Who knows what I’m supposed to be paying attention to. It’s funny that the ATTENTION directive is in English and the presumably important information is in Japanese. Are the attractive characters telling me to avoid bleach and a hot dryer or something more esoteric and ominous? It’s hard to imagine what that might be, so I’m going with no bleach, no hot dryer and filing this under “Noise”, not “Signal”.
Why am I telling you about this trifle? It has to do with my devotion to the notion that if you buy the best, you’ll only weep once. I should say, shaky devotion. Unless there is a statute of limitations on “once” that defies the dictionary definition, I’m on thin ice.
I now have two, rather expensive, imported chambray shirts- a new one and one ten years old. The ten-year-ago shirt was justified under the buy the best and weep once philosophy. Ten years is a pretty good run in the world of clothing, but before I let myself off the hook, I need to twist a bit. That’s what my writings ask of you, so it seems only fair.
There is nothing irredeemably wrong with the original. It’s a nuisance because it has to be ironed or the sleeves look like accordions. Twisting… I’m just sick of this shirt. The new one won’t serve any purpose that the old one didn’t. They both fit. They can’t both be worn at once. I think they both are “me”. The truth is, I just wanted it. I didn’t need it. And I’m clear about the difference. Maybe “once” can have a SOL. Just don’t get carried away.
Pay attention.