Wednesday 1 June 2011

the allegory of the can opener?



Jord and I once owned a very cheap, very weak can opener. We shook our heads at how terrible of a can opener it was and vowed that the next can opener we bought would be a can opener of value, integrity and strength. As anticipated after a few months of use our humble can opener broke. With expected disappointment I went out and bought a higher end can opener the price of which was at least ten times that of the pitiful one that had failed us so miserably. With pride I showed it to Jordan "you see, sometimes in order to save money in the long run you have to spend a little extra in the short term."

can you imagine my shock when one day six months after my triumphant purchase I went to open a can of tomatoes and my prized can opener DIDN'T WORK!!! The grips only hold onto the can for brief stints leaving the job of opening any tin can for me to be a difficult and uncertain one. What happened? Did one of the kids throw it or bash it against something? Who knows? All I am left with is this:

When it comes to purchases, things, material possessions - you just never know...you just never know...

p.s. did I mention we are house hunting right now?

9 comments:

Sooz said...

definitely need to do your research on the house and whoever does the inspection. unfortunately there are no consumer reports on houses!!

C.J. Schneider said...

@Sooz - Yes, you're right.
I get nervous before I make major decisions and am usually overwhelmed at how many variables are at work and how many things can go wrong...or right. You gave me the best advice the other day when we were talking...made me a bit more confident with this decision - thanks!

Coleen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Coleen said...

It was me who deleted the previous comment because I thought of this - to continue the allegory of the can opener- after the can opener refused to open the can of tomatoes the owner thought to herself - since I cannot rely on can openers I will no longer rely on cans. I will grow fresh organic vegetables in my backyard. Which she did and then she had so many tomatoes that she gave them to her neighbors and she made a lot of people happy. It's true that we never know but we also never know how the pleasures and pitfalls of the unknown can take us into some fabulous adventures - good and bad it's still an adventure. "All things work together for our good" :)

C.J. Schneider said...

@Coleen - what a great ending to the allegory! I'm still a bit nervous to make the leap but I like the thought of landing in a bunch of organic tomatoes.

Anonymous said...

Have you ever considered a sledge hammer??

C.J. Schneider said...

@Joan - no, but perhaps some lye would burn through the metal...

Anonymous said...

I would definitely not recommend the lye. Lye is a dangerous chemical and should be used with great caution. You certainly wouldn't want to get it on your skin. No Charla, lye is not a good suggestion!

C.J. Schneider said...

Is that Jordan taking that leap of 'faith'? Sure looks like him.
Grannie