repair

Repair

by Bob on June 22, 2007

Well, my backpack, when I put it down on the train station floor, got all kinds of sticky bubblegum all over the bottom. And it wasn't my chewing gum, either. So I tried to get it off, but it just got stickier and stickier. All over the bottom of my bag. My friend said to throw it out and just get a new one. But it's sentimental to me. It's from New York City ! And then I thought about it. I cut off the extra straps which had sticky gum all over them and were un-needed for carrying. I used some soap (which really doesn't work very well to remove gum) and paper towels. And it finally is presentable and won't stick on my jeans when I put the bag on my lap during rush hour in the train.

This all made me aware that we live in a "throw away" society. Few people fix even trivially broken things. They throw them out and get new ones. That is okay from time to time, but not all the time.

Imagine if we treated people that way ? Perhaps that is happening, too, with the high divorce rate here in America.

We have to remember how to and that we must repair things that are broken.

That included relationships, durable items, clothing, and many other things. And not throw them out.

We throw so many broken things out now because we no longer know how to repair things -- especially with computer chips in them -- because they are too complex. Even automobiles which are full of electronic computer chips now.

So, my lesson for today was to remember that we should be less quick to throw something out that is broken but can be repaired. And we must try to repair it.

We must fight the aspect of modern life which calls for prematurely planned obsolescence. Life just isn't that way.

But then again, fashion comes into play. And having the latest model of everything. And the latest clothes from Paris.

This just seems imprudent.

Otherwise, we lose our human perspective. So it would seem, at least.