126. WINDSHIELDS

Allowing drivers to see without dodging debris

* I thought of this simple miracle a few days ago when a bird skimmed off of my windshield. The poor thing didn't leave a splotch and didn't seem to crash, so I don't think that its collision could have been too direct. However, I was much happier to have the bird skim off of my windshield than to skim off of my head.
* Perhaps the importance of a windshield is shown by their presence in convertibles. It is as though it is more important to have a windshield than a roof!
* Of course, once your car starts moving, windshield wipers and windshield wiper fluid may as much of simple miracles as a windshield itself.

125. GOOD SALIVA

Making it harder for preying tartar

* About a month ago, my dentist commented, "You're lucky. You have good saliva." He followed with an explanation of how saliva pH affects tartar development.
* Actually, it might be more accurate to say that "bad saliva" makes it easier for tartar. From what I've found, I don't think that any saliva actually impedes tartar. Rather, it's that some saliva is more conducive to tartar.
* Consider also the role that elbows play in preventing tartar. (Are you confused?)

124. LIBRARIANS

Ask them for a book to save you a look

* Thanks to my friend Aaron for suggesting this simple miracle. As a doctoral history student, he often utilizes a librarian's research expertise.
* This simple miracle is also inspired by my sister Maria who is a librarian for a small Catholic college in Tennessee. She has given our whole family a pride for librarians.
* At work, we also have great librarians. I often identify books or journal articles that I would like from other libraries and they swiftly obtain it for me.
* When I was growing up, my family lived within walking distance of the library and we visited it often. In fact, when the librarian came to my fourth-grade class, she pointed to me and said, "Oh yes, I know Phil, his family comes three times a week." How embarrassed I was!

123. PB&J

Palatably blended and jovial

* Particularly now that this year's Lenten season has begun, peanut butter and jelly is an absolute staple. (I had two today for lunch.)
* This site says that the first peanut butter was made in 1880. During World War II, soldiers mixed it with jelly to make it taste better. When they returned home, the new sandwich's popularity soared.
* When I was in middle school, I tried many odd varieties of peanut butter and jelly, such as microwaving or toasting a finished sandwich. Few if any of these experiments endured.
* This simple miracle first appeared on the campus of CWRU in 2004.

122. SHORT HAIRCUTS

Having less of a mane is quick to maintain

* This simple miracle is dedicated to my dad, who has cut my hair hundreds of time, always tidy and trim.
* In recent years, I have started to cut my own hair. But haircut cleanup is much easier on our back deck. But lately it's been too cold for me to dare to do this. So I'd just resorted to scissors trims for a few months. But when I visited my family this weekend, I met fierce protests. "Helmet!" my brother declared, "You have so much hair that it looks like you're wearing a helmet!" So my dad agreed to cut my hair once again.
* Often, my dad's haircuts gain great compliments. My housemate Tobias commented yesterday, "I think that your short haircut makes you look smarter." It also makes me feel smarter.
* Regardless of how a short hairdo improves my appearance or intelligence, having one probably saves me at least two minutes every morning from not having to check the mirror and see if any tufts are hopelessly out of place.
* Would short haircuts be a simple miracle for all? Perhaps some women would instead assert, "It's worth the while to go for style."