White Out versus Erasers

By Kathy Bunse

“It’s got to be here,” I muttered while circling the school and office supply section of Wal-Mart. “Surely they still make White Out,” I said, looking at the array of pens and markers for the umpteenth time. Then, my gaze fell on packages of brightly colored pencils and erasers. Yes! This could be it!

Rectangular Pink Pearl erasers, a staple of school supply lists for decades, plus the pencil topper type sat side by side. You know the ones. Those little gems save the day when you’ve erased down to the metal and still have plenty of pencil left. Sadly, there was no White Out beside them.

Obviously, staring at the shelf wasn’t working. So, I moved on. I picked up a carton of milk, compared prices for butter, selected the cheapest brand and returned for one last look. If I didn’t find it this time, I faced two choices: admit defeat and go home with no White Out or ask someone for help. Usually, I don’t mind asking for help. But, by now, I feared that White Out was a product of the past. Some young person would give me a sad smile and confirm my suspicions.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to face defeat or embarrassment. Approaching from a different direction and looking down revealed my elusive quarry. One lone three pack of White Out sat on the exact center of the bottom shelf. Hallelujah!

On the drive home, I thought about mistakes and how I have dealt with them over the years. Most of my life, I have been a perfectionist, a trait that can lead to self-loathing and exhaustion. I was the kind of perfectionist who wanted to make my mark on the world and believed I could get it right the first time. I favored ink pens and markers. I also learned to type on a manual typewriter. So, I was a White Out person. My mistakes had to be covered, hidden away. Only the correction would show. People should see that I got it right.

Over the years, I’ve become an eraser kind of gal. Erasers are forgiving. They let you start over, and over and over. They help you plan. Light pencil mark guides make straight lines of print on a homemade sign. Erase them, to reveal a perfect project. If you press too hard the pencil marks show through. But that’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes.

Revealing mistakes, even failures, can improve relationships. Who doesn’t breathe a sigh of relief when they learn that someone else made the same mistake? If it’s an embarrassing or funny one, so much the better. True love and genuine friendship exist because of and in spite of mistakes and flaws.

Today, I’m thankful for my computer, with spell check, backspace and other instant correction features. It certainly makes life easier. However, my desk holds an ample supply of erasers and White Out because I will always make mistakes. When I do, it’s nice to have old friends nearby.