You learn in the food industry to rotate products, first in, first out to retain freshness and avoid spoilage. Over the last few years, I’ve stretched this policy to my glasses, plates, bowls, and silverware. I didn’t think it was odd until a good friend watched me.
I confess in another time in my life, dishes evolved on their own. Used by many, a natural rotation ensued. The mighty dishwasher collected the two, three, or four settings and in a day or two, viola. Restacked the cutlery and dish shuffle was never the wiser.
I feel an obligation to my wine glasses, mugs, and bowls. I worry that I only use one daily, handwashed and recycled again. I shift its place right to left or bottom to top and if there are two stacks, I reverse them on Saturdays.
My friend and I laughed; my wine glasses approved of two being used at the same time. My dishwasher called to fill it up. Please let me run and be useful.
Which brings me to another revelation that highlights my naiveite and pleasure with discovery of old practices made new.
Two years ago, I gifted my grandchildren a Spirograph. I never had one when I was growing up. My attempt to show them how to use it failed as my brain didn’t understand the process. Overwhelmed, I tried too hard and missed the significance of the gears. Fast forward to this week, when my grandchild, now seven, pulled the spirograph out, the wheels in my brain came to life and the gears engaged.
We sat for hours creating geometric drawings with grooved circles acting as gears. Each circle is numbered according to the number of teeth it has on the circumference. Designs change with wheel numbers, creating ratios of teeth on the outside circle and interior circle. You follow one spot with pen till it rotates over and over on the gears. Masters produce what they call hypotrochoids and epitrochoids with various formulas.
We were content to play and laugh and have fun. Our creations triggered joy.
The best part was that we learned together.
Coming soon, The Underpainting, my next novel.
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