Glitter

Have you ever noticed how persistent glitter is?

If you ever have cause to handle anything with glitter on it, you know what I mean. No matter how careful you are, it sticks to you -- sometimes for days.

You can't rub it off. The shower seems to have no success at washing it away. And you can't really lift it off your skin very well. It sticks to you no matter what.

And not only does it stick to your skin, it shines. Glitter will not be sidelined, cannot be forced to sit quietly, unheralded. No! It advertises its presence at every opportunity, catching the eye of anyone around.

Not long ago I bought a party blouse that sparkles. I wore it to a special event and then hung it in my closet to wait for the next party.

The next day I noticed that I had glitter from the blouse on my collar bones. I brushed myself with a towel. I washed with soap and water. I tried to wipe the bits of glitter away with a tissue and with my hand. No luck. I put on a high-necked shirt.

Next I noticed that my car had been glittered. Apparently, wearing that blouse in my car going to and from the event had left an indelible mark on my car. There were specks of glitter on the leather seats and on the carpet. Now I guess the glitter will transfer to all my other clothes when I drive my car anywhere.

Just last week -- almost a month after that dress-up event I attended -- I saw glitter on the carpet on the stairs at my house. And that same day I saw some of the glitter at my desk at the office. It's everywhere.

Doesn't it make you wonder how we might apply glitter's persistent stickiness to other things that we WANT to keep handy?