I will happily date myself with this blog about the Smothers Brothers - a brilliant comedy act that cut its teeth in the uproar of the 1960's and early 1970's. Real siblings, not faux sibs for performance purposes, they were unafraid, much to their television network executives' chagrins, to voice their displeasure with the political issues and politicos of the time. Often in trouble with the network censors, the Smothers Brothers had a cult-like following that crossed many boundaries of socio-economic strata. I was a big then and would be now if they came to a town in my county.
Many of their jokes have remained as staple references between Capt. SO, myself, and even our offspring. An oft-quoted joke of theirs seems to be applicable, in many pockets of current existence. Please indulge me as I attempt to give life to the joke/story in this posting. Paraphrased, of course, this joke can be applied to any work or volunteer area where a person chooses to spend time.
"In Washington D.C., there are two types of people. One group of people wears very little clothing. Why, we do not know. We call them the "less-ons". The other type of people wears a lot of clothing. Perhaps they are always cold. We do not know. We call them the "more-ons". Hence, two types of people: less-ons and more-ons."
Tommy and Dickie, thank you for your observations about humankind. I find myself going back and forth between the two groups, although, thankfully, my body is very warm-blooded so I prefer wearing fewer clothes to piling on the layers.
The less, the better.
Ancora imparo
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Just Plain Speak
Someone told me today that Ancora imparo postings do not seem to have any theme to them, other than the Three Musketeers, chocolate, puppies or dogs, coffee (occasionally), my Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - Eleventh Edition, and the Aqua RV (when in season).
OK, that is a fair and accurate assessment. I follow a number of blogs and most of them do, I guess, contain certain themes, like happiness, Godliness, humor, weird happenings, gardening......to name a few. If I were to try to maintain a leitmotif (good term, since I am a musician), I would probably get bored and run out of subject material. Once upon a time, I thought I would like to, and could, write a book. I even went so far as to outline the chapters, then the desire sort of became a puff of air and disappeared. Subsequent to starting the book, I attended a book-writin' workshop where I learned that first books sometimes take a while to incubate and materialize. I guess I didn't ruminate long enough to incubate anything other than frustration.
In this same conversation, the person asked me where I found sources of inspiration about which to blog. I'm not certain that "inspiration" is quite the right word since it is unlikely that I inspire anyone who reads Ancora imparo. Do I hope that Ancora imparo encourages laughter? Yes! Do I aim to influence anyone? Heavens, no! Do I send messages to those who know it is "them" to whom I am speaking? Yes, yes....a thousand times "yes"! I write for personal satisfaction, to keep my mind working, to maintain my vocabulary, to improve my vocabulary and writing skills, and to have a dialogue with some faceless visage that I feel needs to hear what I have to say - for that day and on a specific topic. Nothing I write will change the world, nor should it, but maybe, just maybe, it might tweak a conscious here and there, evoke a chuckle or two, or present a new word to someone else other than me.
I simply write in "plain speak" - a language that most will recognize, remember, and recall. If I use a word that you don't recognize, you know what to do - consult your Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - Eleventh Edition. Works for me every time!
Ancora imparo
OK, that is a fair and accurate assessment. I follow a number of blogs and most of them do, I guess, contain certain themes, like happiness, Godliness, humor, weird happenings, gardening......to name a few. If I were to try to maintain a leitmotif (good term, since I am a musician), I would probably get bored and run out of subject material. Once upon a time, I thought I would like to, and could, write a book. I even went so far as to outline the chapters, then the desire sort of became a puff of air and disappeared. Subsequent to starting the book, I attended a book-writin' workshop where I learned that first books sometimes take a while to incubate and materialize. I guess I didn't ruminate long enough to incubate anything other than frustration.
In this same conversation, the person asked me where I found sources of inspiration about which to blog. I'm not certain that "inspiration" is quite the right word since it is unlikely that I inspire anyone who reads Ancora imparo. Do I hope that Ancora imparo encourages laughter? Yes! Do I aim to influence anyone? Heavens, no! Do I send messages to those who know it is "them" to whom I am speaking? Yes, yes....a thousand times "yes"! I write for personal satisfaction, to keep my mind working, to maintain my vocabulary, to improve my vocabulary and writing skills, and to have a dialogue with some faceless visage that I feel needs to hear what I have to say - for that day and on a specific topic. Nothing I write will change the world, nor should it, but maybe, just maybe, it might tweak a conscious here and there, evoke a chuckle or two, or present a new word to someone else other than me.
