The Domino Effect

All of life is connected. 

Everything is important in its own way. Of course we have priorities, but it can be surprising how one little thing affects everything else.

For example: Mad Millie wants the old falling down decrepit shed next to the alley and promises to take it away before the end of the week.

The end of the week comes and the shed is still there. You talk to the guys putting in the fence and they agree to cart off all the shed pieces and burn them for you when they put up the fence.

Mad Millie really wants the shed and promises she will take care of it so you can put up your fence, build a new outbuilding and add an awning for your car.

The fence goes up. The new outbuilding arrives in big boxes that you stack in the living room. The shed is still there. You have lost your chance to have the fence men haul it away for you.

You begin doing things inside, but the boxes for the outbuilding remain in the living room. You finally decide Mad Millie is not going to take the shed. Your son has to tear it down and now he also has to figure out a way to dispose of all the boards and lumber and dig out the base before he can build the outbuilding.

The nails are a hazard in the boards for people moving them. The shed remains, making putting in anything new impossible. You want to finish moving in and set up your living room, but thanks to Mad Millie not doing what she promised you cannot, because the boxes for the new outbuilding are still in there.

Of course Mad Millie visits when the spirit moves her and makes token acts of helping, but four, maybe five people are caught up in the chaos she created.

Your son, who has a home, a wife, a full time job, and an ailing father to care for spends his free time working on your house so you and Mad Millie can be friends.

This scenario is not limited to the shed situation. There is always one person who pays the price for anything and everything you cannot do. Someone who buys your television for you, sets it up, tries to teach you to use a remote, puts together furniture that comes un-assembled, mounts doors and closet rods you want or feel you need. Taking care of you becomes a full time job just so you can be friends with Mad Millie.

You make token attempts to help. A few swipes with a lawn mower before someone has to find new batteries for you. Taking out a few nails in the pile of boards from the shed, because it is easier than unpacking all the stuff you could not get rid of and now have no room for. You get a part time job and count on your son to pull your life together. Over and over and over. And you are angry with your sister because she promised to help you arrange the tiny living room with the over-sized furniture you and Mad Millie chose for it and she won't do it until you remove the boxes for the outbuilding.

You have now impacted at least three maybe four separate families.

The domino effect.