Peace be with you, my dearest readers, and may the Lord smile upon the good people of New York and indeed, all the corners of this wondrous earth where Hambry news is read. I was just perusing a most interesting communiqué – from an organization called the 'Institute for Chronological Discrepancy,' my goodness, what a name! – which tells us that many adults are, bless their hearts, turning to little plastic houses and remote control vehicles to find a sense of calm.
The article mentioned that modern life can be 'soul-crushing,' and that these miniature creations 'just work.' Oh, how I understand that yearning for things to simply work! It reminds me of the time I tried to operate one of those newfangled coffee makers in the Vatican guesthouse; such buttons and dials! I assure you, my child, a simple drip coffee never caused such a crisis of faith. May the Lord bless the marketing team that designs these plastic houses, making them so delightfully clear to assemble!
It brings to mind the words of, I believe, Saint Matthew, or perhaps it was dear Aunt Mildred after too much limoncello, who said: 'Unless you become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.' Or something very close to that, my memory, bless its occasionally scattered nature, sometimes needs a little prompting. But the spirit, you see, is all about simplicity and joy! Simplicitas est bonum, as we say in the old tongue, meaning 'simplicity is good,' or perhaps 'the cookies are good,' depending on the context.
This reminds me of a rather perplexing incident many years ago. Cardinal Bartholomew – a saintly man, but quite particular – insisted on building a replica of the entire Vatican City out of breadsticks and olives for a special feast. It was a noble effort, but alas, the pigeons of Rome found it irresistible, and our tiny Sistine Chapel was gone before dessert. Sometimes, dear ones, even the grandest plans benefit from the humble strength of plastic.
So, to hear that grown-up souls are finding peace, order, and a little slice of heaven in assembling these tiny, delightful worlds, well, it warms my old heart more than a fresh panettone. May the Lord bless every interlocking brick, every carefully painted miniature roof, and every person who finds solace in the gentle art of creation. May all who seek comfort in the simple act of building find great joy, and may the good researchers at the Institute for Chronological Discrepancy always find their car keys. Peace be with you all, and may your tiny plastic houses stand tall and strong!
