Adulting 8: The Joys of Domestic Technology.

I bought a new bin. 

Not the most interesting of introductions to our blog conversation & not before time according to my Mother, but there it is.

Every time, I walk past the bloody thing the lid flies open. It's one of the automated ones you see, all you need to do is walk past it & the lid flies open.

I bought this bloody thing because I had  hoped it would help me to finally gain at least the impression of control of  the chaos that is my kitchen. In reality all that has  happened is that it has introduced another new form of anarchy that I am not ready for.  

The opening and closing of the bin lid happens in a way that I don't understand and have no control of.  All I need to do is walk past it in the vaguest way and the lid flies open in a very random & aggressive fashion reminiscent of the till in Arkwright's Store.

I am reasonably certain that my younger son finds this hilarious as he breezes through the house lively and in full control of all the technology that is in it.  There is no aggressiveness from the bin exhibited towards him, as he dances past it.

Now before you start thinking that this is me falling into some melancholy rant against the impertinence of modern technology or some desire for sympathy, I feel I need to calm your nerves.

Because, in recent years I have realised that the longer I live, the more aligned things are becoming with the Second Law of Thermodynamics: 

"The Second Law of Thermodynamics says that processes that involve the transfer or conversion of heat energy are irreversible.  The Second Law also states that there is a natural tendency of any isolated system to degenerate into a more disordered state." 

Basically, older things in a system get the more chaotic things become.

Seems to fit. 

Now at the risk of starting another argument with my oldest friend, this seems to fit quite well with how life is appears to work. The older I get the less control I appear to have over things.

At this point there is little doubt that the Godfather of my children would no doubt give me a very long & complicated explanation of how Entropy works.

He would probably take great joy in it.

The reality is though that I have little patience for his explanations these days, I just tend to find it comforting to know that someone I trust understands these things better than I do.

I can't even control my Bin, why should I be expected to understand or have any meaningful understanding of the rest of my life?

If 2020 has taught me anything control over my life & the things in it is often no more than an illusion.  There are reasons for the things that go right or wrong that are sometimes beyond our understanding or ability to affect.  

There is wisdom in this.