On Complexity

in #simplicitylast year (edited)

Ralph asked, "Lisa, do you like stuff?"

If Lisa Simpson grew up to be the average American consumer, then yes, Lisa likes stuff.

Lisa and Ralph may now have two kids, a large house, 4 automobiles, a boat, a cabin...

Lisa's kitchen may be equipped with 5 different machines to make coffee, 8 different methods to cook an egg, 21 pots and pans, and 144 cooking utensils each with specialized utility that could be done just as well with 1 spoon and 1 spatula.

The big house might have 3 or 4 bathrooms. 4 toilets that need cleaning once in awhile.

Both the little cabin and the big house need to be kept free of rodents.

Light bulbs need replaced. The large rooms need heated. The guest room needs the sheets changed.

The cat mows for her food. Cat littler needs changed. Bird needs let out for a swoop around the living room. Dog needs walked. Woof!

Oil needs changed. Cabin and Boat need winterized. And winter tires need to be switched off and on for the seasons.

Laundry needs done. Huge pile. Why so many clothes? Why so many shoes? Because they're cute. Lisa likes shoes.

Makeup. Lots of that.

Lot's of everything. Food spoiling in the refrigerator.

Lisa and Ralph have absolutely everything... except time.

Lisa and Ralph do not 'have stuff'...

Stuff... has Lisa and Ralph.

This is partly why vacation in Italy will feel extra good. Because they each only take a small percentage of their stuff, crammed into a couple of huge suitcases.

Lisa and Ralph will enjoy the time away from most of their stuff!

And they might pick up a few more 'stuffs' in their travels.

The 144 kitchen utensils and 55 pairs of shoes, and the 5 machines that make coffee, will gather dust for a spell.

It matters not to Ralph's stuff, if Ralph strokes out on the airplane.

The cat will mow for any person who will feed her. The bird will chirp. The dog is friendly and will find another best friend.

Ralph's pickup truck cares not if it is driven or by whom. The golf club cares not who swings it, nor if the inanimate ball hits the bushes on the left side of the fairway or the bushes on the right side of the fairway.

Only Ralph cared about such stuff.

The stuff does not give a fuck about Ralph.