In high school, I had a classmate named Dave. One of his favorite sayings was, “You have a keen grasp of the obvious.” He’d say it whenever someone made a comment that was self-evident. These were often conversation fillers, used in instances when a person would step outside, notice it was raining, and say, “It’s raining.” Dave would then say his thing. It made him sound so smart and superior.
Dave and I have since been lost to each other through the vagaries of forty years and geography, but I think of him and his sarcastic saying periodically, especially when it comes to those signs that are so popular now in people’s homes. You know, the ones made for the kitchen that say “EAT,” or ones for the living room that say “LOVE, LAUGH, LIVE,” etc.
When they first started appearing years ago, I thought the signs were sort of neat, mainly because, you know me, I love words. But the longer they stay around and the more I see them, the more I have developed a knee-jerk negative reaction toward them. I think things like, “Why would I need a sign to tell me what to do in a kitchen?” As my friend Dave would say, the signs have a keen grasp of the obvious.
The signs are also bossy. Maybe I don’t want to laugh or love. Stop telling me what to do, signs!
I have taken a solemn and deadly vow never to add one of those signs to my home décor.
My dislike of these signs is one thing that makes me love the recent series of Progressive Insurance commercials that feature “Dr. Rick.” He is a pseudo-therapist who tries to ensure his customers (patients) don’t turn into their parents once they become homeowners (a.k.a. parentomorphosis). One of the most recent commercials features not one, but two instances of Dr. Rick encouraging a young female homeowner to trash one of the dreaded bossy signs.
Those commercials make me laugh every time I see them, and that’s something during a pandemic. Well done, Progressive. And Dave, if you’re out there, I look forward to seeing you at our 40th class reunion this year. Maybe I’ll bring you a sign.
Marie's Meanderings 
Oh, I love that commercial too, Marie! As you wrote, anything for a smile in these times. I don’t care for signs either but I do have a small decal in my pantry that reads, “Every day is a gift.”
I hope you met Dave at your 40th class reunion. I like his saying!
Hi Jo Nell. Sometimes it’s not obvious that every day is a gift, so your sign gets an approved “pass” in my book.
We haven’t had our 40th reunion yet – a few more months until that happens. Hopefully, conditions will let us gather in person by then. Have a good weekend!
Love those commercials too! (There’s a few in the “series”.) The signs feel vapid/preachy to me as well. I’d sooner put one up that suggested JUDGE COMPLAIN WHINE.😀
Yes, the other commercials in the Dr. Rick series are so good, too!