Why is kindness taken as stupidity? I’d like to start out by saying I’m a nice person. I like being polite, kind, and helpful to others (hey, I’m a librarian, so it comes with the territory). I appreciate it when others treat me with the same decency and respect that I show them. What I don’t understand is people taking a good quality, like kindness, for stupidity or weakness. The saying, “don’t smile until Christmas,” is a serious mantra among … Continue reading →
Why do we like shlumpy robes so much? I’m sure we all have one–that shlumpy bathrobe we love wearing in the privacy of our home but not in the presence of guests. It may be old, ratty, and even slightly stained from things we can’t remember. Despite all of that, we just can’t part with that favorite shlumpy robe. What is it that makes us practice monogamy with a bathrobe? Perhaps it’s soft, fuzzy, cozy, long, a Christmas gift from … Continue reading →
Why is Star Wars so appealing to multiple generations? Full disclosure–I’ve been a Star Wars fan ever since watching my first movie in the series, Return of the Jedi. I was 9 years old, and I remember standing with my mother in a line that snaked around the outside of the cinema waiting to get inside. I was particularly unnerved by the scene in which a droid was tortured in Jabba the Hut’s palace, and I shuddered whenever Darth Vader, malevolence personified, made his … Continue reading →
Why are so many people fond of fondue? My husband and I have heard about it and were curious. We never did it before, but heard how good it was, especially from other couples who did it. So we thought we’d give it a try, even though we felt out of our element and didn’t really know how to do it. Hopefully, our inexperience wouldn’t embarrass us. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? The “it” is fondue. When … Continue reading →
Why are motor vehicle bureaus located in the seediest parts of town? After getting married not too long ago, I’m going through the oh-so-fun process of changing my last name to my husband’s name. Social Security, banks, credit cards, doctors’ offices, etc., etc. While I was waiting in line to update the name on my driver’s license, it struck me that no matter which state I’ve lived in, motor vehicle bureaus tend to be located in the worst parts of … Continue reading →