I’m sitting at my desk in shorts thinking of what to write today. It’s hot outside. Because we are trying to conserve on electricity, our air conditioner is not on. The thermostat reads 79 degrees. I am fairly comfortable – thanks to the ceiling fan that is currently set on medium speed.

Years ago I installed ceiling fans in our bedrooms, office, dining room and TV room. They have, I imagine, paid for themselves many times over, due to the savings of not having to turn on the air conditioner very often.

I rarely set the fan on the highest speed. Am I afraid of too much air? Of things flying around the room? Of the fan taking off and flying through the window? There! I took a risk. I just pulled the chain three times. That set off the high-speed fan. The papers in the room did fly a bit, but it feels so good. I can’t believe that it took this essay, and ten years, to convince me to try the high speed!

Now that I’m losing more of the hair on the top of my head, I can really feel the wind cool me down.

Have I convinced you to pull that chain three times? After all, we might as well use what we have at our disposal to help us in times of need. How many things around your house have you not tried? Have you tried the high-speed setting on your fan? Do you use it often?

I’ve got to write more essays about things around the house, parts of which I do not take full advantage. Perhaps that will give me the inspiration and courage to experiment, as I did just now. Next, maybe I’ll write about my washing machine. I wonder about those wash settings I never use.

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at Robertebsen@hotmail.com