Head-dibs

  The Beatles captured perfectly the meaning of “auld Lang syne” in their obscure little song titled “The Two of Us”. This one stanza is at the heart: “You and I have memories That stretches out ahead” Memories are precious, because over time, the bad ones fade away. You remember someone showing you a heart made with their hands in a backward look; a trip to the zoo or a park. Maybe an unexpected meeting of an old friend; meaningful conversation; music. Maybe decorating for the holidays or throwing a party, the humor of a private joke, a very expensive meal; a concert; a family reunion, a scent ... Memories give hope when used properly.  Books do both. They look back and look ahead. This is why I love the classics. A quote is one thing, an idea we like to carry forward, but reading the source material is another, looking back.  Head into a blessed new year with good books. Make new memories! Look ahead with curiosity and interest! For the sake of old times, read a book....

  Spend 15 minutes in the Classics   “. . . the vessel had two English sailors . . . One of them I shall always remember as the best specimen of the thoroughbred English sailor that I ever saw. He had been to sea from a boy, having served a regular apprenticeship of seven years, as all English sailors are obliged to do, and was then about four or five and twenty. He was tall; but you only perceived it when he was standing by the side of others, for the great breadth of his shoulders and chest made him appear but little above the middle height. His chest was as deep as it was wide; his arm like that of Hercules; and his hand ‘the fist of a tar—every hair a rope-yarn.” With all this he had one of the pleasantest smiles I ever saw. His cheeks were of a handsome brown; his teeth brilliantly white; and his hair, of a raven black, waved in loose curls all over his head, and fine, open forehead; and his eyes he might have sold to a duchess at the price of diamonds, for their brillian...

  Spend 15 minutes in the Classics   After twenty years' absence, Odysseus returned home to find his house filled with strangers rioting and wasting his treasure. With the aid of his son and the gods, Odysseus dealt with the unwelcome guests.  Homer (fl. 850 B.C.).  The Odyssey. Vol. 22, pp. 296-309 of The Harvard Classics

  “A Summary and True Discourse of SIR FRANCIS DRAKE’S West Indian Voyage, begun in the year 1585. Wherein were taken the cities of SANTIAGO, SANTO DOMINGO, CARTHAGENA, and the town of ST. AUGUSTINE, in FLORIDA. Published by MASTER THOMAS CATES.”  In “Drake's Great Armada” by Captain Walter Bigges in Vol. 33, pp. 229-240 of The Harvard Classics

 I like how Darwin describe the islands as being “put” where they are.  Spend 15 minutes in the Classics daily Charles Robert Darwin (1809–1882). The Voyage of the Beagle. Vol. 29, pp. 376-389 of The Harvard Classics

“If you want to arrange it This world, you can change it If we could somehow Make this Christmas thing last By helping a neighbor Or even a stranger To know who needs help, You need only just ask”

Spend 15 minutes in the Classics daily

 

  “The idea of a classic implies something that has continuance and consistence, and which produces unity and tradition, fashions and transmits itself, and endures.” “Let us be content to know them, to penetrate them, to admire them; but let us, the late-comers, endeavour to be ourselves. Let us have the sincerity and naturalness of our own thoughts, of our own feelings; so much is always possible. To that let us add what is more difficult, elevation, an aim, if possible, towards an exalted goal; and while speaking our own language, and submitting to the conditions of the times in which we live, whence we derive our strength and our defects, let us ask from time to time, our brows lifted towards the heights and our eyes fixed on the group of honoured mortals: what would they say of us?”

 Charles Darwin, in exploring New Zealand, finds cannibalism, tattooing, and many weird customs among the natives. Instead of shaking hands, the salutation is by rubbing noses. Read more in “The Voyage of the Beagle.” By Charles Darwin in Vol. 29, pp. 425-434 of The Harvard Classics

 Spend 15 minutes in the Classics 

 

  “As with the force of winds and waters pent   When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars With horrible convulsion to and fro  He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew   The whole roof after them with burst of thunder  Upon the heads of all who sat beneath” (Painting by Norman Rockwell)

 Quite humorous, noting how educational objectives have evolved over the years. Better to learn Latin and be changed by thinkers in their original languages than be bored with sciences, especially geometry! “ As soon as he can speak English, ’tis time for him to learn some other language.”

 “ The mother of St. Augustine prayed unceasingly for her son's conversion. The most touching, most soul-revealing writing St. Augustine did is in the description of his mother's death.”

Since losing my job at the university back in March, I've been trying to regain a semblance of order. Life as we knew it no longer exists, and ironically, that truth extends far out of my experience as the world itself has completely changed. The power of the irony lies in the timing in which everything happened. All the patterns have changed.  The practice of reading and writing have all but disappeared in my life as my daily routine is not what it once was, so finding the time to do either or both is a challenge. Morning starts early around here and nights often go late. The days are full of other matters requiring attention, so sitting down to read or write does not come easy--until recently.  I've tried listening to books during my two-hour (total) commute but I have a difficult enough time trying to stay awake, especially on the way home--even with music blasting and A/C on full. My attention drifts or I am distracted by how something is being read and can't really pay...