I simply write in "plain speak" - a language that most will recognize, remember, and recall. If I use a word that you don't recognize, you know what to do - consult your Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - Eleventh Edition. Works for me every time!
Ancora imparo
WWYD?
I had a most interesting conversation with a friend this morning. This friend has spent dozens of volunteer hours working on a project for a non-profit organization over the past few months. I've followed his outstanding work, admiring his dedication and enthusiasm to work tirelessly for the purpose of making the non-profit a better place for all. This project has had the "blessing" of the powers that be, including the ubiquitous Committee-To-Approve-All-Things. In spite of numerous papal blessings, he has encountered stone-walling, road blocks, non-compliance, non-cooperation, and other frustratingly inexcusable actions and interactions......yet he is willing to persevere, committed to the task and confident that he is making a difference - which he is.
I've admired this Herculean undertaking, not only for the scope of the project, but for his steadfastness and loyalty to the organization and his belief that even the best mousetrap can be improved. What I further respect is his ability to withstand the fairly constant absence of cooperation from the "organization". In my advancing old age and encroaching senility, I know I do not have the patience or the desire to tolerate what he has experienced. Life is simply just too short to persist and prevail under circumstances where my volunteer efforts are thwarted on a somewhat regular basis.
And so I ask you, the reader, WWYD? (What would you do?) I hope that most of you would be "bigger" people than I and do what my friend has done - stay the course and see the project to its conclusion. At times, I disappoint myself with my attitude of unwillingness to put up with......let's just say, "stuff", which is exactly why I need to begin building the framework of a process of attitude adjustment: A dog, chocolate, the wind in my face, Cheese-Its, yoga, and a tender piece of venison, cooked to rare perfection on a slice of Great Harvest white bread. With all that, I, too, could withstand.......stuff.
WWYD?
Ancora imparo
I've admired this Herculean undertaking, not only for the scope of the project, but for his steadfastness and loyalty to the organization and his belief that even the best mousetrap can be improved. What I further respect is his ability to withstand the fairly constant absence of cooperation from the "organization". In my advancing old age and encroaching senility, I know I do not have the patience or the desire to tolerate what he has experienced. Life is simply just too short to persist and prevail under circumstances where my volunteer efforts are thwarted on a somewhat regular basis.
And so I ask you, the reader, WWYD? (What would you do?) I hope that most of you would be "bigger" people than I and do what my friend has done - stay the course and see the project to its conclusion. At times, I disappoint myself with my attitude of unwillingness to put up with......let's just say, "stuff", which is exactly why I need to begin building the framework of a process of attitude adjustment: A dog, chocolate, the wind in my face, Cheese-Its, yoga, and a tender piece of venison, cooked to rare perfection on a slice of Great Harvest white bread. With all that, I, too, could withstand.......stuff.
WWYD?
Ancora imparo
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
"Excuse Me, But I Should Be There, Too!"
Yesterday was such an odd day, on so many levels. Capt. SO and I spent about ten hours at a regional hospital with our eldest, whilst she had out-patient surgery on her vocal chords. The surgery went smoothly, as expected. Praise God!
But - yes, there is a but - the day was still a reminder that a hospital is a hospital, no matter whether you are an "out" patient or an "in" patient. This regional hospital is a nationally-known, university-operated, teaching institution associated with a medical school. The level of care is recognized as premier and top-notch and, from our point of view, that is what we observed......if one can pass judgment on what we observed in out-patient surgery. The staff was outwardly friendly, courteous, caring and went out of their way to inform, sooth, "treat" and care for our patient. The surgeon was equally friendly and caring and most definitely went out of his way to inform and reassure our patient about what would be done (before the surgery) and what he did (after the surgery). Family and friends were kept informed and also reassured, on a regular basis, on how our patient was doing. It was a very long day for those of us with our patient and for the patient, herself.
