It’s a frequently asked question, and my frequently relied-on answer is that they come from what’s going on around me – in town, in the newspaper, from something I’ve heard on TV, from just participating in life. What’s on TV now is an explanation of what went right or wrong in the recent election. I don’t know what to say about that question. I’m tired of the subject and I’ll bet you are too.
There are numerous note pads in my office with reminders for all sort of things, including subjects to write about, places to go, things I need, people to remember at Christmas and how to do it, books I mean to read, and stuff like that that I don’t want to forget. Of late, I am finding myself apt to forget.
Even when I’m at the computer, the TV is on in the living room and with one ear I hear it – especially the commercials with the raised level of volume. I’m willing to listen in order to pay for TV (as if I didn’t pay a monthly charge), but I am not willing to get up and answer my doorbell, which sounds just like the bell on the commercial. That’s a new irritation, but apparently the station has sold a number of spots and I have answered a number of doorbells, only to find nobody there.
When I was driving, I had the same complaint with radio ads that contained horns blowing. I assumed someone was blowing at me, so I was distracted. Also, I pulled over in response to sirens on the radio – sounded to get my attention to a commercial for something I wouldn’t buy under any circumstances.
I’m on the no-call list. That doesn’t prevent some calls of late which begin with “If you are a senior citizen, the FBI ... ” I am a senior citizen and I resent calls which get me up to answer, only to make me hang up immediately. No-call lists apparently do not apply to charities I have never and am never going to send money to. My response is always, “I am not adding to my contribution list.” If you are in charge of a campaign, do me a favor and take me off your list of possibilities. You waste my time and the effort of your volunteers. I have a list of charities to which I have contributed for years. No matter how good your cause is or how truly you sell it, I am not adding to my list.
I sound like a modern day Scrooge. I’m not, really. But every charity I support shares its list of contributors and new solicitors use them to harass me – excuse me, to call me and make their pitch. I’m normally a courteous person, but I’ve lately just hung up on intruders of my privacy and thieves of my time.
I’ve just remembered that I was once the bookkeeper for a local radio station – before it was a TV station, if anyone can remember that far back. The station and the two other stations lived on the commercials they sold. I’m not anti-advertising. I’m just anti sound effects that fool me and demand effort on my part. I hate to be fooled and I resent intrusions on my energy.