Cork: (n) material used to make stoppers for bottles
Long before there were screw-on caps, people had to figure out a way to keep their wine from spilling. After all, it’s unrealistic to think that the wine bottle will remain upright since we, ourselves, are incapable of the maneuver.
I don’t know who suggested the cork. But little did they know that centuries later, they would institute a phraseology which encourages
control: “Put a cork in it.”
As soon as this genius—whoever he or she was—carved a piece of cork to fit into the top of a bottle and was able to pull it back out, to open the vessel once again, he or she made it clear that if you don’t want to spill the contents, you’ve got to make sure the exit is dammed.
That covers so many subjects I wouldn’t even know where to begin.
For instance, every morning I wake up stuck with how I feel. Sometimes washing up, getting some breakfast or just moving around might improve my energy, but often the contents of my “bottle” is either ready for pouring—or needs corking.
I have to know the difference.
Bluntly, there are times when I am not suitable for human consumption. No matter how many aspirin I take, push-ups I do or cups of coffee I may ingest, what is inside me needs to be corked.
Then there are days when my internal splashings can pour forth like crystal blue water. Those are the occasions when I can pull the cork, and make myself available for the party of humankind.
“Put a cork in it.”
And when you do—be grateful to the person who decided to cease accepting spillage and found a good way to keep it bottled up.
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