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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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REDISCOVERING STRING
I just found a ball of string in the back of my office closet. It has apparently been there for several years, but I hadn't noticed it recently until now. The cardboard cylinder inside supports the string wrapped around it, and there appears to be more than half the original ball left. Since it isn't used as much today as when I was younger, I hadn't thought about string in a long time. The memories are still there, though. In my youth, some merchandise was wrapped in sheets of paper and tied with string by the cashier. I remember going to the feed and seed store on Saturday mornings with my parents and seeing the familiar ball of string on the counter. It sat on a spindle that allowed it to be pulled off the ball without someone having to hold the ball in place. The string was then looped through an overhead eyebolt so that the end never got lost on the counter. As string was needed, the clerk reached up and pulled the strand down for use. When the job was done, the string was cut and left hanging from the eyebolt. We always had a ball of string at home, too. My father used it in place of expensive clamps when he glued everything from furniture to toys. He also braided string to make key chains, bracelets, or something stronger than the string but not as bulky as rope. All year long, string was used to tie bundles of papers and envelopes as well as packages for storage. Then, when the winds of March arrived, kites were made with tissue paper, strips of wood, and string. As new products have been developed and consumerism has been promoted, the simple ball of string has been forgotten. However, I've found mine and I'm going to use it. Who knows what creative ways I'll find to do that.
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
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