Mood: chatty
Topic: "Opportunity Sox" (3)
Have you ever considered, dear reader, the growth of opportunity? Imagine, if you will, America at the mid-point of the last century, when all the lights were on again, and all the boys had come home from the War. The boys all went to get a job, working for somebody else, to manufacture airplanes, build houses, or whatever. The concern was life, stability, and building a world that would be better for the next generation. My, my, oh my, how times have changed in the Shire.
Today there is an exponential growth in services, provided for the most part by aspiring entrepreneurs. When Frodo and Sam depart by motorcar for Lake Lovey, Miss Ellyn visits their home daily in the Shire to tend to the needs of Beau Neau and Sydney, neither of whom travel well. When the Hobbits depart for air travel, then Georgia, Fiona, and Mick, the Wonder Dog, go to visit Miss Trish at Camp Kennel (where they partake of "bug juice," salute the flag, and learn camp songs). Miss Charlotte tends to Frodo's mail and business correspondence during all of these absences. Each has formed their own enterprise which allows them a whole new set of rules for life.
Frodo brings this up because he has been confronted by another such enterprise, and is agog at the ingenuity and the results. Sam determined that the closets in the Shire were "a mess," and that something had to be done. Frodo recognized the problem, but was not intimidated, suggesting that they merely throw away all the stuff that was Sam's, thereby reducing the spatial requirements. Sam did not see that as a practical remedy (see Lorena Bobbit in the preceeding discussion). Sam did, however, somehow, find an entrepreneur to "re-design" closet space. Frodo's query if the guy got his start in kitchens, or basements, or garages, was met by the steeley glare of someone who considered himself a true closet professional. Frodo hesitated in making any comment about a person beginning in closets, and coming out.
Frodo is, quite frankly, amazed at the results. There seems to be a logical place for everything, and the available space appears to be significantly increased. Frodo notes that this is one more service, such as those identified above, that never existed a mere half-century ago. Entrepreneurs, of all kinds, have found opportunity in service to the changes in consumer lifestyle. It is almost enough to make the Hobbit proud of the ingenuity of the post-War generation.
Then he noticed that his tee shirt, autographed by Dale Murphy, was missing. His collection of broken fishing lures is not where it is supposed to be, and his complete set of 8th Grade English compositions is apparently lost to history. Surely Gollum has had a hand in this outrage.