 

 

Wonder what the world would be like if he gave us zoos or something ...well I guess he kind of did! Regardless, the memories are ALWAYS precious. 

Father calls me William, sister calls me Will, Mother calls me Willie, but the fellers call me Bill! Mighty glad I ain't a girl - ruther be a boy, Without them sashes, curls, an' things that's worn by Fauntleroy! Love to chawnk green apples an' go swimmin' in the lake - Hate to take the castor-ile they give for belly-ache! 'Most all the time, the whole year round, there ain't no flies on me, But jest 'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be! Got a yeller dog named Sport, sick him on the cat; First thing she knows she doesn't know where she is at! Got a clipper sled, an' when us kids goes out to slide, 'Long comes the grocery cart an' we all hook a ride! But sometimes when the grocery man is worrited an' cross, He reaches at us with his whip, an' larrups up his hoss, An' then I laff an' holler, "Oh, ye never teched me!" But jest 'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be! Gran'ma says she hopes that w...

"While I was thus mutely pondering within myself, and recording my sorrowful complainings with my pen, it seemed to me that there appeared above my head a woman of a countenance exceeding venerable.  Her eyes were bright as fire, and of a more than human keenness; her complexion was lively, her vigour showed no trace of enfeeblement; and yet her years were right full, and she plainly seemed not of our age and time. Her stature was difficult to judge. At one moment it exceeded not the common height, at another her forehead seemed to strike the sky; and whenever she raised her head higher, she began to pierce within the very heavens, and to baffle the eyes of them that looked upon her.  Her garments were of an imperishable fabric, wrought with the finest threads and of the most delicate workmanship; and these, as her own lips afterwards assured me, she had herself woven with her own hands. The beauty of this vesture had been somewhat tarnished by age and neglect, and wore that d...

So during my long commutes to and from work (1 hour each way), I listen to mucho musica. About the same time I returned to listening to one very complex band ( Dream Theater ), I recalled another band I had only read about and thought to give them a listen ( Spock's Beard ). It was not difficult to fall for this magical ensemble founded in 1992 by two brothers. They are to me like Rock music's greatest secret.  But you know how every now and then you wish for the best of the best? Well, I discovered that Mike Portnoy (formerly of Dream Theater) also played in a band with the co-founder of Spock's Beard--in a couple of bands, actually. Then I found out that the guitarist of Deep Purple also played in one of those bands also. I gave 'em a listen and was hooked. This is true music, folks. Prog at it's best, in my opinion.  One feature that stands out (besides true musicality) is the writing. Very deep, personal and meaningful. Sensitive.  So without further ado, here a...

Thinking about “amor Fati” through November. Journal is ready to go! 

 

Ryan Holiday posted the following today in The Daily Stoic and I thought it was worth sharing. “We hear in Meditations Marcus Aurelius speak of “epithets for the self,” watchwords for his life. From Zeno to Marcus, the works of nearly every Stoic feature the repetition of four words, four virtues that go to the course of the philosophy: Courage. Justice. Moderation. Wisdom. These are mantras. These are reminders. A kind of living oral and written tradition for how to live and what kind of person to be. As beautiful—and in some cases, perfect—as these expressions are, we should remember that it’s a living tradition, one that can be added to and improved. Marcus himself writes about how if anyone ever finds a better list than those four virtues, it must be an extraordinary thing indeed. In 2016, the songwriter Lori McKenna took a stab at it . In a song that was written for her five young children and that has since become a hit for Tim McGraw ( as well as a book ), she puts together a ...

 

 

 

 

The emotional roller coaster of this year has been dark, swift, full of steep drops and sweeping turns like a hellish version of Space Mountain at Disney World. Since March of this year (the Disney trip aside), it's as if the floor opened up and I've dropped down Alice's Rabbit Hole, only this one has no bottom. Every time I think I can see the bottom and the drop is over, the Hole shows me its surprises--there is more to come. I'd like off this ride, thank you very much. Regardless, life as we knew it no longer exists. Oh well. "Every Storm Runs Out of Rain," as the song goes. Just a matter of time until that happens I suppose. I am grateful for every family member and friend who has not given up. Some have been quick to sever ties through the changes, others have been gradual. It sucks either way. I am grateful for every encouragement and affirmation from those who stick around. I've been off Social Media for some time due to my account being cloned, whi...

"When friendship is settled, you must trust." (Seneca, "On True and False Friendship."  Moral Letters . 3)

 

The past few weeks have been incredibly busy. I am not accustomed to being away from a desk, from not being able to read or write as much. If I am not working, life events take up a good portion of time, too. Like a wise man once said, "Life Ain't Always Beautiful" but it's the best I ever had. It's good to review that. Only got one life, so live it well. Another wise man also said, "If you live in harmony with nature, you will never be poor; if you live according to what others think, you will never be rich." (Seneca) Who said that in order to live well, we had to work ourselves to death? This can be a surprise to most, but it is possible for humans to be happy with very little. Much more to say, but it's easier to put it in song. Enjoy!

