paper plate 24 by Publication Critique
Published Date: 15/06/07
Paper Plate
I love my dad, I really do, and I have to admit hes a thrifty fellow. Hes always been careful with his money, and has the savings to prove it. This always amazed me, as I have not inherited his knowledge of saving money, or perhaps I should say, his self-restraint. Imagine my surprise when I opened his cupboards one day to find a paper plate sitting there. Paper plates go against everything he believes in. It costs money, and you only get to use it once and then you must toss it. Surely this renegade paper plate made it into my dads cupboard without his knowledge.
As it turned out, he knew about the paper plate. In fact, there were many in his home, though I had just seen the one sitting there idly beside his drinking glasses. He laughed when I expressed my confusion, and explained that he simply was tired of washing dishes when it was just him living in his home. He had no plans to every remarry, so what was the point in keeping the china? He put the good stuff away, and went to the store to pick out a type of paper plate that would be durable, yet wouldnt cost him a fortune.
He also went on to add that a paper plate is not that expensive if you know where to shop, and while he is spending a few dollars each week to buy them, he has cut down on dish soap, heating his hot water, and running the dishwasher. In essence, he had made his life easier without really spending that much money. I was still astounded, but found the change in my dads life quite comforting. While most people may have seen the switch to paper plate from china as a sign of defeat, to my dad, it was a sign that he was happy with his life. He wasnt pining over a woman that may never come along; he simply was making his life easier, and giving himself more time to golf. What more does he need?
My dad is still single, and when you walk into his house, you will see a paper plate or two sitting on the counter. In recent years, he has gotten the china back out, but only uses it when we have a family gathering. When I use a paper plate at my dads house, it reminds me that people change, and sometimes the smallest changes are the biggest. A paper plate might not seem like much to some people, but to me, it is always a reminder that hes a happy guy, and that I dont have to worry about him so much. Thats quite a return on three cents, dont you think?
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