Some families are super cautious. We all know the type. They install deadbolts on the insides of the doors to their bathrooms, lest a home invader wander in while a family member is having a bath. All the drawers on their filing cabinet have locks lest a stranger makes off with their lawnmower manual and warranty. They throw out food a week in advance of the best before date because you can never trust those best before people. They have motion-sensor lights and cameras everywhere and have all the security forces – fire, police, ambulance, etc., on speed dial.
Then there are the careless types who live their lives as though they are the only occupants of a desert island and would be shocked if another human being took their stuff.
My family belongs in the cautious group, though it seems we avoid the extremes. However, while I was cleaning out the car today, I re-evaluated where we are on the Careful Careless Scale. I hope there is a prize for this because I have a feeling we might win.
The first thing I did on my cleaning job was to pull out the heavy winter mat from the floor of the driver’s side. I shook it out and set it on the roof of the car. I dove back into the car only to discover a second winter’s mat in the spot where I had just removed the first one. Curious, I inspected the rest of the car only to find that this car is outfitted with eight winter mats. Underneath the multiple winter mats, I discovered the nice black carpet that was laid by the people who made the car back in 2006. So, the logic seemed to be that the original carpet needed to be protected like the gown Elizabeth I wore to her coronation in the 1500s.
Yes, I revealed that little gem. Our car is 16 years old. We paid $2,000 for it, but that is deceptive. We bought it within the family so were given a break. It has been a wonderful vehicle in the three years we’ve owned it with a near pristine original carpet. I am just glad we didn’t pay $5,000 for it because I can only guess at the precautionary measures that would be taken for a car so much more valuable.
On the careful-careless scale, I sometimes fail to read warning signs so tonight I brought up the case of the eight winter mats at our weekly Family Council Meeting, and in full careless mode, suggested we might be able to get by with just four mats. I won’t go into details about how my suggestion went over except to say I was sad when the meeting was over.
This afternoon I was in a tire store and there before me I beheld a display of rubber winter mats, made to fit any car. My wife’s birthday occurs just before winter. If eight mats keep my people happy, I am imagining their joy at 12 mats.
Sometimes my ideas aren’t great, but this one’s solid gold.
I can feel it.
©2022 Jim Hagarty