For moi, the most surprising "take-a-way" from the day came when it was time to wheel her away for the procedure. She and I had spent about two hours together, in her little cubby, while multiple medical staff came by to do their pre-surgical "thing". Between staffers, we had the opportunity to chat, giggle, and stay companionably quiet together. The anesthesiologist was one of the medical personnel who came to prep her, inserting the IV needle, and starting the drip of what I assumed was a simple, saline solution. Later, when it was time for surgery, another professional came along and added a drip of some substance that would "chill" her out, prior to the actual anesthetic administered during surgery. One this last "chill" agent was started, it was time for her to be moved out of her cubical and down the hallway to the surgical room.
Mind you, my daughter is an adult woman, yet it was strangely disquieting, disturbing and distressing to see her "taken" away, even though it was by seemingly competent and trained medical staffers. Suddenly, I, her protector for all of those years when she was young and needed protecting, was left standing alone, watching the procession of nurses, bed, daughter, and IV roll in a direction opposite of mine. Granted, this was a relatively simple procedure, yet the pomp and circumstance was the same as all of the other patients she and I had heard go by and been able to view as they, too, were wheeled away to surgery. I wanted to say, "Excuse me, but I should be with her, too!" Of course, I could not and she was in good hands, "Yada, yada, yada."
I'm learning more about this parenting "thing" as my offspring get older. The role of the parent changes - due to age, distance, circumstances, etc., but the instinct to parent never leaves.......kind of like the postal carrier.......Not the dead of night, nor miles between us, right nor wrong, big deal or small deal....I am your parent and will be until my final exhalation.
Ancora imparo
But - yes, there is a but - the day was still a reminder that a hospital is a hospital, no matter whether you are an "out" patient or an "in" patient. This regional hospital is a nationally-known, university-operated, teaching institution associated with a medical school. The level of care is recognized as premier and top-notch and, from our point of view, that is what we observed......if one can pass judgment on what we observed in out-patient surgery. The staff was outwardly friendly, courteous, caring and went out of their way to inform, sooth, "treat" and care for our patient. The surgeon was equally friendly and caring and most definitely went out of his way to inform and reassure our patient about what would be done (before the surgery) and what he did (after the surgery). Family and friends were kept informed and also reassured, on a regular basis, on how our patient was doing. It was a very long day for those of us with our patient and for the patient, herself.
For moi, the most surprising "take-a-way" from the day came when it was time to wheel her away for the procedure. She and I had spent about two hours together, in her little cubby, while multiple medical staff came by to do their pre-surgical "thing". Between staffers, we had the opportunity to chat, giggle, and stay companionably quiet together. The anesthesiologist was one of the medical personnel who came to prep her, inserting the IV needle, and starting the drip of what I assumed was a simple, saline solution. Later, when it was time for surgery, another professional came along and added a drip of some substance that would "chill" her out, prior to the actual anesthetic administered during surgery. One this last "chill" agent was started, it was time for her to be moved out of her cubical and down the hallway to the surgical room.
Mind you, my daughter is an adult woman, yet it was strangely disquieting, disturbing and distressing to see her "taken" away, even though it was by seemingly competent and trained medical staffers. Suddenly, I, her protector for all of those years when she was young and needed protecting, was left standing alone, watching the procession of nurses, bed, daughter, and IV roll in a direction opposite of mine. Granted, this was a relatively simple procedure, yet the pomp and circumstance was the same as all of the other patients she and I had heard go by and been able to view as they, too, were wheeled away to surgery. I wanted to say, "Excuse me, but I should be with her, too!" Of course, I could not and she was in good hands, "Yada, yada, yada."
I'm learning more about this parenting "thing" as my offspring get older. The role of the parent changes - due to age, distance, circumstances, etc., but the instinct to parent never leaves.......kind of like the postal carrier.......Not the dead of night, nor miles between us, right nor wrong, big deal or small deal....I am your parent and will be until my final exhalation.
Ancora imparo
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Ontologically Confused
This seldom happens to me.......I'm having trouble remembering what day this is. Do you ever feel like that? It doesn't take much any more. Just a couple of days where routines are altered and, Voila! My days become mixed up in my head.
