I’M JUST CURIOUS: Bored? Not me!

by Debbie Walker

Whenever I hear adults or children say they are bored. I just cringe. Bored? I don’t have any idea what that feels like. I have seen Ken, on a rare occasion, when he says he’s bored. It usually means he’s between jobs around the outside of the house or in the garage. It’s probably too late in the afternoon to start a new job and he can’t find anything on TV he cares about. Watching him being bored, it appears to be a very uncomfortable feeling.

My grandkids had a period of time when they learned the word “bored.” The funny thing is I got the opportunity to teach them another new word, WORK. The first time the two of them came to me and said “we’re bored,” I told them I could fix that. I believe they were somewhat excited, thinking I was going to take them somewhere or entertain them somehow. Well, I did see to it that they were busy. I gave them a bucket, some cleaner, a couple of sponges and a broom. I then introduced them to my bathroom and explained that while they were cleaning they would no longer be bored!

As I remember it took two or three lessons. I know one of their jobs was to clean the windows in my van. Although it did take care of their boredom they were really too young and I wound up having to redo them. BUT they had been busy and that was the idea.

I believe the last time I heard the kids speak those horrid words we were in a restaurant. I’ll admit, it was a rather long wait but as I said I really can’t stand those two words. So…….I talked with the waitress in front of the kids and asked if the cooks in the kitchen had a pile of nasty dishes they needed washed and maybe the floor washed. She was gone for a few minutes and returned, all smiles. She told the kids the cook had a stack about three feet high and they would have to take chairs to stand on. They decided they’d just wait for their food.

A few years later I was out with my now 20+ year-old granddaughter and a few other women for dinner. Tristin’s little cousin was with us and she adores Tristin. After we’d been there a while I saw Tristin leave our area and come back with a spray bottle and a rag. She put her little cousin to work cleaning tables and booths. I asked “what’s up?” Her reply was, “Alesia said she was bored, nana, and look your old trick still works!”

I don’t believe my grandmother Bailey was ever bored, nor my mother and I seem to be following in their footsteps. I have mentioned before that I have a gazillion interests. Normally you will find I’m not without something to do (I HATE cleaning!) I have written letters on restaurant napkins and I’ll read just about anything. If I’m not the driver of our road trips I prepare for myself like you would for a child. I will take a pad of paper and pen, the latest couple of books I’m reading, a crossword puzzle book and, of course, I will pick up local newspapers along the way.

If you find yourself feeling bored, ask yourself “Just how bored am I?” Sit with it for a few minutes and see what you come up with for an answer. If you truly can’t figure out anything then get out a bucket, some cleaner, rags and a can of shaving cream. They say if you wash your bathroom mirror with shaving cream the mirror won’t fog up anymore. Enjoy!

I’m just curious what’s on your list of things to do when you think you’re bored(?).

Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org. Thanks for reading!