How long before you can claim to have an addiction? Are some of us really addicts who just pretend to be functioning as if we have no addictions? We all have some form of addiction, we all may not be able to admit to such, but I believe that it is humanly impossible not to have an addiction. We can substitute other names for these addictions, but a spade is a spade.
I honestly believe that there is nothing wrong in most cases with being an addict; I think that we have given the term “addict” a very negative connotation because the first mention of “addict” drums up pictures in our minds of people shooting up heroin or smoking crack from a crack pipe. To me that constitutes a disservice to the words “addiction” and its little brother “addict”. I think it is high time we stop using addict in reference to drug users. I can think of plenty of positive addictions that far outnumber the drug addict perception that has unnecessarily ruined the terms.
As humans we are born into this world and taught from birth to be addicts. That’s right, from day one; we are led down a path of addiction. Addiction number one comes in the form of mother’s milk and the containers mom carries the milk around in. It doesn’t matter what gender you are born as, male or female, those jugs of milk make a lasting impression or addict out of you. Most men keep that addiction for their entire life time; they may not openly admit it, but among close friends there can usually be found conversation about those milk containers when an attractive pair of those jugs comes passing by their eyes.
Now before you women go spouting off that men make too big of a deal about milk containers, stop right there. Plenty of women contribute to this addiction for males, and enhance the problem. You know darn well that women use those milk jugs as bait to catch men. Women have been known to take quarter pint size containers and upsize them, to full pint size and even quart size jugs in some cases. Women are well aware that size does matter; I have an old school buddy that has made a career out of selling plastic surgeons milk jug enhancement products. I can remember plenty of years he would call me and let me know which contestants in the Miss America pageant had his milk jug enhancement products that were helping to contribute to the contestants overall beauty.
When the milk industry went away from the home delivery of milk in glass quart bottles it led to different types and styles of jugs. The most popular now is the one gallon plastic jug with the finger hole by the top for easy carrying and pouring. I mentioned “jugs as bait” earlier, well the men loved these one gallon plastic jugs so much some men hated to see these jugs go to waste when the milk was gone. Men have found numerous ways to reuse the containers that brought them fresh milk for their cereal and cookies. Men led the charge that would ultimately become known as ‘recycling’ or re purposing items of plastic .
Plenty of fishermen use the plastic jugs to mark where they have placed their trot lines on the lakes they fish. Many a catfish has been caught from lakes where a milk jug marked the spot of them being hooked. Men who didn’t fish even keep the jugs for putting used motor oil in when they do their own oil changes. I could go on and on with the uses, you get the picture though. Men have been taught from birth that milk jugs are to be appreciated and used for all they can come up with in life. Even though the jugs may not have any milk left in them doesn’t mean they need to be discarded. Even empty jugs just seem to give men a feeling of comfort just having them around.
Don’t get me wrong here, even an addiction as innocent milk jugs can sometimes cause problems. Some men have had some wires misfire in the brain and end up being overly addicted or obsessed, to the point of having some of my old friend’s products put to work in their own chests. It could also be that they just liked playing dress up and got a little carried away with it when they got older; men have been known to get carried away with some things, as crazy as that might sound.
So, if there is a point in all this, addictions are normal part of life. As a society we have collectively determined which addictions, drugs in particular, we will point out using the terms “addict and addiction” thus creating the negative connotation of the words. So I am asking that we start looking in a more positive way at addiction and addicts like me.
I am a milk addict, I like both warm and cold milk and I am not afraid to admit it. The only negative to a milk addiction from my perspective is the occasional taste of sour milk, and seeing old jugs that have been disregarded is because they became empty. So ladies, if by chance we happen to pass each other on the street and I seem to be noticing your jugs, don’t give me a disgusting look or verbally abuse me for it, I’m just another addict trying to cope with my addiction. Thank you in advance for your compassion and understanding in this matter, I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Until next time,
@sultnpapper