For instance, change my routine of doing the laundry and a Sunday feels like a Saturday. Grocery shop on a day other than the "usual" shopping day and suddenly my inner chronology is all mixed up. Today I mixed up Thursday, Saturday and Sunday activities and suddenly I can't figure what day of the week this feels like. Even tomorrow will add to the confusion because my normal Monday routine will be altered and then I'll really feel baffled and bewildered. If I'm not careful, I'll be dressing up in my Sunday best on Tuesday and heading off to church early in the morning.
All of this, plus something my pastor said this morning, combined to make me see that my need for a puppy, more caffeine, chocolate, or all three is increasing. My pastor kind of mumbled something this morning about "ontological". I had never heard this word before, so I wrote down what I thought I heard and decided to look it up later. I wasn't sure if I heard him correctly so I also wrote down "ornithological", "oncological", and "analogical". Because this was a sermon about the last twenty-four hours of Christ, I was pretty sure I had not heard him say "gynecological" or "urological", since those two words didn't seem to have any relevance to the topic at hand.
I came home and researched the word "ontological" in my favorite tome, "Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition" and found the following:
Ontological is from the Greek, "ov" - that which is and "logia" - science, study or theory. Ontological is the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence or reality. In analytical philosophy, ontology concerns the determining of whether some categories of "being" are fundamental.
Whew! And, to think I simply thought I was confused about what day of the week it was. I had no idea that my ontological gyroscope was in jeopardy! This could be serious, folks. Beware of your own ontological confusion.
Ancora imparological
For instance, change my routine of doing the laundry and a Sunday feels like a Saturday. Grocery shop on a day other than the "usual" shopping day and suddenly my inner chronology is all mixed up. Today I mixed up Thursday, Saturday and Sunday activities and suddenly I can't figure what day of the week this feels like. Even tomorrow will add to the confusion because my normal Monday routine will be altered and then I'll really feel baffled and bewildered. If I'm not careful, I'll be dressing up in my Sunday best on Tuesday and heading off to church early in the morning.
All of this, plus something my pastor said this morning, combined to make me see that my need for a puppy, more caffeine, chocolate, or all three is increasing. My pastor kind of mumbled something this morning about "ontological". I had never heard this word before, so I wrote down what I thought I heard and decided to look it up later. I wasn't sure if I heard him correctly so I also wrote down "ornithological", "oncological", and "analogical". Because this was a sermon about the last twenty-four hours of Christ, I was pretty sure I had not heard him say "gynecological" or "urological", since those two words didn't seem to have any relevance to the topic at hand.
I came home and researched the word "ontological" in my favorite tome, "Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition" and found the following:
Ontological is from the Greek, "ov" - that which is and "logia" - science, study or theory. Ontological is the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence or reality. In analytical philosophy, ontology concerns the determining of whether some categories of "being" are fundamental.
Whew! And, to think I simply thought I was confused about what day of the week it was. I had no idea that my ontological gyroscope was in jeopardy! This could be serious, folks. Beware of your own ontological confusion.
Ancora imparological
Friday, April 8, 2011
Certain, Inalienable Responbilities
I am in the most important career of my life now - that of grandparent. I take my responsibilities very seriously. So does Grandpa Capt. SO. No one prepares you for grandparenting and there are no books, brochures, manuals, graduate courses, workshops or webinars available on "How To Be A World-Class Grandparent". Literally, one minute you are not a grandparent and the next minute you are and, Voila!, the instinct kicks in, as if you had been in training your entire life for this very important job.
Now, actual parenting - that job that helped raise the very individuals who enabled one to become a grandparent - that is another matter. The training to become a parent should take about as many years as it takes to become a neurosurgeon, but life doesn't work that way. Again, literally, one minute you are not a parent and the next minute you are....except the instinct doesn't necessarily kick in right away. New parents are generally exhausted from the birthing experience, reeling from feelings of inadequacy and trepidation but about twenty-four hours after the birth of the child, the family unit is sent home to fend for itself and figure out, by trail and much error, just how to be a parent. Many new parents already have a child or children at home, so some experimentation regarding parenting has already taken place, hopefully to the advantage of both parents and kids. Somehow these children, who grew up healthy and strong, in spite of the shortcomings of the parents, manage to become the adults who give their parents grandchildren.
