Wrap Rage Redux

When I raised the question recently, first in my blog, lifeonthemay.com. and later in the April 20 edition of the Bluffton Sun, I wondered if I was the only one who thought that today’s packaging was problematic. I was not prepared for the voices and stories that came back to me.  Clearly, I am not alone.

I will share a few of the emails I received on the topic. The parentheses are mine.  The comments belong to readers.

First, both Bill and Gwyneth reminded me that all of this started with the Tylenol tampering. Since then, as Gwyneth says, the manufacturers have done everything but put their goods behind barbed wire and electric fences.

Vickie asked me if I heard her scream as the knife she was using to open a bottle of pain relievers sliced into her hand. When she finally got it open, it was only half full, most of it stuffed with cotton. (I can relate.)

Gwyneth remembered the time she was desperate for an anti-cramp, anti PMS-med and couldn’t conquer the bubble wrap.  (Cruel manufacturer. Obviously not a woman.)

Ann told me of a recent purchase for her grandchild which required two adults and a box cutter to open. (Good Grief.)

Sue asked me if I’d seen the fruits and vegetables which are triple-wrapped to protect them from air. And, as a result, from you and me. (Scurvy, anyone?)

Pam wondered if I’d forgotten all the bad words that get uttered before we dissolve into tears of submission. (Never!  That’s all part of this frustrating ritual.)

Sally related her desperation in attempting to open a bottle of water while traveling down I-95 and wondered if she’d have to stop to ask a stranger for help. (Stranger Danger.  Not a good idea.)

Lest you think that women should just turn stuff over to a man to do the job, Dave told me of his recent bout with a jar of peanut butter.  He removed the cap only to find a thick layer of foil which had to be tweezed off in teeny-tiny strips.  (I think the peanut butter people have since heard from him.)

Deej has asked that I set aside some time to hear her long story of opening a bottle of wine with her head.  (Hey, any Port in a storm.  Or Chardonnay,  Or Merlot.)

Lynne recalls the broken fingernails from trying to open the hermitically-sealed Mac and Cheese boxes.  She says she finally gave up and let her children deal with it. After all, they never had fingernails to begin with. (Smart woman.)

Bev warns us to be careful taking the trash out when the bags are full of mangled plastic which can, in turn, mangle our hands. (This just gets uglier and uglier.)

Nancy bought a special tool just for these occasions. Apparently it doesn’t work. (Are we surprised by that?).

She also brings up the nasty bit about the child-proof caps that apparently only children can open. (Something’s very wrong here.)

Finally, Diana wraps it all up for us.  She says, simply: “I now wear scissors around my neck as a fashion accessory.”

I rest my case.