THE 'JUST IN CASE' POTS

Jim, every time I travel down this road, I notice that you keep lots of empty pots on your front porch.

Well, there’s a reason for that. These are my “just in case” pots.

“Just in case” pots?

Yes, every time something happens that I don’t want to forget, I put a pot on the front porch. Then I can go out each night while I’m by myself, sit in my rocker, and think about all the things I don’t want to forget. Yes, it helps me remember things “just in case” they happen again.

“Just in case” what happens again?

Well, “just in case” things happen that I don’t like. So, if it ever happens again, I can remember that it happened before. See how it works? Then I don’t have to charge up my memory and trigger thoughts that might otherwise have been forgotten. That way I can be quick to be all fired up, fuss and stew, and put up my guard for the next time when it happens. See how the pots jar my memory and save me time?

Well sort of. But what kind of things do you want to remember “just in case” they happen again?

Well, see that fellow over there. Why, when he was about ten years old, he and some other kids in the neighborhood were out back playing ball. I’d been yelling at them all morning to quit throwing that ball when all of a sudden it went right through my kitchen window and nearly hit me. The boys flew in every direction and I didn’t see one of them until later that evening when he came back to apologize and pay for the broken window. Lickity-split, I put a pot right there on my front porch so that I would always remember what kind of a kid he is. I figure he will never amount to anything. Besides that, I don’t like the new window. It lets in too much sunshine.

So, when you were a kid, did you ever throw a ball and have it break a window?

Well, yes of course, but that’s different because when I did it, it was an accident.

Well, did you ever apologize and pay for the broken window?

No, not really. I was scared, and besides I didn’t have a penny to my name.

Oh, I see.

Then one day, I was at the feed store when that same kid showed up. He asked if he could help me carry my bags to the truck when all of a sudden he tripped and fell and everything scattered all over the ground and a couple of things broke—you know, that kid can’t do anything right. So, I got real fired up and went home and immediately put another pot on my front porch.

Well, did you ever try to help someone and it sort of back fired?

Sure. But it was their fault and not mine!

Uh, huh.

You won’t believe what happened next. A couple of years later that same kid was at the gas station pumping gas when all of a sudden smoke started coming out of the hood of my car and he started running toward me and shouted right there in front of everyone, “Hey, Mister, you’re a liar.” I have never been more embarrassed in all of my life. Later he tried to cover up by saying that he really said, “Hey, Mister, you’re on fire!” This boy is all trouble. After he put out the fire, I went right home and put out another pot.

Have you ever say anything that was misunderstood?

Well, sure. But that’s different. I didn’t mean it.

Oh, yes, I’m getting the picture now.

Next time I went down the road and passed Jim’s home, I noticed that all the pots were gone and there sitting beside the old man rocking and talking was that same young man who Jim said would never amount to anything. I yelled over, "Jim, where are the pots?"

“Well,” Jim said, “You got me to thinking. I decided I really did need help carrying my things out to the truck, and I sure appreciated it when he put out the fire. But most of all, I like the new window because it lets the sunshine in.”