This miraculous life-cycle, ending with grandparenting, does bring with it certain, inalienable grandparenting responsibilities. For instance, grandparenting means teaching the grandkids how to pound a nail.....hopefully in something that a nail hole won't destroy; teaching the youngsters how to fish; letting the little chaps help by handing tools to Gramps; baking cookies so the grandchildren have something to help the milk go down a little easier; providing comfy laps in which to sit while listening to a book; attending concerts, recitals, and sporting events. Perhaps the most important role of the grandparent is to pray for the grandchildren and to be earth angels for them, when they are little and when they are not-so-little.
I get to see the Three Musketeers tomorrow. Life is good. :-)
Ancora imparo
Now, actual parenting - that job that helped raise the very individuals who enabled one to become a grandparent - that is another matter. The training to become a parent should take about as many years as it takes to become a neurosurgeon, but life doesn't work that way. Again, literally, one minute you are not a parent and the next minute you are....except the instinct doesn't necessarily kick in right away. New parents are generally exhausted from the birthing experience, reeling from feelings of inadequacy and trepidation but about twenty-four hours after the birth of the child, the family unit is sent home to fend for itself and figure out, by trail and much error, just how to be a parent. Many new parents already have a child or children at home, so some experimentation regarding parenting has already taken place, hopefully to the advantage of both parents and kids. Somehow these children, who grew up healthy and strong, in spite of the shortcomings of the parents, manage to become the adults who give their parents grandchildren.
This miraculous life-cycle, ending with grandparenting, does bring with it certain, inalienable grandparenting responsibilities. For instance, grandparenting means teaching the grandkids how to pound a nail.....hopefully in something that a nail hole won't destroy; teaching the youngsters how to fish; letting the little chaps help by handing tools to Gramps; baking cookies so the grandchildren have something to help the milk go down a little easier; providing comfy laps in which to sit while listening to a book; attending concerts, recitals, and sporting events. Perhaps the most important role of the grandparent is to pray for the grandchildren and to be earth angels for them, when they are little and when they are not-so-little.
I get to see the Three Musketeers tomorrow. Life is good. :-)
Ancora imparo
Note To Self: Whineth Not
This weather does not lend itself to personal glee, mirth, frivolity, guffawing, chortling, or celebrating. Rather, it lends itself to dourness, momentary depression, gloom, despair, agony ("All three".....Hee Haw song), and other introverted, introspective thoughts that do little other than further one's glum and morose perspective. Indeed, the sun does need to peek through sooner than later here or doctors' offices will be filled with people demanding anti-depressants!
I do not, however, have to look very far past the end of my nose in order to find others' situations that are far, far more distressing and worrisome than my temporary situation regarding lack of sunlight. In fact, to even whine about no sun would be so far down the list of whinable (my word) topics for some that I should be chided for shallowness.
It is remarkable to me how much resilience some people posses, for there are those that carry burdens so great that their middles names should all be Atlas. Surrounding me are instances of pain, grief, worry, illness, sadness, anger, poor health, medical/personal/emotional emergencies that make any hint of whining I might consider pale in comparison.
Is this how God reminds us of what we have and should celebrate? Is this how God teaches us to be grateful and thankful for our health, our families, our good fortunes, our loved-ones, etc.? I think, perhaps, it is how He points out to me that, but for the grace of Him, go I.
"The fact that it is cloudy and overcast is meaningless in the grand scheme of life. Get over it!", saith I to myself.
Ancora imparo
I do not, however, have to look very far past the end of my nose in order to find others' situations that are far, far more distressing and worrisome than my temporary situation regarding lack of sunlight. In fact, to even whine about no sun would be so far down the list of whinable (my word) topics for some that I should be chided for shallowness.
It is remarkable to me how much resilience some people posses, for there are those that carry burdens so great that their middles names should all be Atlas. Surrounding me are instances of pain, grief, worry, illness, sadness, anger, poor health, medical/personal/emotional emergencies that make any hint of whining I might consider pale in comparison.
Is this how God reminds us of what we have and should celebrate? Is this how God teaches us to be grateful and thankful for our health, our families, our good fortunes, our loved-ones, etc.? I think, perhaps, it is how He points out to me that, but for the grace of Him, go I.
"The fact that it is cloudy and overcast is meaningless in the grand scheme of life. Get over it!", saith I to myself.
Ancora imparo
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