Perfect…. Just Perfect

   As I sat down to prepare to write this week,  I again fought the urge to write about politics and the upcoming election or the weather. One would definitely have to admit  the weather the past several days in early October has been more summer-like than Fall and would make a great topic. I could write about leaves,  especially since most have now fallen from the trees into my yard. But I'll pass on both topics again this week 

   Each week, as I think about the subject matter for the  column, my hope is to make the selection of the topic 'perfect',  perfect for all the readers. The 'perfect column'!  But before I began to write what I might consider the 'perfect column', I needed to do a bit of homework, because the word ‘perfect’ is used  so frequently now I wanted to make sure I get it right.

     According to Webster’s New World Dictionary  the word perfect means ‘a state of excellence’ or ‘faultlessness’. Completely correct! One only needs to listen to the conversations going on around us to hear the word used with constant regularity.  The perfect dress, the perfect car or maybe the perfect restaurant. Does that mean that everything is 'faultless'? How often do we hear about the  perfect storm? Too much snow...or not enough snow?

      We have all hoped, at one time or another, for the perfect date. Every bride and groom dreams of the perfect wedding. We search endlessly for the fast food restaurant chain that will serve us the perfect hamburger. For me it was always White Castle.

     The coach who wants his team to win the championship game encourages his players to play the perfect game or how about the conductor of the orchestra directing the musician with the wave of the baton, encouraging them to play the perfect concerto.

     Sales people are taught to use the word ‘perfect’ as many times as possible. If I remember from my training, I think it was five times in five minutes “That suit is perfect for you. It matches your eyes.” 
   "I don’t want a suit to match my eyes. I want a suit to  fit properly! “Oh. This tie is a perfect match too.” Is it a perfect match to the suit, my eyes or my credit card?

     Car sales people always have the perfect car for you. How do they know what's perfect?  “This new minivan would be perfect for you,the sales person says,  sizing up the young woman to be a soccer mom. Actually,  she had her eye on the little red convertible. OK. So she is a   'hot' soccer mom.

    We all want are children to grow up to be perfect. Do perfect parents ensure perfect children or is it the other way around? 
    Maybe you have heard someone say, “She is the perfect candidate to run for office in the upcoming election.” What makes her perfect? Maybe she knows the right people or has lots of money!  (Sorry. I was going to stay away from politics.)

    We have all heard of the perfect fool or the perfect stranger. How about the perfect novel or movie. We search for the perfect gift for that special (perfect) friend. Chocolate  works for me!

    Recently I overheard two friends talking. One was planning a party for her sister and her new boy friend. She wanted to make sure that everything was……you guessed it,  perfect! With that kind of expectation there are bound to be problems.

     I think I have figured out this word ‘perfect,’ however. For something to be perfect, it must be measured against a standard of some kind. That standard can be real or it can be imaginary, like a picture in your mind.

     I knew a coach who taught his player to swing a baseball bat with their eyes closed. "Picture in your mind the baseball racing toward home plate and just as it crosses the plate, swing the bat, sending the ball over the outfield fence." Basketball coaches often do the same for practicing foul shots. It's amazing, but I have never missed an imaginary foul shot in my life!   :)

   So for my readers and friends, I bring this  ‘perfect column’ to a conclusion and I hope you all have the perfect week.