It seems like lately I’m aware of sayings that start with “you can’t” and for the most part, I can’t really argue with them.

You can’t have it both ways. It’s pretty hard to argue with that one. It seems like when I was younger I used to put a lot of effort into attempting to have it both ways and sometimes, for a little while, it would appear that I’d pulled it off and I was actually having it both ways. It never lasted, though. One of the two ways would always disintegrate. Sometimes when the one way would collapse it would drag the other way down and they’d both shatter on impact. I’ve given up trying to have things both ways. I’m lucky to have anything work out one way and I consider it a victory when it does. 

You can’t judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, a lot of times you kind of can but I’m always hoping to be surprised. I try not to predetermine what someone’s true character may be based upon their appearance and sometimes I am very pleasantly surprised. Then again, I’ve had so many friends from so many different backgrounds and with such varied appearances in my life that I’m generally pretty open-minded when it comes to people. I like giving them a chance.

One of the few things I still enjoy about Facebook is seeing how much different the people who like my posts are. Sometimes I get tickled seeing their names on the same list because they’re so much different and one probably couldn’t stand to be in the same room with the other for more than a couple of minutes. 

Overall, I think you can’t judge a book by looking at the cover.

You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. This one is true literally and figuratively. You wouldn’t believe how many times in my life I’ve wished I could put the toothpaste back in the tube. Ugh. 

I’m getting better at routing my thoughts through my brain before I put a soundtrack to them and broadcast them aloud, but I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered the practice by any means. I’ve always been pretty bad at making a statements that for one reason or another are easy to misinterpret. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say I’ve always been pretty good at making statements that for one reason or another are easy to misinterpret since I’ve produced so many. It’s only gotten worse since I entered the realm of texting. There are actually a few people in this world who have completely shut me out of their lives and refuse to have contact with me whatsoever because of a well-meaning but misinterpreted text. Regardless, you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.

You can’t get there from here. This one sounds as though it would be easy to refute. The heck of it is, I’ve found that to be true more than once in my life. It’s a funny saying because you know it can’t be true. Of course you can get there from here. Or can you? There have been times in my life that I literally could not get there from here. Heck, this appears to be one of them.

Standard reporter Chris Simones can be reached at 473-2191.