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Question for the week
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Black Friday Posted: 11/15/08 Even though I work for an online retail company, the significance of Black Friday was lost on me until recently. Whenever I heard the term, it reminded me of the famous Black Tuesday of October 29, 1929 when the stock market crashed. (Hmmm!) Unemployment soared (Double hmmm!), and the world sank into depression. (Triple hmmm!) So I couldn’t understand why the day after Thanksgiving was called Black Friday. I was aware that traditionally many people start their holiday shopping on that day. I knew traffic in all kinds of stores is brisk with retailers doing everything in their power to attract customers. They decorate their establishments for Christmas in October. They spend big bucks on advance advertising, open early on Black Friday, and offer deep discounts. But I didn’t make the connection that Black Friday got its name because it signals that period of the year when retailers’ bottom lines move from red to black. When many companies begin to see money in their coffers and the sales of the previous eleven months pale by comparison. So, in this case, black stands for profitable, something that is desirable, instead of something that is bleak. I’m crossing my fingers that this year’s BF holds true to form.
My Favorite Noise Posted: 11/14/08 Earl and I have different work habits. He likes both the radio and the television on as he hunches over the computer in his office. He likes them loud too. Doesn’t want to miss anything. In fact, if I’m away from the house I’m apt to return and find all three televisions on and turned to the same channel. Me? I hardly watch television, much less have it as a companion while I work. I listen to the radio only in my car and find solitude the best way to get my work done. Even the chirping of the birds that live in the tree outside my window can be a distraction. This morning Earl left the house around eight, and since then I’ve been basking in the quietness. The TVs all stare blankly at me. The annoying AOL voice that says “You’ve got mail” is mute. So is the telephone. There are no timers dinging, no dishwasher whooshing, no clothes dryer beeping. Only the occasion sound of warm air escaping from the heating system. It won’t last, because the man who mows our lawn will be by soon for one last clean-up. He has got to have the loudest equipment and has been known to work directly under my office window when I’m on a conference call or trying to balance a budget. Then I’ll hear the sound of a car radio coming down the street and know that Earl is home. But for this morning, I’ve truly enjoyed my favorite noise: Silence.
Order in the Universe Posted: 11/13/08 I am often amazed at the way things fit together in this world. For instance, every time I purchase coffee in a to-go cup, that cup fits handily in the cup holder in my car. It doesn’t seem to matter where I buy the coffee or what model car I’m driving. Obviously, car manufacturers and paper product manufacturers talked with each other about this. I suspect those who build trucks talk with those who build bridges, so that the trucks are able to pass under without shaving their roofs off. It doesn’t seem to matter if the bridge is in Arizona or New Hampshire; truckers are confident they can get where they’re going in one piece. Furniture manufacturers probably talk with those who make doors to insure their product will fit through various openings. Zipper producers check in with clothing designers to know how many inches zippers should be. Gas pumps fit into gas tanks with ease even though they’re probably made by different companies. So what I don’t understand is this: why can’t clothing designers agree on the meaning of small, medium, large, and extra-large?
Tuning Out Posted: 11/12/08 It’s been a week since Barack Obama won the election for President of the United States. That night I called all my Democratic friends and reveled with them in his win via telephone lines. (I live with a Republican, so glee was not a mutual emotion at my house.) At the same time, I’m also on media overload. So I’ve turned off the TV and only glanced at newspaper headlines that exclaim Rahm Emmanuel was named Chief of Staff, the first President-elect press conference was held, and the Obamas and Bushes met in cordial fashion. The thing is these are normal occurrences under the circumstances, and I don’t need or want to examine them under the eye of the relentless media microscope. My hope is that we are not going to be treated to a version of “Obama’s first November 12 as President-Elect,” “Obama’s first November 13 as President-Elect,” “Obama’s first . . . this; first that.” Then tonight I read an article about how the 46 percent of our nation who voted for John McCain might be reacting like I am, only for a different reason. The article was based on interviews with McCain voters in Chicago, Obama’s home town, so they probably are subjected to a double dose of Obama-mania. And they want to tune out. They want to move on. I understand. Their angst reminds me that I felt the same way in 2000 and 2004 as I do now. Only this time I’m on the winning side. Go figure.
Previous entries Due to the volume of entries, Anne's Ten Minutes A Day are now categorized by date and by topics. Some essays are found under more than one topic. Otherwise, select from the categories below.
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