By Rosalie Block, Art Talk

Pondering the world at large, there are many things difficult to understand. For instance, you go to one of the Albert Lea stores and buy a sweater. When you get it home, you find that along with the price tag, the manufacturer has included yarn and, when appropriate, sequins or beads.

What are the chances that I am going to be able to repair this garment?

The only time a disaster is going to happen to this sweater is if it becomes your absolute favorite. So now I have this favorite item, I ruin it by a horrible snag, and on top of that, I have to feel even worse because I don&8217;t know how to stitch, knit or weave it back to health. (And don&8217;t tell me if you routinely cure garments, OK?)

But even more of a puzzle is: Why haven&8217;t we had 6,834 people a day at the art center for this month&8217;s show? You can&8217;t even imagine the variety of this one-woman show until you walk in, look down both sides of the hallways, and go into the three galleries. Esther Kanzenbach of New Richland has wowed everyone with the variety of techniques, subjects and mediums. Did I mention that at last count, we have hung 169 pieces of her work? (She has more, she told us.)

Do you like flowers? We got &8216;em. How about landscapes? Yep. Wildlife and western motifs, like a rodeo, buffalo, and rock paintings? No problem. How about boats, fishing piers and fish? All right here, right now. So what are you waiting for? Come on down and enjoy. If you aren&8217;t completely satisfied, we&8217;ll give you your money back! (See, that&8217;s a little joke, because coming to the art center doesn&8217;t cost anything. I just get a little carried away sometimes.)

Now we&8217;ll get down to a couple of art center items of business. Anyone who would like to offer a garden to be shown during the Art and Garden Show on July 20 and 21 is asked to contact Donna Widenhoefer, 373-8459. Lots of great gardeners are out there, so please share your talents with those of us who do not have gardens of our own.

Along with needing gardens this year, the Art Center is looking for someone willing to take charge of the popular Art in the Park event, which is usually in August. If someone would accept this responsibility, volunteers from the Art Center could be found to form a committee. Please call me as soon as possible at 373-5665, so this outreach for artists can happen.

You recall we were pondering life&8217;s problems. Here&8217;s another. What has happened to customer service? My daughter and I ordered soft drinks at a luncheon counter recently. The young girl behind the counter took our money, gave back change, and started talking to another girl, while an older gentleman was working furiously on a previous order. After several minutes, the first girl looked at us and asked us if we&8217;d given our order to the man who was actually working. What? Hello!

All the two girls did while we waited was talk back and forth and count the money in the tip jar. You have to pity the poor managers of the world. They must be at their wit&8217;s end &8212;

often.

Oh, and one last how come. Why does my hair look its absolute best as I am combing it just before going to bed at night?

Rosalie Block is the coordinator at the Albert Lea Art Center.