Sunday, July 13, 2008

"Invigorating," Yes?

During certain somewhat-mundane moments of my existence on this dustball we call Earth, I find it necessary to read things that I ordinarily would not.  Oh, I'm not talking about stuff that shouldn't be read due to "inappropriate" content.  I'm talking about things like directions and ingredients on shampoo bottles. Articles about the tearful reunion between a cat and its owner in the local newspaper.  A bottles of toothpaste for the suggested action should a child swallow more than a pea-sized amount of said product.  

It was during one of these moments not ten minutes ago that I reached for a box of soap, curious about its ingredients as well as the selling points which would presumably describe why this soap should be purchased over another brand, targeting the soap consumer caught in a moment of indecision.

One of these selling points was as follows: "Great invigorating scent." 

I sat puzzled.  Because what does the typical soap consumer stand to gain by purchasing soap with an "invigorating" scent?  I have been using this soap for years, and not once have I been told "Wow.  You smell great.  What soap do you use?  It really invigorates me." Nor have I found myself "invigorated" in my own use of this product.

I laughed out loud.  Because for some reason the word "invigorated" brings to my mind the image of someone being punched in the face.  

The question is this: Who does the punching? The "invigorated" or the "invigorator"? I guess it would have to be the "invigorated," since the "invigorator" is, in this case, a bar of Irish Spring Aloe soap, and therefore an inanimate object incapable of physical action, other than, say "invigorating" someone.

What if my bar-soap sprouted arms and socked me in the face while I was showering?

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