42

Over recent months, there has been a lot of talk about "42" in our household. It has become the catchphrase for a project that Jeff is currently working on at the bank. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and all the ensuing books, tv shows and audio books were great family favourites while the kids were growing up. I don't remember how we first stumbled onto Douglas Adams but I will never forget traveling cross country (USA) listening to the audio books with the girls.

And in case you are unfamilar with this bit of dialogue, I quote:

After seven and a half million years of pondering the question, Deep Thought provides the answer: “forty-two” The reaction: "Forty-two!" yelled Loonquawl. "Is that all you've got to show for seven and a half million years' work?" "I checked it very thoroughly," said the computer, "and that quite definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you've never actually known what the question is." - Douglas Adams

Wouldn't it be really nice if life was so simple and we could really wrap it up into a single word and then understand it?