Category: Life

July 10 – Stickers stuck on cars

Stickers stuck on cars
stuck on with satisfaction
now just want it off

What is the motivation that drives a person to stick a 50 cent sticky piece of paper on their car?

My favorite sticker (Fat Matt’s gave it to me once when I asked, after a purchase being ‘approved’ and I asked, ‘Can I have a sticker that says I WAS APPROVED AT FAT MATTS?’ – But its not on my car!

When they stepped back to admire their work, how much satisfaction did they feel that they were now identified to the world by their honor roll student, their favorite team, their running prowess or the last person they voted for.

Then the next term, their honor roll student flakes out.

Their team loses.

They blow out a knee on their last 13.1.

The person they voted for, well, didn’t work out.

They remove the sticker, or at least, try to remove the sticker.

Consider the original message.

I am proud of my student.

I love my team.

See how far I can run.

All the way with LBJ!

Now consider the message of a faded, torn, ragged edged, frayed and half removed sticker.

My kid didn’t make it this year.

Stupid team, stupid coach.

Haven’t run for awhile, blew out my knee.

If you vote for a clown, better expect a circus.

My question is, which message is louder?

Which message will last longer?

Think about this the next time the sticker is fresh in your hands.

July 7 – Post hoc propter hoc

Post hoc, propter hoc
Heard on MSNBC!
wonders never cease

Ears perked up when I heard someone on the morning news say Post hoc, propter hoc.

Latin on a Sunday Morning News round table?

I was pleased and at the same time perplexed.

Had I heard right?

The comment was ignored and no one on the round table took notice,

No one stopped the discussion to say, ‘what?’

None of the other members of the round table group was going to admit they didn’t know what it meant.

They held to the concept of, ‘si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses.’

That was all the evidence that I needed that I had heard right.

Someone on cable news used a Latin phrase!

That, for me, was bigger than any news topic they were discussing.

The discussion moved forward and the comment was ignored and plowed back underground to ferment for another couple of years.

As we all know, it means because this happened after that, that was caused by this.

In reply, I say, Omnia mutantur, nihil interit, or, everything changes, but nothing goes away.