The Modern Amish

It’s the little things.  Never were truer words written.  But it’s also a somewhat misleading statement.  Because often times when you bore down to the root of the little things, they’re actually much bigger than they first appear.  For example…

I am in most physical aspects an average American male.  For purposes of this post, the pertinent aspect is the ability to reach all areas of my back.  I can cover a good amount of it easily, most of it by stretching for it, a very small part by really going all out, but I still can’t reach a small portion of my back no matter how hard I try.  An invariably that’s where my back starts to itch.  Now there are various methods for dealing with just such a problem.  Tried & true even.  But each one has a drawback that makes it not quite what I would like to pursue.

1. Rub your back against something.  Pluses - fairly effective & you can do it as long as you like.  Minuses - you look like a bear in the woods or a dog on the yard when you do it.
2. Use a hanger.  Pluses - hangers are fairly common so this solution is often available.  Minuses - can be awkward explaining to a coworker why a hanger is sticking up out of your shirt.
3. Have someone else scratch it.  Pluses - can be a bonding experience with a loved one, gives you a great feeling of power.  Minuses - loved one can get really ticked at your bossiness, they just never seem to hit the right spoke, and this method requires having someone else who is willing to scratch your back.
4. Ignore it.  Pluses - can be effective in working on your internal focus.  Minuses - your back still itches.

So I purchased something that I never thought I would have in my home.  A good, old-fashioned back scratcher.  You know.  Made from bamboo.  Looks like it has a little wooden hand on the end.  One of those.  Perfect!  I don’t have to rely on someone else, no one wonders what I’m doing when they see with a backscratcher down my shirt, and I don’t look goofy except for the look of joy & relief upon my face.  All the bases are covered. 

And as I stated earlier, there’s a bigger more important issue here.  It’s not just that I can now scratch that spot on my back, no.  It’s power.  What I once couldn’t do, now I can.  What I couldn’t accomplish the way I wanted, I now can.  What was once impossible is now possible.  Yea verily, I am now godlike in my ability to satisfy my back scratching needs!  I AM MAN!  SEE ME SCRATCH!

See.  The little things mean so much more really.  Life improves on a metaphorical level.  Now if I could just figure out how to keep by beard from growing.