The Electric Pencil Sharpener

Tonight my wife sent me on a mission – go buy an electric pencil sharpener. Over the past several months our son has tried to use the cheap sharpeners as well as mechanical pencils but nothing seemed to work. I rushed out the door with an Office Max coupon in hand ($10 off a purchase of $20 or more) and soon found myself scouring the store for the proper aisle. I must admit, it took me a few minutes before finding the right section where I was met with multiple options. Ultimately I am cheap so I found the one closest to $20 (so I could use my coupon) and proceeded to the cashier to check out. A few minutes later I arrived home and my wife ripped into the packaging with the same glee as a child on Christmas morning. I stood by because I was just as excited. She plugged it in and it hummed to life as she began the process of turning dull pencils into daggers sharp enough to pierce through a person’s skin. I needed to try this. Not pierce my skin, but sharpen a pencil. I shoved her aside and placed a pencil through the hole and watched it chew apart the end in order to make a beautiful writing instrument. “Give me another one,” I said. This was pretty invigorating. After I tried a few, my wife wanted another turn so she interrupted my newfound fun. Our kids also wanted to join the fun, but we just yelled at them warning of the potential danger in sharpening pencils. In reality, Leah and I just didn’t want to let them take a turn…we were having too much fun.Sometimes it is the simple things in life which bring us joy… Have you discovered something simple lately?