I can’t believe it. I just searched my essays for the word v-e-l-c-r-o. Nothing turned up. Velcro used to be one of my favorite things. I guess I haven’t used it as often as I did years ago.

Just yesterday, while I was becoming increasingly frustrated trying to pin (safety pin) some posters to a hanging tarp outside, my wife said, “Why don’t you try Velcro?” I did. It worked great! It was good I knew where to find my Velcro, in plastic baggies in the box marked “office supplies.” From experience, I have it separated into rubber-banded rolls of “fuzzy” and “rough.” Have you ever spent time trying to separate those strips when they have been allowed to mingle?

I’ve tried superglues, but I think I’m always worried my fingers will stick to my project. I’ve tried other glues, like Gorilla glue, but I recall there was always a messy outcome for some reason. My first years of retirement, flying and forever fixing my crashed radio-controlled airplanes, I learned about the strongest glue of all – epoxy. Just mix some glue from each of the two bottles or tubes, and apply. Voila! Minutes later you have a super bond. One downside: The glue smells. It’s best to do the work outside.

Of course, with my pop-up cards, I have been using glue guns. I started with a cool glue gun and recently graduated to a hot glue gun. I haven’t yet determined whether the hot glue sticks the papers better than the cool glue. However, I just imagine that hot glue works better. It sure hurts more when I touch the glue too soon.

There was a time when I used double stick tape a lot. And, of course, I often use Scotch tape. I just love the SUPER sticky Post-Its. Notes written on those, and stuck to my computer, remind me of all the things I otherwise would forget to do.

One of my favorite tapes is tear-by-hand tape. It’s also called postal tape, or package wrapping tape. Once you get in the habit of turning back the edge of the tape, so it doesn’t catch on itself and disappear into one “unseamable” roll, you can use it with impunity.

What’s with my fascination with stickies? Sticking things together, and having them stay stuck, gives me a feeling of control. The greatest glue? It’s invisible. It’s that which helps me stick together the myriad aspects of my life. Thank G-d.

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