The Prairie Spy

Alan “Lindy” Linda

This is the third–and last– of “Three things I’ve learned.” (One hopes that one has learned more than that in this entire lifetime. But the rest isn’t at all clear, as those of you who are growing older probably agree. Don’t like; maybe just agree.)

  I learned this on a service call. The refrigerator in their garage was not working. I went to plug in my trouble light, but the only outlet available was full. I unplugged the one that was not the refrigerator, plugged my trouble light in, thinking at the time that I would remember to re-plug-in the freezer, which was the cord I had unplugged.

As you may have guessed. I did not. There wasn’t much in the freezer, which was the best of this bad decision. I paid them for the loss, and considered it–as I considered many learning moments–a cheap education. (Perhaps that–a “cheap education”–could be the fourth Thing I’ve learned. Education comes all life long. Some of the courses you take cost more than the others. All you can do is try to keep to the cheaper courses, the cheaper learning situations.)

But from that lesson, whenever I unplugged something to make room for what I needed plugged in,  I tied that unplugged cord into a knot around my light cord. I “ambushed” myself, is how I think of it. To unplug my trouble light when I was done, I would see the knot, and replug in what I had unplugged.

So: This third “Thing I’ve learned” has, as you may have already guessed, some connection to: A. Tie a string around your finger to remember something. B. Cross your fingers until you get to a pen and paper to write down what it is you’re determined to remember for some future use. And C. Write what it is you’re trying to remember on your hand with a ball point pen, writing which you then forget about and wash off, much to your later dismay.

All of those three are somewhat a way to remember to do something, somewhat of an ambush, but when I “ambush” myself, I have to do it more physically actively.

Car keys, cell phones, and various tools all have to be regarded somewhat as active live entities that exist solely to try and get themselves placed somewhere that you cannot ever find again. Even now I am missing a battery powered circle saw, upon which I could have used my ambush method. And did not.

One example: If I lay my car keys down, or a tool, or whatever, I always find something else that I use frequently and place it there also. So–maybe lay your keys down by the toilet, which is where you just went. Put something important to you with them. Like your outdoor shoes, which you will need sooner or later.

Really, all you have to do is just don’t lay stuff down in new and unusual places. Most often I use this “ambush” technique out in different buildings around the farm. Putting that hammer down in the far corner of the far building? Or a drill? Or a socket wrench? Or? Or? 

Find something you use everyday and put it there also. Your hat? One glove? Something that you will need right away. Plus something that will rattle your brain just a little so that it helps you recall this stunt you’re about to enact.

Someone once told me: “If you’re looking for something, look with your hands, not your eyes.” 

Or ambush yourself.