Well, everybody learns something new all the time. Upon turning 60, I learned something new that surprised me, because I should have already learned it. Who knew! It seems I needed to move to the humid state of South Carolina to learn this valuable piece of info.
Working hard trimming - no, bush hogging - the azaleas in my garden (they grow about 36 inches each spring) on a very warm and humid summer day, I get hot enough, wet enough, and dirty enough that I need to change clothes once or twice before finishing for the day. It's also nice to eliminate a few ants and spiders who might be finding me to be a pleasant lunch. Well, I can't get the dang socks off! So, I end up stripping them inside out. Yes, I'm tired, hot, hungry, and thirsty, so I drop them where I'm standing in the laundry room, and head straight to the shower to cool off and change into dry, clean work clothes, down some water and food, then head back out to finish the job.
What did I learn? I learned I have a few silent apologies to make to a few people in my family. While folding laundry this evening, I discovered that every pair of my socks had to be turned right-side out. My socks? Mine? I, who always removed socks easily enough that they were never inside out? I have silently and patiently turned others' socks for years and years, trying not to take it personally or as a lack of respect, or as intentionally making my life more difficult, not understanding that my loved ones' socks were just too darn hard to get off of a wet foot - and who wants to turn them right-side out when you are hot, wet, dirty, hungry and thirsty?
I expect to enjoy sock folding a lot more in the second half of my life. I may even smile.
UNO?
Barbara at Butterfly Landing
copyright 2004 |