 

“We should hunt out the helpful pieces of teaching and the spirited and noble-minded sayings which are capable of immediate practical application—not far-fetched or archaic expressions or extravagant metaphors and figures of speech—and learn them so well that words become works.” — (Seneca)

“Books are made to be broken in. They are quarries of gems to be mined, wells to be drawn from, sturdy posts to lean on, shoulders to cry on. Just as we never step in the same river twice, to paraphrase Marcus and Heraclitus, we never read a book the same way. That’s why we read and re-read, note and discuss, write and flag." —from Daily Stoic's Tuesday email, " This Is How Reading Is Supposed to Go "

 

Where were you on January 1, 1985? It's a far reach back, but that's the date this song was released: "Kyrie" (or in the Greek, Κύριε, from Κύριος) means "Lord," so the phrase means "Lord have mercy." The phrase harkens back to prayers in the 1st Century, A.D.  The song came back to my memory while shopping, as I reflecting on the recent changes in our lives. And the song seemed fitting.  First, I started work last week at a True Value Hardware store. The short version is that I am being groomed to be assistant manager of the that location (in workload, but not in title). Things are moving quickly there. Of course, it's a far cry from what I was doing before, at least I'm working. I lost 6 pound the first week, so that's a thing too.  Second, just before I started my new job, I got a tick bite. I am presently resting and waiting for test results for Lyme disease, although symptoms are now leaning more toward Rocky Mounta...

“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” — Søren Kierkegaard

“What madness this is, to punish one’s self because one is unfortunate, and not to lessen, but to increase one’s ills!" Seneca To Marcia, On Consolation, III

"The person who strives to reason and act correctly is doing philosophy. The person who reasons with care thereby takes care of his country, father, brothers, and friends — in a word, everybody." - Musonius Rufus, Letter to Pankratides, 8 Happy and safe 4th! 

Across the front of my rolltop desk, in front of pictures of my mother and step-mother and a sundry other items, one finds eight medallions on display. The first medallion is the "keystone", if you will, that unlocks the meaning of the other seven . These days of uncertainty and upheaval, both personally and worldwide, have driven me to meditate on that first medallion. It reminds me that when one acts according to wisdom (truth), one is emboldened with courage and self-control to do what is right (justice). It is not my intent to debate the number of virtues or begin some deep discussion of ethics or the nature of "good." I intend to stress that living in pursuit of these four virtues while job hunting, while grandbaby sitting, while thinking as I mow the lawn, as I try to maintain the six-foot rule at Walmart, good occurs and I am content and find peace. One would be hard-pressed to find anything better than wisdom (truth), self-control, courage and ...

“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.” ― Fred Rogers

Harvested our first cabbage from the Cabbage Patch Sure was good! I love cooking this dish. Special recipe. Here's something cool: when you harvest one cabbage, five more heads form from the same stalk. Here's a family picture of the next batch to come, taken three days after harvesting the main head (above). Four of the five newbies are easily seen.  Look what else we found in the cabbage patch!

“If someone succeeds in provoking you,” Epictetus said, “realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation.” He meant that whatever the other person did is on them. Whatever your reaction is to their remark or action, that’s on you. No one can make you angry, only you have that power. Someone can certainly say something offensive or stupid or mean, but no one can make you upset—that’s a choice.  " —from Daily Stoic's Wednesday email, " No One Can MAKE You Upset "

One reason I find Stoicism so captivating is because they don't waste time with deep or wandering explanations. Stoic philosophy is put forth in "fortune cookie" sayings--short and to the point. Emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius wrote this note to himself in his journal.  “Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions—not outside.” Take whatever it is that troubles you and put in in the blank. Stress, fear, intimidation, hate . . .  “Today I escaped ________. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions—not outside.” Interesting how that works, eh?

Looking up the history of the meaning of a word is more important to me than searching for a definition for a couple of reasons. First, the general rule of thumb in serving a definition is that a word is never to be explained by itself. Consider Marriam-Webster's definition of the verb form of "fortune": "to give good or bad fortune to" and "to endow with a fortune." Nothing learned except to find another dictionary. Second, by considering etymology, one returns to the source of a word and there we find the core of a word. "Fortune," in this case means, "that which is brought." Think now on what this means: a wealthy man may be considered "fortunate" if one considers fortune to be money, property or all the good things in life. Does this mean the unhealthy are not fortunate? One philosopher observed that to want nothing is to own everything.  One of the greatest philosophical debates of all time is found in Shakespeare...

Made it another year! SO grateful for family and friends, near and far. Have a piece of cake!

Shameless pic of Carter, after getting his hair did in the vacuum hose:

Ok, so I didn't hold the phone the right way. Here's another look at carrots trying to happen through the seed tape: And the finished row, soil tamped with an iron rake to "tuck" the seeds into bed.

I was challenged by a friend to, over the next 10 days, post the cover of an album that shaped and/or influenced my musical taste. No explanation or commentary.

I was challenged by a friend to, over the next 10 days, post the cover of an album that shaped and/or influenced my musical taste. No explanation or commentary.