Wednesday, July 21, 2010

SOCKS REUNITED

Yay! It has turned up, like the proverbial bad penny. 

Like a ghost train going to nowhere, the remaining slipper sock- recovered from the washing machine- sat, sat and sat. "It's time", I thought, after six months of looking at it resting in a corner of the kitchen, "to get rid of the darn thing". I thought about other uses for the sock, like a glove duster, it wasn't really suitable for it. 

The day of execution arrived. As I rolled out of bed, hubby grumbled "you've got a sock on the floor"..."I must have dropped it last night". It probably missed the laundry basket. As I dozily reached for the familiar object, I wondered how it appeared on the bedroom floor from the kitchen. Okay, the easiest way to find out was to check. Sock in hand, I ventured to where it should have been. Oh! I had two the same. The pair of slipper socks are now happily resting in rolled proximity to one another.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

that's why i never throw odd socks away, always optimistic that it's partner will turn up in due course.

and if it doesn't then i just wear odd socks!

ZACL said...

Hi Ax,

I quite like the odd socks brigade, but a pair of slipper socks, is just what it is. There's no mix and match for it, unless a second pair lurk nearby.

Vincent said...

If I may use Scripture to a worldly purpose, isn't this a case that there is more rejoicing when the lost sheep is found than when we take our pairs of socks for granted? As with my pens . . .

ZACL said...

Ah, we are talking of the prodigal sock here. I have thought of this, as it is more than apt in this instance.

I counted the slipper socks into the washing machine and I counted them out. It's what happened after that which remains the mystery.

Indeed, Vincent, I am pleased to have the pair of slipper socks nestling together where they should be.

Vincent said...

No, I was thinking of the parable of the lost sheep, which I suppose is very similar to the prodigal son, but you can substitute sock for sheep and it still makes sense. See below.

For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoices more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine that went not astray.

Matthew 18, 11-13.

ZACL said...

Thank you for the biblical quote Vincent; I now understand your thoughts. Had my socks been woolly ones, there would have been a further nuance to the story.

:)

keiko amano said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
keiko amano said...

ZACL,

I was wondering what British people are up to, and what is their concerns are. I came to right spot. And I have confirmed that indeed your concern is my concern exactly about socks. There is universality to our problems.

And also there is always a wise man in each culture, and I can see Vincent hard at work. Bless him!

ZACL said...

Hello Keiko,

I thought I had the ubiquitous lost sock problem solved. The slipper sock escaped!

Also,I discovered some years ago that there is a cultural element to disappearing socks, especially, in the manner they disappear. It relates to the type of equipment used in different countries.

There can be some genericism to sages, the difference is from where their wisdom derives.

keiko amano said...

ZACL,

"the type of equipment"
Do you mean washing machines? Does British style machine tend to hide socks under the axis or propeller or something?

By the way, I'm sorry I'm ignorant about the British culture. But what is the white thing between two sheeps on your profile photo?
I hope you don't mind me asking.

ZACL said...

You are thinking on the right lines Keiko. It is usual, for example, in America for households to have top loading machines. In top loading machines there is a deep vertical drum with a visible gap between the drum and the casing. The drum also wobbles on its axis and can increase the gap size that way on any part of the outer circle Americans would probably suggest my sock had disappeared down that gap.

Most domestic machines in the UK are front loading machines with a seal between the drum and the front loading door. It would be very difficult for a sock to escape that way. That creates questions, like, what, where and how?

In countries where less mechanised equipment is used, it would be anybody's guess as to where items like socks might disappear to.

I am pleased you are interested in my sheep farming profile picture. The sheep belong to my neighbour. a farmer. From memory, there are two lambs in between the two sheep. I will have to find the picture now, just to check on the number of lambs!

Thanks for asking.

keiko amano said...

ZACL,

Thank you for taking time to explain all that in detail. I'm lucky to be connected to your site.

ZACL said...

Thank you for your lovely compliment Keiko. You are most welcome.

Harry said...

I think there should be an 'Exchange Market' for single socks. We could advertise that we have 'Two lonely socks...one white (size 8), one black(size 6), need some to match them'...any offers?'

ZACL said...

Erm yes...how about an Ebay sock exchange.