Necessity is the Mother of Invention

I typically wear tops and blouses with sleeves to my elbows or longer that cover my arm flab. However, one day, I decided to risk exposing my arm flab for looking cute.

The morning started fine. Every time I glanced at myself wearing my cute top, I felt good. 

You know the old saying, “If you think you look good, you often feel good.” All this changed around two o’clock that afternoon when the temperature in my office dropped drastically (I later learned the AC malfunctioned), and I still had three hours to go before getting off of work.

I was freezing. Even my goosebumps had goosebumps. Knowing that I could not make it three more hours sitting in front of my computer with my arms folded for warmth, I frantically looked around for something—anything—to put on. 

Spotting a decorative cloth wall hanging I had made to decorate my office space, I snatched it off the wall and flung it around my shoulders. 

Similar to those sporting the names or initials of colleges, the wall hanging was roughly about 36 inches long and 12 inches across. The pointed end sported a tassel the same color as the rest of the material. Unfortunately, my wall hanging only covered one shoulder and only a part of the other arm. Thus, I had to hold it in place with one hand to keep it around me. This resulted in a hunting and pecking motion of the keyboard with my right hand.  

This went on for maybe an hour or so when, suddenly, I looked up to see one of the technicians from our IT department standing at my desk with a puzzled look on her face. I figured my weird typing must have made her think I had a computer problem. (Call me paranoid, but I have always believed that companies could watch what workers did with company computers).
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“I like your shawl,” my co-worker said, pointing to my banner/shawl. I burst out laughing, which must have really made her think that I was crazy as well as could not type. Incidentally, the mauve and wine colors of the banner complimented the hot pink blouse that I had on, so I could see how she thought it was part of my outfit. I explained what it was and why I was wearing a wall hanging. ​

As much as I have always hated to admit it, mother was right! Necessity is often the mother of invention.

​Author Carol Gee
Military Veteran|Columnist|Motivational Speaker

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