Friday, November 19, 2021

Reflections on my glasses?

I have another half dozen pairs around the house!

This is a picture from my office; the latest attempt at bringing order to chaos, and a wry comment on my writing life. When I posted the image on our family WhatsApp my son replied, 'how long until the hooks are empty?'  For someone who has a reputation for diligence, my absent-mindedness is legendary.

Jane despairs. 

She has two pairs of specs that are always at hand; it's much the same with her keys or handbag. But then, if I ask her to make a bank transfer or phone for an appointment, there's a high probability I'll be reminding her a few days later, and quite possibly the day after and the day after that... In the grist of everyday life, Jane's a 'do it when it's necessary' person, whereas I'm a 'tick it off, so it's sorted' kind of guy.

No doubt the best course lies somewhere in between. For whatever 'it' may be, addressing matters early is seldom as critical as I tend to think. On the other hand, to diminish advance planning or view absent-mindedness as equivalent to ill-discipline would be equal mistakes.

I tell myself that my habit of losing my glasses stems from thinking of bigger and more important concerns. Jane's view is that I should get off my high horse and pay more attention to where I jettison my stuff. Again, the truth—and the best way—is at neither extreme.

And so we compromise, making the most of our respective virtues. You might say we are stronger together, working as a team... oh, I could so easily fill this paragraph with management clichés. For indeed, there is some accuracy in them, as there is in all stereotypes. The important thing is to realise that it's not the whole or only truth. 

But enough of this philosophising, it was only a humorous photo and a little glimpse into my world. Someday I might show you my new 'tin shed'. It was designed by my son—the one who queried how long before the hooks are empty.  And now I think about it, we worked together on it too; his design and my project management skills, not forgetting a little trust on each side.

The end result is the best office I've ever had. To write here is a joy, most days with Oscar curled on the seat by my desk. Meanwhile, the hooks on my filing cabinet remind me that like their magnets to the metal, my eyes to my glasses, Jane to me and vice versa... we all need each other to get along.

17 comments:

  1. I agree -- the middle ground seems ideal! I'm more of a get-it-done-now kind of guy. I like your Schweppes bottle opener!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have one pair of glasses and they cost$1200 which is one reason I won't lose them, the other being, I can see almost nothing without them. At least you've got them hanging up.

    ReplyDelete
  3. If, like F, you have only recently come upon spec-wearing, then you probably only need them some of the time. They get in the way the rest of the time, and yes it becomes a challenge to work our where you last jettisoned them because they were more hindrance than help. F finally bought several pairs - the ones that live at work, the ones that live in her bag, the ones that live on the passenger's side of the van (so she can read maps and satnavs), a pair beside the bed, and the other pair that she has trained herself to always leave on the sideboard near the door. That training took a while and is not failproof, but at least there are back ups and they have managed to remain more or less in their allocated places (if they aren't parked on the top of her head.)

    ReplyDelete
  4. My husband and I are so interdependent that unless we both die at the same moment, I have no idea how the other will survive.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am extremely untidy but I know where everything is. Even in the untidyness everything has a home and keys and glasses always go in the same place. It is without doubt organised chaos. I am a get things done person and not a list person. Lists are too controlling and can become master.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My first thought was "what a lot of pairs of glasses" and then reflected on my historical glasses scattered around various locations in my house and realised I could at least match your collection!
    Whether I adopt a get it done right away approach, or wait until it's absolutely necessary to act, strongly depends my level of interest in the task.
    Cheers! Gail.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My first thought was "what a lot of pairs of glasses" and then reflected on my historical glasses scattered around various locations in my house and realised I could at least match your collection!
    Whether I adopt a get it done right away approach, or wait until it's absolutely necessary to act, strongly depends my level of interest in the task.
    Cheers! Gail.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have three pairs of reading glasses - one that is permanently on my bedside table, another in the car and the third seems to be always on the top of my head so I can find it easily.
    I am a "do it now.. as in right now" sort of person. I always feel uncomfortable leaving thing to others. At work I was always criticised for not being able to delegate.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hari OM
    Living solo means I have only myself to blame. There is one pair of glasses in each room for ease of access and to guarantee ability to read. What needs to be remembered is not to continues wearing them as I leave any given room... YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would love to see the "Tin shed".

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have reading glasses scattered around the house - but it is amazing how often I can't find a pair when I need to read something urgently.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Combining forces and acknowledging each others strengths goes a long way to a healthy and happy relationship. Your glasses hooks provide you one place where you know you will always find at least one pair (or more) of glasses. A unique solution that works for you.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I can only focus on the bottle opener.

    (Didn't I just say that?)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have far too many readers scattered about too - and yes they all seem to end up in the same room! Here I am now in Arizona and, on unpacking in the hotel, I found I've packed 4 pairs, plus sunglasses of course. Sunny weather most of the time here, even in winter.
    Then there are Bob's glasses, but I won't even go there!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I organized a petition to see your tin shed and to learn about it in a new blogpost. These names have already come in since November 19th:-
    HRH Prince Andrew
    Jacob Rees-Mogg
    Lady Gaga
    Mark Drakeford
    Peppa Pig
    Daddy Pig
    Huw Edwards
    Tom Jones
    Lulu
    Bananaman
    Gareth Southgate
    The Pope
    Gareth Bale
    Gareth Edwards
    Gareth Gareth
    The 14th Dalai Lama
    Bill Gates
    The Reverend Eli Jenkins
    Captain Cat
    Polly Garter
    Mog Edwards
    Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all

    ReplyDelete
  16. I scatter glasses like pixie dust all around the house. After a time, they all migrate to the bedside table. Then I gather them up and scatter them about again.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Interdependence works well. We all need help. I have two pairs of eye glasses, but don't need to wear them all the time. I keep one in my handbag for when I'm out, and the other floats around the house. I am frequently looking for them.
    They are fairly expensive lenses so when one pair went over the side of the boat a couple of summers ago (in deep tidal water), there was great consternation and gnashing of teeth.

    ReplyDelete