Which Would You Choose?

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If you could only have one fruit, would you choose an apple or an orange?

The common saying is, you can't compare apples to oranges.

But the fact is, of course you can, but to what purpose? An apple is red and crunchy, an orange is orange and soft, so there.

I've compared an apple to an orange. So which would you rather have? Some people like apples, some people like oranges. Some people like both. It shouldn't have to be a fruit contest.

Carmen Miranda never had to make a choice. She made use of lots of fruit in her hats. I will pause here while the readers who are under 80 say, "Who is Carmen Miranda?" And "What are hats?"

Why is it that some people are compelled to make a "which is best contest" out of everything? Case in point; think of how many times you've heard comparisons made between New York City and Los Angeles. And much of the time the reactions on which city is the best are strongly emotional. "I HATE Los Angeles, New York is better by far!" Or, "I HATE New York, L.A. is a much better place."

I've never understood the need to choose which is the better place. Why pit one against the other? Can't we simply say that each city has its own unique qualities?

I was born in L.A. but I have traveled to New York City dozens of times throughout the years and loved the special things about the Big Apple that no other city, including L.A., has to offer.

On the other hand, L.A. has its own special qualities that New York doesn't possess. I've never found it important or even necessary to choose one over the other. I can enjoy and appreciate both cities. It shouldn't be a contest, especially since they are two such different places.

It's like saying, if you had to choose either shoes or underpants, which would you choose? Or if you could only pick one tool, would it be a hammer or a saw? Or which vitamin would you pick, vitamin D or vitamin C?" Unless you were engaging in some exercise in psychology, there is no reason to even consider making choices between these things.

There are times when you may need a hammer and there are times when a saw would be more useful. And underpants are always a good thing to have. But follow your mother's advice and make sure they don't have holes in them in case you're in an accident and your pants come off.

I know someone who has to always make a contest of things. If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, which movie would it be? Casablanca or Singin' in the Rain? If you could only listen to one singer for the rest of your life, which singer would it be? Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra? If you could only eat one sandwich for all eternity, which sandwich would you choose? Tuna fish or egg salad?

Thankfully I don't have to make such choices. I can watch Casablanca and eat an egg salad sandwich on Tuesday, then watch Singin' in the Rain and eat a tuna fish sandwich on Wednesday. Maybe on Thursday I'll put on a Frank Sinatra album and call out for a pizza.

I'll save the Bing records for the holidays. (Another pause here while the youngsters ask, "Who are Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby and what is Casablanca and Singin' in the Rain?)

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