I thought I would begin this piece with an interesting story about when the ketchup packet was invented, and who is responsible for this revolutionary liquid distribution system. Unfortunately, I could find nothing on the internet that came from a source I could rely on. Granted, my attention span is short, and I could probably find something if I spent more than a few minutes searching. Anyway, on with my story.
This invention gave us an easy way to distribute condiments while ensuring the people don’t waste the product. You find restaurants that use them to distribute ketchup, mustard, soy and hot sauce, and even relish. You would think that would be the end to the usefulness. But no, some genius found a use for this method of distribution which is iffy at best. Which brings me to the point of this rambling. A personal experience with something that should not be distributed in ketchup packets.
Recently I decided to go a little cheap on a hotel since it was only me and I wasn’t going to spend that much time in the room. When I checked into my room, after a long hot day touring the campus and listening to the various department heads talk, the first thing on my mind was taking a shower. I headed to the bathroom when much to my dismay I found the shampoo…in a ketchup packet. I pondered this for a moment, hoping it would just tear open without the need to use my teeth. Well, Murphy’s Law was working against me that day and the simple tear-off-the-corner-with-my-fingers technique failed. Now it was decision time, do I risk tearing it open with my teeth and ingesting some unknown brand of shampoo or just use the bar of soap? I decided to throw caution to the wind and open the packet with my teeth. It did turn out favorable for me. I was able to tear the corner enough that I finished the job with my fingers and ended up with clean hair.
I think it is safe to say that I will go back to hotels that offer shampoo in bottles. I don’t want to be there when Murphy’s Law succeeds and I end up eating the shampoo.
