Learning by accident. It is something that happens with me. What I mean by that is learning something new without having made any effort to learn about whatever subject is involved. I’m not that curious by nature, I take things at face value, I don’t think of myself as a scholar in any sense of the word. Still, every once in a while, I learn things, by accident.

That happened to me this morning. There was this strange looking thing growing next to my driveway. I got out of my car and took a picture of it. I wasn’t sure what the heck it was and so didn’t touch it or anything like that. Looked like a big popcorn on a brown stick. So, I took the picture and continued on my journey.

This morning I remembered taking that picture and went to check it out. I opened the photo and used “google search” to identify what it may be. That’s where I accidently learned it was a mushroom! Well, what I learned was a mushroom opens up like a flower when it matures. I didn’t know that. I just figured they grew the way you see them.

So, this morning I learned that that strange looking thing growing next to my driveway is “Chlorophyllum nothorachodes” commonly known as a Parasol mushroom. That particular one may or may be poisonous. I have no plan on eating it! But I did accidentally learn a bit about mushrooms. Who knew?

I do enjoy knowing these little tid bits. It’s always fun to pull out those kinds of facts, makes you look smarter in front of others. You just have to be careful when deploying them, don’t say too much, more than you actually know. Wait and see if the person you’re talking with has any knowledge on the topic first. If they do, agree with them and change the subject.

I like to think of myself as a “jack of all trades and master at none.” In current times that is often thought of in a negative way. The full quote is, ” a jack of all trades and master at none, though oftentimes better than master at one.” That indicates versatility is more valuable than a specialty.

There is no master certificate for being a “jack of all trades.” Perhaps that is why some folks earn as many degree as they can, hoping to prove they are genuine masters of all! Sounds like a superiority complex to me. The question is, if you are stuck on a desert island would you want to be stuck with Einstein or McGyver?

I have learned far more by accident than I ever have by intention. It’s what we call experience. It comes with aging, well, with the majority of us it does. I have to admit the availability of instant information on any subject is a great tool these days. A few keystrokes and the learning begins.

” Chlorophyllum Nothorachodes” A parasol mushroom whose “parasol” has yet to open. Quite a common variety in fact, everyone knows that don’t they?

Reminds me of another favorite saying of mine: if you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.