You know what I’m talking about. It’s around lunch time so you go pull out a jar of jelly from the fridge for a PB&J sandwich. The jar feels pretty full and as you go to open it you quickly realize the seal has not even been broken. You exert a little more effort and with a small pop the lid comes off in your hands. You look down and see it – the smooth surface of strawberry jelly. This is more than just a beautiful sight, it’s a beautiful moment. It is like the calm before the storm, a moment of peace before your knife creates chaos within the glass walls you hold in your hand. You wonder how it gets so smooth. Is it some massive, impressive machine spinning hundreds of jars at a time to create such a flat surface? Or is it something more magical? Perhaps a group of miniature elves riding a jelly zamboni to create such wondrous smoothness? The hunger pangs remind you that you aren’t here to muse, but to eat. So, with one last glimpse, you dig the knife in, forever changing the internal homeostasis of that jar. Perhaps the fleetingness just makes it more beautiful.

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June 1, 2011 at 10:14 am
Bethany Amanda
I think this one might be my favorite so far. The thought of miniature elves riding around on Zambonis is going to give me a smile every time I open a new jar now.
June 18, 2011 at 11:06 am
Clean Desks « Beautiful Everyday Things
[...] 18, 2011 in Matt | by Matt If you didn’t catch it from my first post about freshly opened jars, you should know this about me: I like clean, fresh, well-arranged things (and apparently so do my [...]