THINGS TO COME I have hear it said that wise merchants does all he can to cause the buyer from taking actual physical possession of his purchase immediately upon terms made by mutual agreement. It is insisted that anticipation of such an acquisition plays a larger role in business than we might imagine. The suit which has been tailored exactly to your measurements will seem to be of exceptional value if you have to wait a while to don it. If you are buying a new car, you get a good feeling telling friends about your carefully planned purchase.
Few of us like "to buy off the shelves" spite of our seeming preference at times, for haste. There is a strange sense of satisfaction to be found when your realize you can make that car salesman, for instance, "earn his salary for the day" by getting him to recount for you all the many advantages you can enjoy with the possession of the specific model of car your are trying so desperately to convince yourself you can afford to own and operate. A shoemaker produces a fine pair of shoes overnight, but he holds them the best part of the week before delivery because he feel sure the new owner's appreciation of such hard-to-find footwear is to be used once more in his favor.
Certainly a small child anticipates a large chunk of joy to come his way his way during holiday seasons, his or her birth-day-week-or-month. Your wife looks forward to a scheduled perm appointment at her beauty salon, or a food sale at the local grocery store.
We are all impressed with the attention we get from others, aren't we? We look forward to more, even better days, weeks and months. Anticipation of rewards may play a part in it at times,but we like to feel we area part of the civilized - but abused by strife warfare, murder, mayhem and massive mounds of of mis-understandings.
How can we learn to enjoy some anticipation of better living, more love; less of hate's heat...more sincere mentions of things we can anticipate for tomorrow.
It is not true, as we were told today, by the lady being lauded as the leader of the Poll Packs, that the question of ending "the war" is "Mr. Bush's problem."
Do you find yourself anticipating what could - even "might" come about if we show such contempt for our national unity. Anticipation, improperly schooled, can become fear.
Andrew McCaskey Sr. amccsr@comcast.net 1-29-07 [c435wds]
