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Dissertation on
Aggravations
By
Reno Litterio |
Quincy -
It’s dusk, I’m approaching the kitchen sink, I reach for the
light switch and a flash of bright light with a popping
noise tells me, I just blew the light bulb. I’m thinking
what caused this extra surge of static electricity that
caused the light bulb this chain reaction? In order for me
to replace the bulb I need a step up, I need to step over
the stainless sink and reach for the glass globe which has
an unusual bottom plate to unscrew. In order for me to
replace the light bulb, I must work under the scroll wood
facing and try to balance myself at the same time. After
much effort and patience, I resolve this problem with sheer
exasperation.
I usually extend myself to some of the complimentary daily
newspapers, never knowing when I will find a gem of an
article. One particular daily has a two inch, double spread
page extension, beyond the original size of the paper.
Naturally it is to the advertiser’s advantage, who paid
extra money, to insert his ad above and beyond the normal.
To me it is annoying and I will never read or succumb to its
product. An annoyance we live with.
Can you believe how many times I have done this, going
through the same procedure, I enjoy milk, I drink three or
four glasses throughout the day, but only 1% low fat.
Occasionally I like to take the chill out of it, so I pour a
good size cup in a pan and without thinking turn the
electric unit on high. Well you can guess what happens.
Within minutes I’m distracted and forget about the milk. The
consequence is disastrous not only to the milk, but to the
complete surface of the unit. Cleaning up is a horrendous
workout, which I find more and more disgusting.
Technology has its positive and negative sides. What
convenience it is to carry this hand size marvel of a cell
phone, in the palm of your hand and make contact with
anyone, at any time, in any place, without moving from your
comfortable surroundings. But, it does have its negative
side. Would you like to have someone sitting next to you in
a public place and have this person on the cell phone
talking so loud you can tape his complete conversation? Can
you picture a person walking behind you and you can’t make
out whether he’s talking to you or just too loud on the cell
phone? The worst offenders are drivers with one hand on the
steering wheel and the other holding a cell phone,
completely oblivious to the traffic around them and not
using directional signals.
Do you have an answering machine? What is it with people
that are in such a hurry, when leaving a number to call
back, will see how many numbers they can spew from their
mouth within five seconds, I don’t even bother calling back.
And then you have the caller who starts recording before the
machine peeps stop, so you end up with half a message, not
knowing who called and deciding whether to call back with
only a phone number. Forget it.
Then we have the wonderful world of commercials on
television. Some programs being televised for five minutes,
followed by 15 minutes or more of commercials. Should there
be a ratio between commercials and the actual time viewing
program? Then we have an up close person with the same in
your face spiel, promoting or selling something more times
than you can absorb in a sane frame of mind.
The newest commercial, an innovating idea, is to destroy
your vehicle so you can by a new one. What a fantastic idea,
those creative minds at the ad agencies are better than
ever. Picture this, one family is shown at the top of a
cliff behind a huge precipitous boulder, their old auto is
parked off the side of the highway directly below, with
little ease and effort, they push the stone, causing a
direct hit on the car below. We are already hearing from the
auto insurance giants. What a wonderful world we live in.
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About The Author
Reno J. Litterio is the cofounder of the Ward 4 Senior
Citizens Social Group in Quincy in 1992 and is now Chairman
and Director of the group. You can reach Mr. Litterio at
renowarior@ aol.com.
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