"Intangibles"

Last week a pair of old, quality scissors arrived from Practical Goods in St. Paul. Some of you may remember my praise of Wendi Ward's store some time back; in fact, some of you have commented on visiting there, and how pleased you were with what you found. I will not repeat the story, but hope you look up Wendi and her place, or revisit there when you can. Because of the "difficulties in the marketplace" (my words) she will be having a 20% off sale in the next few months. Please avail yourself. What follows are sentences from a manifesto of sorts from her called "About Those "Intangibles":

" -- We pay both property and sale taxes, unlike some charities, cyber businesses, etc. We

invite you to consider what this does for the community's "tax base."

-- We reuse and recycle locally.

-- We keep local money here in our community,

-- We don't push over consumption, or over packaging.

-- We don't push credit cards, debt slavery or high tech invasion of customer privacy.

-- We don't "feed" big banks or big shipping companies, and our prices will spare you that,

too. (Those guys have plenty already.)

-- We have a potty, and you can use it.

-- We don't condone or profit from exploitation of workers here or abroad.

SOUND GOOD? SHOP HERE. "

Carry on, Wendi Ward. at 1561 Randolph (near Snelling) - phone: 651 - 690 - 1122

Lapse of Consciousness

A hard fall on the ice this morning brought back several memories: one of an acquaintance's broken hip and subsequent trip to the emergency ward, an operation and then rehab; another of a young fellow who had gotten himself into the ditch not far away, with absolutely no circumstances around him to put him and his vehicle there (and that happened to me a couple of years ago as well); and a story recently of some one's encounter with a deer crossing when they had been looking down and not out of their vehicle. A lapse of just a second or two is all that it takes.

I come from a background of cautionary tales, both in literature and in family and friends stories. Thus it is very "natural" for me to want to share stories which I imagine may save people from hardship, pain, even death; and yet, there is something nagging my eighty year brain and that says that these tales are not exactly welcome in the present circumferences of consciousness. My hope is that this Blog will be of use, and not just the sounding board of an old, cautionary man.

I am convinced that nothing is going to prevent momentary lapses of consciousness, it is the may human beings think and don't think. This morning's fall could have been catastrophic, I was lucky. Will I "do better next time," I hope so. And I hope you do too, dear reader. Thank you for putting up with my cautions. They are well intended, as were those of my grandparents, uncles and aunts, parents, teachers and mentors. Sometimes unwelcome, but certainly well intended.