.

When I graduated, I went home and my parents and I sat on the front steps, enjoying the cool evening. The next day, I started a job. There was no Project Graduation or lawn signs of congratulations. Life continues into summer, after summer, after summer.