7/09/2007
Never Say Never
Several years ago, I said I will never iron a man’s shirt again. I was going about, keeping perfectly loyal to that charming statement, feeling glib about it. My sons are required to wear shirts and ties to their work. As it turns out, every morning (including the weekends) I now volunteer to iron not one but two men’s shirts, to save time departing the house. I don’t mind the chore, as it is one of those favors we tend to do with love for our children, except that I have to live with that statement, which now feels like a foolish thing to have said. Slogans are worthless, when you think about it. We should qualify every slogan we pick by adding: “…unless I have to.” Sigh.
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19 comments:
I remember when I was in the Marines, we had to iron all our own uniforms during bootcamp and also in infantry tarining school. I kept doing it for about a year, after I got to the Fleet Marine Force. Then one time while I was up late at night irining my uniforms in the Squad Bay a buddy of mine walked up and said:
"You know you can take those to the base cleaner, don't you?"
To which I said "Really!? How much does it cost? How long does it take?"
Him: "You can get em back in a day or two. They'll do every uniform you have for about 10 bucks"
Me: "WTF!?"
Oh, well. It was a learning experience! I bet I could still do a decent job ironing a shirt or pants. I much prefer permanent press, though!
Slogans are worthless, when you think about it. We should qualify every slogan we pick by adding: “…unless I have to.” Sigh
I don't think sons count, though! What do you think? :)
What a great story Pro Craig! Yours is a good idea which has occurred to me more than once! However, because I won't take the whole "work clothes" project off their hands (they'd love that!), I can't plan on getting things done in a rational and productive way! They wash their own clothes (haphazardly and sometimes on the same morning), and I help out in the least conspicuous way! You are right on the second point, too! Things we do for our children, we might not do even for ourselves! Be good and come back.
nice :) yeah, never say never. the good thing about braking this vow is the love of course.
hahahha, you never can escape the destiny nazi jan,
to tell the true, Ironing is one of things that I hate it!!! and my kind and lovly mom used to do it for me, but because of Destiny(as I said!!) I have to do it myself now.
what good days were those days, I say and sigh :)
bayram
I agree that "sons" don't count, because your sons will always be your "boys" and boys are definitely not "men".
So, in the case of the Traveler and his brother, I don't think your slogan should apply!
Salam Bar Leila! Yes, indeed. Isn't the first time and won't be the last, either!
Bayram Jan: I was oncetaking the train between Washington and New York on a Monday. The train was full of young American college students going back to their colleges and dorms, each carrying a huge load of what was obviously home-made food, in neat Tupperware containers. It wasn't hard to see that they had been visiting their mothers for the weekend and were heading back to their lives fully-stocked! It is an international language and norm, this mother's business with kids, no matter how old. God bless your mother and I hope you two reunite soon. Though I should hope that by now you won't make her iron your shirts, and that since you now know how to do it, you will iron hers! Be good.
Assal Jan, Do I detect a hint of sisterly prejudice with respect to the privileges The Traveler and his Big Brother receive? Party Bazi Assal Khanoom?! I'll allow it this time! Take care.
دقیقا... هرگز وجود ندارد. انسان زنده است تا تجربه کند و در مرور زمان همه چیز تغییر می کند. چند روزیه کمتر می نویسی. سرت شلوغه نازی جون؟
Salam Shin Jan! Welcome back! I have come to visit several times, but I haven't left a comment. Keep on writing your beautiful posts, Shin. I read them all the time but sometimes I have nothing to contribute, and believe it or not, sometimes I do keep quiet! Shad bash.
by the way that Leila post is mine :)
چه خوب گفتی نازی جون.من فکر می کنم در مورد هیچ چیز نباید نظر کلی و قطعی داد.چرا که همیشه استثنا وجود دارد.پر انرژی باشی
Of course I knew who Leila was! Many of the people who visit me use different names Nimeh Shab Jan, and though I might know their real names, I try to keep with the name provided in the post! Baba, you guys are old time bloggers and I'm just learning this game, and you keep giving me trick questions! Thanks for replying to my email and for your wise advice. Be good Nimeh Shab Jan.
Mana Jan, you are right. While it is true that we cannot change anyone else, it is equally true that we can try and change ourselves. I keep learning, ze gahvareh ta goor! Shad bash Mana Jan.
