OMG! How did this happen? I surveyed the clutter - gremlins had stolen in and added more to the pile of unopened mail, receipts and bills on my desk. It was Monday morning, and I was about to confront this mound of paper when I saw a brightly colored reminder.
I realized with a start that I had almost forgotten my eldest grandson’s birthday. Whew, saved again. Thank G_d for Post-it notes! Whatever would we do without them? These little three-inch square messages have saved my behind more than once. Whoever invented them should be sainted!
Post-it notes. We take them for granted and don’t realize quite the miracle they really are. There are soft pastel notes for more mundane reminders, like the one on my bathroom mirror reminding me I am running out of moisturizer. I use the bright neon-colored ones for the more important nudges, such as paying the property taxes on time. Typically square, they also come in a variety of shapes and sizes. No matter the color or style, their ability to remind us to do important things often saves our bacon and makes us look great.
Which started me thinking - the inventors of these little wonders really should be canonized. I knew from my early Catholic upbringing that proof of miracles was a requirement for sainthood. I was sure that providing evidence of the miraculous powers of Post-its would result in sainthood for its creators.
I was on a mission. Stacking my remaining sticky to-do’s into a pile, I brushed aside less pressing matters and started the process of recommending sainthood for the inventive men from 3M. They would have their very own feast day before you know it. The following letter was sent last week:
His Holiness Pope Francis
Casa Santa Marta
00120 Vatican City
Dear Holy Father,
On behalf of busy women worldwide, I would like to nominate Dr. Spencer Silver and Mr. Arthur Fry, the inventor and developer respectively, of the Post-it Note for 3-M, to be considered as candidates for canonization and sainthood.
History notes that Dr. Silver created this reusable sticky purely by accident. I, however, submit that it was not by mistake, rather it was divine inspiration that sparked this invention. Given the life-changing impact on men and particularly women, the advent of Post-its can only be viewed as a miracle.
Mr. Fry, his colleague, accidentally came across Dr. Silver’s prototype and used a sample to prevent paper bookmarks from falling out of his hymnal when he sang in church. This obviously shows him to be a holy man who, too, was no doubt inspired by G_d to bring this product to broad public use.
Most importantly, your Holiness, this amazing product has helped keep women organized, preserving peace and sanity for many decades. With Post-its, women everywhere are able to maintain the world turning properly on its axis.
To support my claim, Holy Father, here are but a few of the actual miracles witnessed daily:
Better childcare. By having Post-its stuck to their breakfast waffles, children are reminded to take their books and lunches with them to school in the morning. Brightly colored Post-it notes prompt super busy parents to pick them up from school.
Due to the intercedence of these blessed notes, children arrive at band, soccer or any other activity on the right day and at the right time.
Preserving Relationships. Post-it notes have saved household and office relationships. E.g. “This item belongs to …” placed on refrigerator items often prevent the sin of stealing.
Keeping families together. Post-its remind grown children to occasionally call their mothers. This is indeed a miracle.
Personal Care. Women depend on Post-its to remember hair and nail appointments, which is truly a miracle considering everything else we have to remember.
Organization. For many, Post-its are the very foundation of household, office and career management and organization.
Your Holiness, Post-it notes are an amazing tool that helps women, mothers and society at large. Their creation and continued use clearly yields the miraculous results required by the Church for sanctification as saints.
I therefore humbly submit my request that Dr. Spencer Silver and Mr. Arthur Fry be immediately canonized and suggest that their saintly feast day be set as April 6, commemorating the day in 1980 when this holy product was first introduced to the world.
Thank you, Holy Father. I know you are very busy too, so I have submitted a special request with the 3M Company to have a batch of “Pontiff White” Post-its made especially for you. It will help you keep your remarks in order and help you arrive in time for your weekly Sunday address to the gathering in Vatican square.
Respectfully,
Annie Sokoloff
Writer/Editor
Oh, So Many Balls
© 2024 Annie Sokoloff
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