All That We Don't Leave Behind

or "Hints, Allegations, And Things That Would Have Been SO MUCH BETTER Left Unsaid"

Sometime after high school age, I guess, one becomes aware that one cannot simply shed ones past like some far-too-restrictive snake skin. The lessons that are offered (and, ideally, LEARNED) from our pasts can become part of the formula with which we conduct ourselves in the future. Telling a child "the stove is hot" means nothing until they touch it and realize that "hot" means that "the strange silvery box-thing will burn me". Telling a teen not to drink means very little until they experience their first hangover and think (painfully and quietly think) "hmmm, actually this ISN'T cool ... and I really don't remember eating THAT."

I'm not saying these lessons don't require reinforcing from time to time. I'm saying just the opposite, actually ... and, for me anyway, it's that reinforcing that causes the biggest heartache, even today.

These ghosts from lessons past that return upon occasion serve as reminders of what was being taught ... or to keep us from making the same mistakes ... or to serve up a niiiiice big steaming plate of humility and humbleness, also known as "crow".

Yummmm, crow. Don't forget to add a little touch of self-loathing with that ... because crow tastes just oh so much better with just that extra dash of self-administered flog. Oh, and pass the lemon pith, would ya'? *munch* *munch* After all this time, I find that I almost don't mind the taste of the stuff.

So, adding to my "things I just don't understand", I guess I need to include something along these lines:
When the ghosts of lessons past come ahauntin', what exorcise puts them to rest permanently?

Because a few of my demons really need to learn recipes that DON'T include crow. And I wouldn't mind if they just didn't come visit at all, honestly.

Now *THAT* I Understand

On Friday, I posted some random things that sometime happen or that I've observed that I can't really make sense of. And a friend of mine addressed two of them.

And I understand.

The "Swapper Ed's/Half Provisions" thing? Yep - I forget that having easy access to foodie-centric awesome shop after foodie-centric awesome shop is not the "norm" for quite a few places. And I should have remembered that one, really. When my sister was living in ... well let's just call it "Hell" ... she was 4 minutes away from the ONLY store within a 70-minute drive radius. No foolin'. That "store" (and mannnn, do I use THAT term loosely!) was also the official post office, the florist, the pharmacy, the vet, and the town bulletin board. It's also where "overnight" packages were delivered three times a week (and then the post office would call you to come get your package). OH - and it closed at 4pm on Wednesdays because everyone ... EVERYONE ... knew that was Fire House Bingo night. Ya' can't just make something like that up.

And as for talking vs. texting? Well heck - that's just embarrassing. I don't make my living with a phone anymore but I'm STILL not a big fan. I just ... I guess if I were given the choice, I would rather have a two-way conversation with one person for 10 minutes than a 1-way conversation with 10 people for 30 seconds, or 164 characters, or whatever it is. But that's a preference thing. Let's be honest ... a person with a blog is no more or less narcissistic than a person who communicates in any other electronic fashion.

There's two things I now understand. Dig me, I'm learning.

Soooooo ... who wants to give me the reason why dogs turn around three (or more) times before lying down?

I Don't Understand ...

... how it can already be MAY.

... the fuss my foodie-type friends make over places that are SIMILAR to "Swapper Ed's" or "Half Provisions".

... how people can use a restroom and NOT wash their hands WITH soap.

... why anyone would announce their every single thought throughout the day via electronic means instead of calling just one friend and having a good ol' fashioned discussion.

... the reasons a dog has for turning around three (or more) times before lying down.

... the cost of airfare. (I mean, if part of economic recovery is based on tourism, I'd think that making it cheaper to fly to your destination to spend money would be part of that equation.)

... why I look up at the ceiling when I notice that my cat is staring at some mystery item that I KNOW I won't be able to see.