طلسم بود ِ خود بشکن تو این جا
مکن چون دیگران تو شور و غوغا
طلسم صورت خود زود بشکن
مگو هرگز تو دیگر ما و یا من
طلسم ِ چرخ این جا صورت آمد
نمی‌دانی از آن معذورت آمد
(عطار)
Salam Bar Alef Shin! I thought you gave up on me! I thougt I fell off the razor's edge!
What a wonderful poem. Attar said "never say never again," too?!I only became familiar with Attar in the recent years. I am still very much learning and I consider understanding and appreciating his poetry one of my personal ambitions in life. Thank you for his poem which also had a wonderful message. Perhaps it was a serendipitous reminder for me! Be good Alef Shin Jan.
با شما هستیم نازی عزیز، اگر قابل بدانید. پشت سر من هم قافله ای دارند به شما نگاه می کنند! می خواهم بویی از این خاک داشته باشم برای شما، اگر توانی باشد
Alef Shin Jan! Ghafeleye shoma mara ghabel midanand? I am touched! In fact you should know that in that dialogue you and I had going on the 4th of July post, one of my visitors suggested to ask for your approval to post your questions on her blog and ask her American audience to participate in answering those questions. I thought we were handling each other just fine there! I don't write political posts, not because I don't like politics (I love talking about politics), but because I am not trained and equipped to take it on in the way the subject deserves to be discussed. My blog is where I talk about things I know, feel, and understand myself, and that makes the topics a lot more limited and a lot less exciting! Just the same, my motto is: "Ancheh az del barayad, lajaram bar del neshinad." I am honored you come.
سلام مجدد خانم نازی عزیز! همیشه از فضای دیالوگ (تَراگویی) لذت می برم. شما هم با توجه و ظرافت خاصی خواننده های خودتان را جذب چنین فضایی می کنید! دوست عزیز اگر به کارهای من توجه بفرمایید (که نمی دانم تا کنون به جز گُزیرش های من چیزی در این خصوص دیده اید یا نه؟)، ملاحظه می کنید که نگاه خاصی به واژه ها دارم. هر واژه یک هویت تاریخی و معنایی دارد که بدون توجه دقیق به آن نمی توان تحلیل درستی از سرشت و ماهیتش ارائه داد. بنابراین هرچند هر واژه ای در طول تاریخ تطّور معنایی خاص خودش را داشته است،هرگز نمی توان جوهر محتوایی آن را از ریشه اش و بار مفهومی ناشی از آن تفکیک کرد. در این جا ما به اصطلاح می گوییم هم آهنگی عمیقی بین بود و نمود واژه وجود دارد. من برای مثال در باره ی واژه ی عشق یا برنامه (پروگرم) به تفصیل به موضوع پرداخته ام و البته پس از آن در مورد مفاهیم و عبارات بسیاری این کار ادامه یافته. درباره ی واژه ی دموکراسی هم تحیلی ظریفی وجود دارد که امیدوارم در آینده روزی آن را بنویسم. از شما دعوت می کنم در آینده حتماً آن را بخوانید. عجالتاً در این جا ذکر کنم که من نیز مانند شما سیاسی نویس نیستم و حوزه ی فکری ما کاملاً دور از چنین فضایی است. با این وجود حرف اساسی من در گفتگوی پیشین ما این بود که "دموکراسی" یک نگاه و باور اصیل برای پیشبرد انسان به سمت حقیقت و راستینی نمی تواند باشد:
"ولی تفاوت من با شما در نقطه‌ای‌ست که به آن چشم دوخته‌ایم. حرف من این است که دموکراسی را نمی‌توان از متن و بستری که در آن رشد می‌کند و بارور می‌شود مجزا کرد. می‌گویم این نوع نگاه ما را به سمت حقیقت و اصالت انسانی پیش نمی‌برد."
این صحبت نیاز به موشکافی بیشتری بیشتری دارد که امیدوارم روزی به تفصیل به آن بپردازم. می دانم که توجه شما به این مقوله نیز از روح و نگاه متعالی شما ناشی شده و می توانم کاملاً آن را درک کنم
در مورد درخواست دوست شما، البته شما کاملاً مختارید
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