Penny For Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker
One of my New Years resolutions is to listen to others and acquire more common sense. I am not saying I’m dumb, but sometimes I tend to follow my own thoughts and lots of times it is because I haven’t absorbed or paid attention to what I was told.
First of all, I get lost very easy. Even if I ask directions and think I know the way, I wind up miles from where I wanted to go. Sometimes when I go to places I frequent a lot, I will have my own set way to go. I will be fine if I stick to the way I know. However, if someone tells me a shorter way to go, it just doesn’t work out. I know my own way, but thanks. This reminds me of a joke that we have all probably heard.
The joke concerns Moses and the promised land with someone asking, “Why did Moses wander with the children of Israel in the desert for 40 years?” The answer is, “Because he did not stop and ask directions.”
Then I wonder, “What if Mrs. Moses would have been the leader? Then again, maybe she would have wandered 40 years too. So one of my New Years Resolutions is to find my own way to different places without getting lost and learn to follow directions. I really hate to tell this, but one time I got lost driving from the newspaper to the post office.
If anyone is like me, I do not stop and read directions on a new appliance or item I get. My friend, Denny, always reads the so called “manual” and can usually get something to work or put something together. One time, I tried putting together a hanging cat swing. I was so proud when I got done, but something just did not look right. I put the cat in it and he hissed and jumped out just as the swing fell onto the floor. I think I must have put it together backwards.
I feel proud if I can hammer a nail, hang a picture, put batteries in right and set all the clocks when the time changes. I must say this, “I am learning.”
I once wrote a column about playing BINGO. The next time I went, I purchased a smaller marker which was bright pink. I did not think much about it and tossed the marker in my purse. The next Saturday evening, we were on our way to see my grandson play basketball in Indiana. I was looking for a tube of lipstick and grabbed a tube which I thought I must have got for Christmas. It didn’t look familiar so without reading, I looked in the car mirror and put the spongy soft pink stuff on my lips. Oh my! My lips were burning so I finally looked at the label on my new tube and guess what? It was BINGO marker. That stuff did look pretty but it was more of an inky substance, however, the marker is just starting to come off.
One thing I do quite often is forget where I parked my car. Of course I have lost my car at Niswonger, and other big parking lots. One time I stood outside my car (what I thought was MY car) trying to unlock it. This looked like my car and I was positive it was. Pretty soon after trying for about 10 minutes, some people came over to help me. No one could open the door. I was almost in tears when a nice man asked me, “Are you positive you parked here.” I adamantly answered, “Yes sir, I parked right here.”
He told me to go around to the back of the car which was just like mine and look at the license plates and try and open the trunk. Well trunk did not open either. Then as I was looking at the back and the trunk, I said, “Oh no! This isn’t my car.” By that time almost everyone had left but me and my Good Samaritans I pressed on my trunk button on my key ring and up went the trunk on another white car just like mine. It was mine! The friendly people and I was very happy to find my car.
Something similar happened to me not too long ago. There was a white car that looked like mine, except this one wasn’t locked. I even got in, but as I looked around, that car had a Mountain Dew in it and a pack of cigarettes. I said, “Oh no. This is not my car.” I hurriedly got out and began the search for my vehicle. Another lady tried helping me and I found it two rows over.
To look, to listen, to use common sense are some of my New Years Resolutions However, if you see me running around. I may be lost or am having trouble finding my car. I may not always take directions or suggestions, but sure appreciate all the help I can get.
Did you make New Years Resolutions? Have you ever lost your car or got in the wrong one? Let me know and I’ll give you a Penny for Your Thoughts.
