Someone close to me suggests I stop overusing the word crazy. Because this person is wise, I am zipping lips–a little. However, I just read that actress Jessica Alba’s eco-friendy soap company has a subcontractor that may have slipped a “no-no” chemical into green products for quite some time. No one in the company hierarchy admits the oopsie. It happened under the brand name “Honest.” (Ha, ha, are you tempted to say that crazy word?)
And then there’s our presidential candidates and the campaign circus. Exactly what are they selling, and can we believe any of them? They are mean-spirited. I hear the sound of marching boots. It makes me want to get a little Honest soap and wash out some lying mouths. It’s, um, crazy. No, I mean sad.
Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Harding, in his book Tinkers, gave me a chuckle this week with his dialog between soap peddler Howard and a farmer’s wife. Leave it to the rural woman to point out some sort of common sense. I certainly hope she and kindred spirits vote in the November election. Here is the excerpt from Tinkers, used with permission.
The stubbornness of some of the country women with whom Howard came into contact on his daily rounds cultivated in him,…unshakable, reasoning patience.
When the soap company discontinued its old detergent for a new formula and changed the design on the box the soap came in, Howard had to endure debates he would have quickly conceded, were his adversaries not paying customers.
Where’s the soap?
This is the soap.
The box is different.
Yes, they changed it.
What was wrong with the old box?
Nothing.
Why’d they change it?
Because the soap is better.
The soap is different?
Better.
Nothing wrong with the old soap.
Of course not, but this is better.
Nothing wrong with the old soap. How can it be better?
Well, it cleans better.
Cleaned fine before.
This cleans better–and faster.
Well, I’ll just take a box of the normal soap.
This is the normal soap now.
I can’t get my normal soap?
This is the normal soap; I guarantee it.
Well, I don’t like to try a new soap.
It’s not new.
Just as you say, Mr. Crosby. Just as you say.
Well, ma’am, I need another penny.
Another penny? For what?
The soap is a penny more, now that it’s better.
I have to pay a penny more for different soap in a blue box? I’ll just take a box of my normal soap.”
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