Making a List, Checking It Twice…
Okay, I think we’ve decided on the perfect Christmas gift for our middle son who’s 22 and a Politics major. We’re going to buy him a small country to rule. They sell those on e-Bay, don’t they?
The dear boy takes over wherever he is. It’s not a bad quality, believe me. It is, for the most part, a very beneficial thing. It will certainly serve him very well in the field he’s selected. But we’re never quite prepared for it when he comes home.
“Mom, the cats have fleas. Look at the flea dirt in their fur. You should have taken care of this a long time ago.” (Reply: I will as soon as I don’t have a house full of demanding people.)
“Mom, how long have you had this deli turkey? I don’t see a date on it. You should keep track of these things.” (Reply: I bought it 3 days ago. Smell it.)
“Mom, the clean towels smell funny. You pack the washer too full. Did you remember to wash them on hot and use a fabric softener?” (Reply: If you don’t like the way the unpaid laundress around here does the laundry, you can do it yourself.)
“Mom, how long have you had this jar of mayonnaise? I remember it from last summer.” (Reply: I buy the same mayonnaise twice a month. That’s why you remember a similar jar from last summer.)
“Mom, the last time I was here I told you it was imperative you send out my dry cleaning so it was ready for me now.” (Reply: We can take it to the Sunshine Cleaners today and have it back tomorrow. Soon enough?)
“Mom, you need to get a better computer. Yours is too slow.” (Reply: When I have a grand to spare, I certainly will. Until then, don’t download 17 songs at the same time while chatting on AOL and IM with 10 Windows open for research on Dewey for your American Philosophy paper, please.)
Bless his heart, he’s a wonderful kid and a terrific friend and a hell of a lot of fun. But please, if anyone knows of a needy country up for grabs, let me know. He’ll have it shaped up and productive in a week. Guaranteed.
–phoebe kate
This is what happens when good people study political science. What I wonder is — do we who seek degrees in poly sci already have this tendency and are attracted to the study of politics like moths to a flame OR does the study of politics re-create us as the bossy, inquisitive, demanding people that we are?
In the midst of my original poly sci studies, early 1970s, I mostly questioned who had a lid and a pack of papers. At least #2 is questioning the expiration date of mayonnaise and deli meat.
