many_hands_make_light_work epitome of incomprehensibility As I wrote in the_baby_out_with_the_bathwater, my grade 4 or 5 class had an assignment to illustrate common sayings in a creative way. When I saw this one, I remembered a science thing I did somewhere, somewhen - a circle of people holding hands so that an electric current could run painlessly through us. Maybe it wasn't a light that our connected conduction powered, but that part's lost to the sands of time. Anyway, by changing the intended meanings of "light" and "work" in the expression, I got my poster idea. I drew overlapping hands (I think I traced my own hand a few times) that led to a lit-up light bulb. Voilà! 250909 ... nr i like this idea. i'm picturing creating "time is money," maybe with the numbers or hands on a clock having dollar signs on them. or "everywhere you go, there you are," with just me, waving from multiple locations, and a thought bubble that says "yup." 250910 ... i guess its actually "wherever you go, there you are." 250910 ... nr i think i actually would want the thought bubble to say "welp." 250910 ... e_o_i Yes to the "welp"! That made me grin. Welp welp welp welp. ... As for the proverb, it CAN describe practical realities too. Provided people know roughly what they're doing, some things are faster with multiple helping hands. I'm thinking of a time in Arden this July when Sue said I could (but didn't have to) help the family process kale for drying. Isaac would wash it, my aunt and I would cut it, and Sue would "massage" it. It made me smile, the image of "massaging" kale, but when the actual task came up I was tired and didn't want to do it. I did anyway and we had a good time, talking and laughing as we cut the bumpy lettuce and Sue rubbed it between her hands. We got through the two kale-full storage coolers in about half an hour. When Sue went, "That's all!" I was surprised. (Many hands make kale ready for the dehydrator.) 250911 what's it to you? who go blather from