What Do You Wonder About?

Perhaps you have seen the video of a man sitting on the beach looking out at the waves coming in. He speaks in a slow voice to capture our attention as he bites on a Twizzler. He asks:

“Why can't I wear white after Labor Day?”

That seems to be such a mundane question. If I were on the beach with this man, I would give him the answer to that question.

The Labor Day Rule About Not Wearing White

The rule about white clothes dates back before air conditioning, and people wore certain clothes to keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter. White and lighter-weight fabrics were more popular during the summer months, and darker colors and heavier fabrics were worn during the cooler autumn and winter months. Since Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, many people stop wearing white clothes.

Another origin of the rule came from the fashion practices of rich people. During the early 1900s, wealthy people often wore white linen suits and bright clothing up until Labor Day. Then they would begin to wear darker clothes. The rule was for wealthy men and women. This was a way for the wealthy to separate themselves from the less fortunate.

The “No White After Labor Day” rule is an antiquated one. No one has to pay any attention to it today. Feel free to wear white clothes during any season, if you like. The fashion police will not arrest anyone for breaking that old-fashioned rule.

Bigger Things to Wonder About

I have a few more serious things to wonder about, other than whether to wear white after Labor Day. However, if I want to know something, I research the topic until I find a suitable answer to satisfy my curiosity. The things I wonder about can be counted on one hand.

Ongoing Wonders

Over the years, here are some things people have wondered about. See how many of them you wonder about and how many you know the answers to.

• Of course, people wonder which came first, the chicken or the egg.
• Around Thanksgiving Day every year, there is a debate about whether part of the Thanksgiving meal is called “stuffing” or “dressing.”
• Some people wonder what can be done about gun control to stop mass shootings in the United States since this country has had many more than any other nation.
• It is a great wonder why people can't get along even within families and churches.
• People, especially those affected, wonder why there is spousal abuse in some marriages. Husbands are abused just as wives are abused. However, men don't report it as often as women.
• People wonder why there are usually 10 hot dogs in a package, while there are only eight hot dog buns. In order to have the same number of hot dogs and buns, you would have to buy five bags of eight-to-the-pack buns and four 10-to-the-pack hot dogs.
• Some people wonder why we drive on a parkway and park our cars in a driveway.
• Many have wondered why most school buses are yellow instead of another color.
• It is a wonder that motorists in some countries drive on the right side of the road, while in others they drive on the left.
• Have you ever wondered why you are told to say, “cheese” when posing for a picture?
• Do you wonder why people say, “Bless you” after someone sneezes?
• Do you wonder why yawning is contagious?
• Why does a superstitious person “knock on wood”?

You must admit that the world is full of wonders. You must also admit that the average person wonders about many things. Some of them are not worth losing any sleep over.

Feel free to sit on a beautiful beach, watch the waves, and eat Twizzlers as you wonder about things you are curious about.