A Challenge I Faced Today (Thursday Writing Essential)

For my first attempt at establishing a Thursday Challenge I thought it would be good to write a narrative about any challenge we might face. It can be in the form of a short story, poem or even words to a song. It can be about a challenge we face in any part of our lives. It can be about facing a tragedy. It can be about a disability, a wall that we thought we couldn't climb over, under or around. It can be about dealing with a difficult relative, an annoying co-worker. It does not have to be about you but can be about someone you know or know about. It can be serious or silly. It's up to the creative writers who are part of this group. One more thing, please let me know how I did with this challenge.

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“Any challenge we might face.” I think I might be pretty lonely in this one, but I just faced a challenge today.

The Background

We don’t have a great deal of wardrobe problems in SoCal. I have a pair of shorts I wear when it’s warm and a pair of jeans that I wear when it’s cool. A couple weeks ago, it was cool and I was wearing my favorite jeans. These things have been with me for years. I’ve worn them camping in the desert, horseback riding with my girlfriend, and working a couple construction jobs.

That’s to say that they’re really comfortable, they fit nicely, and I can move around without worrying about what my butt looks like. Then…

Last month we had a couple rainy days and I wore my favorite jeans to the store. On the way home, I dropped my house keys in the middle of the street, bent over to pick them up, and… riiiiiiipppp. The crotch was gone. Not mine, just in the jeans.

The Challenge

It’s too cold for me to walk to the store today in my shorts. Well, I could, but I’d also have to wear my heavy jacket and that would look really stupid. Hmm, I seem to remember…

Have you ever seen this product? Notice the price on it: 10¢. This stuff is at least sixty years old. But, I need to get to the store and I can’t have everything hanging out.

The Solution

There are two strips in the (opened) package and I pull out one, cut off two pieces about two inches long, round the corners (according to the directions) and iron them on.

As I said, these things are at least sixty years old, look like heck, but… they still worked.

I went to the store, came back, made dinner, sat here typing, and they’re still hanging in there.

We’ll see what happens tomorrow when I have to work in the back yard.