I have a question of ethics that I’m sure is unique to our technologically-advanced age. It concerns one of the greatest inventions of the twentieth century and one that has been updated for the twenty-first. I am talking about, of course, Tupperware (which I use as a generic term for reusable storage containers). Now it used to be that if a neighbour were to bring you a gift (like authentic Cajun Gumbo Soup, for example) in Tupperware, you would always empty it and return the container at the earliest possible convenience. Tupperware is expensive, after all. Conversely, if the person were to bring you a gift in a Ziploc bag, you would simply dispose of the bag. But what are we to do with those new Ziploc/Tupperware hybrids? You know what I mean, I’m sure: those cheap, reusable but also disposible containers. Is it proper to keep those or to return them to the owner? Do we return them and perhaps appear cheap for returning something with no real value? Or do we hold on to them and risk being thought of as a family of thieves? Your advice on such an important matter is appreciated.
In other frivolous news, I finally found someone to go to the Petra concert with me this Friday. To this point everyone I asked had the exact same reaction.
Tim: “Hey, do you want to go and see Petra with me?”
Friend: “Tee hee. Tee hee hee hee. BA HA HA HA HA! You can’t be serious!”
Honestly, all of my friends stood me up. But finally Aileen got clearance from the midwife to attend a concert despite her pregnancy, so she and I are going to the show together. We have been to three or four Petra shows together and I’m sure we’ll have a good time, even if we are older and grumpier than last time we went. Then again, John and Bob are definitely older and probably grumpier as well. Regardless, it will be nice to see the band, forever my favorite, one final time. I’ll be sure Aileen doesn’t do any crowd-surfing.
And now, an example of pure frivolity and a complete misuse of my time and, one could argue, talents. Here is a proposed front and back cover for a book I’m sure I could write. But I won’t.
