CONTAINERS

     I don't really need it, but I can't throw it away.

    Couldn't resist buying it in the first place. At the Monarch Book Store on 151st Street I found a beautifully decorated tin cylinder that contained Gone With The Wind teabags. When I first opened the tin I noticed that there was a rubberized inner ring, which further protected the contents.

    The tea bags all used I have no reason to keep the tin. Except . . .  For even a short time ago in the history of housekeeping good convenient containers to protect and preserve the contents were not widely available. My tendency now is to hang onto every good container that comes through my door.

    Over time we have received big tins containing popcorn. The popcorn consumed -- by others, popcorn is not my thing -- the tins are still on the premises, mostly in the basement. Impenetrable by either mice or insects they preserve all manner of things, even extra wax candles.

    What shall I do with the Gone With The Wind tin? Surely I can find something that needs to be preserved. How about tea bags, which normally are packaged in thin cardboard boxes? Perfect.

TRIPPING ALONG

    Where is my order? I ordered -- from Kohls -- several large blue bandanas, which I plan to send to various grandchildren for their go-bags. I have an inordinate curiosity about where things I order are coming from and when they might arrive. Tracking the package.

    First I learned that the package would be coming from Bolingbroke, IL. I'm pretty sure that is a location near Chicago. My bandanas were next in Glendale Heights, IL, also near Chicago. That was Saturday morning. Saturday, Sunday, plenty of time to get to Olathe. I expected that when I checked on Monday I would be informed that the package was in Olathe, at the postoffice, maybe even out for delivery.

    Wait. By Monday my package was in Grand Prairie, TX. How stupid of me to think my order could be delivered to me without going through Grand Prairie, TX, wherever that is. Given the size of Texas, it's possible my order might actually be farther away than when it was in Bolingbroke, IL. I'll have to look it up on the Fibber McGee map.

    

    Oops, wrong again. From Olathe to Bolingbroke, IL is about 503 miles. From Olathe to Grand Prairie, TX, is 492 miles. My package is getting closer.

A NEW TYPEWRITER

     It's time for a new typewriter.

    A keyboard NOT connected to the internet. The mechanical typewriter developed slowly over decades. Early typewriters were cumbersome and difficult, but still superior to the quill pen. The IBM Selectric was another vast improvement. Modern lightweight materials could be used to create an even easier to use machine.

    The fonts should be Optical Character Recognition, which would be scannable onto the internet, if later desired.

    Without a typewriter there is no choice, it's all out there, available to be hijacked. Please give us back our privacy.