The it's-all-going-to-the-same-place mentality

Please. Save the chaos for the colon.

This morning, I kindly carved a mango for Tony when he didn't even ask me to, because I'm a giver. But I must confess: I made a hash of it. It wasn't my fault because, as I mentioned in my popular post, How to cut a mango, mangoes are very high in fiber due to all of that strange hairiness they can possess. There must be a seasonal hairiness factor or something, because the mango I carved this morning was so fiber-hairy it simply wouldn't slice. It just compressed as though I was cutting it with a butter knife and not the scalpel/paring knife Tony gave me for Christmas. One mango yielded maybe a cup of fruit and it made a pitiful pile of mush in the bowl. I was, of course, ashamed at my ineptitude, particularly after I had boldly proclaimed myself to be a Master of Mango Slicing. Tony didn't give a shit because he is of that it's-all-going-to-the-same-place mentality (#IAGTTSP). He just flipped the fruit into his empty cereal bowl and then poured cereal on top of the fruit. This was deeply disturbing to me because, as everyone knows, the cereal goes in the bowl first, then the fruit is sprinkled on top. If it were not the case, then why do cereal box pictures always show it that way? 

I am quite sure I am not alone in finding this blatant disregard of food presentation rules disquieting, particularly on a Saturday morning. While I am completely capable of understanding the logic behind the it's-all-going-to-the-same-place mentality, I am a rule follower. Okay, if you ask my sisters, I wasn't always a rule follower, but I guess I got into trouble enough times on the winding path to adulthood that I eventually learned to be one. I fear that to blatantly disregard the rules of attractive food presentation based on the fact that it's all going to the same place is the beginning of a dangerous slide down a slippery slope. What comes next? Not folding your laundry because you are eventually going to wear the clothes and they will only get dirty again? Why have drawers at all? Why not just store all of your clothes in the dryer? Likewise, why make the bed if you are only going to get into it again tonight? Why clean the house? It will just get dirty again. (Note to my children: This is called sarcasm. These are not actually suggestions). It is a simple question of order versus chaos and anyone who drives a car knows that the former is preferred.

I'm not sure where resolution of the conflict between the rule-follower and one who subscribes to the IAGTTSP mentality lies, but personal experience convinces me that IAGTTSP people cannot change, so we rule-followers are forced to adapt. My best advice is, when you're not in control of the situation, try not to look. But often it's like a bad car accident -- as grisly as it can be, it's hard to look away.