Age of Lost Innocence
June 21, 2007
We are definitely living in an age of “lost innocence.” I was with a group of 3rd graders, 8 and 9 years olds, during a classroom session earlier today. I was telling a tale which equated the building of muscle with the building of a powerful mind. I usually exaggerate the size of the muscles of my story’s protaganist in order to illustrate my point of building the power of one’s mind.
As I always include the children in the telling of the tale, through question/answer and discussion, I punctuated this moment with a question, asking if they understand what it took to get such huge muscles?
Each child had his/her own take on the issue: working out, eating vegetables, running on the treadmill, etc.
One young man, very eager to answer, stood up from his seat and shouted: “Steroids! No one gets that big unless they’re taking steroids!”
I love being a storyteller. Welcome to my world.
“Dooni dooni kononi be nyaga da.”
Age, Maturity & Wisdom
June 16, 2007
This proverb has been a favorite of mine for some time:
“Youth run everywhere and, yet, see nothing. The old sit quietly in one place and see everything.”
I appreciate the respect for age, maturity, and wisdom possessed by many other cultures of the world. When I travel, I still marvel at the level of deference the youth of other parts of the world employ when engaging their elders. Our youth obessession in this country has definitely led to all types of maladjusted behaviors.
My hope for the future is that a tide will turn and we will stop obsessing over the fleeting phantom of Youth.
“dooni dooni kononi be nyaga da!”
Stolen Parking Space
June 16, 2007
I was sitting in a parking lot earlier today waiting for a space three car lengths in front of me . My blinkers were on, windows down and a gentle breeze entered from outside, circulating through the car. As I was sitting there, the car I was waiting for began backing out of its’ space. As soon as it vacated the parking space some nut in a mini-suv zoomed around my left side and screeched to a halt in the space I had so patiently been waiting for.
Ok, I’m a gentle soul but I also know that this is the kind of thing that even Mother Teresa going after this person. I sat in my car, didn’t budge an inch, waiting for the person to come out of their car. As I heard their door open, I couldn’t see because there was a huge van in the stall next to them blocking my view. As I heard their door open and close I began getting out of my car. I definitely wasn’t thinking.
From around the corner, walking away from the car around the van came the sweetest looking old woman you could have ever layed your eyes on. I was stunned for a second. This woman was definitely old enough to be my grandmother. I didn’t know how to handle this. I couldn’t jump in her face and yell at her. I couldn’t collar her or berate her with endless barage of expletives. She was too old and too sweet looking for that. My rage had been disarmed by a cultural paradigm for a respect for age that had been drummed into me during my youth.
As she walked past me she simply shrugged her shoulders and gave me a rather sheepish grin.
I got back into my car. As I had decided to calm myself and just roam the lot for another spot, I noticed her bumper sticker.
It read, and I couldn’t make this stuff up, it actually read: “This vehicle is guided by Jesus.”
Can you believe it? I couldn’t! I burst out laughing just sitting there.
So, that’s who really cut me off huh?
Is anyone else’s life like this? It can’t be just my life that has these endless streams of unbelievable, yet entertaining, incidents in it.
Oh, and I forgot to tell you one more thing. My daughter just reminded me. A little later in the day I also locked my keys in the car and she had to come and open it up for me. She’s walking away laughing.
Yeah, this is my life.
Audience Walks Out on Me!
June 5, 2007
I was doing a showcase today. One of those 10 minute performances where people and come and get a taste for what you do to see if it fits in their programming.There was a school of about 150 2nd graders taking up the first 8 to 10 rows closest to the stage. The rest of the audience were mostly adults. I made sure to check the children’s temperatures by listening and watching how they interacted with the performers before me.
Since I was the closing act of the showcase, I figured I would do something a little special for the children. The announcer began introducing me and, just as I began to step from the wings of the stage, the entire section of 150 2nd graders stood up on the command of their teacher and begin exiting the auditorium.
I had 10 minutes to do my thing and this kinda threw me for a little loop. I regrouped, tried to ignore the grand exit and jumped right into my harp playing and singing. Fortunately for me, the exit was rather quick but they left a big hole in the audience.
I have had elders and mentors over the years tell me that you ignore this type of situations and keep on moving with your performance. I kept on going. As I was getting into the rhythm of my performance, a young girl of about 4 to 6 years old slowly descended from the seats in the upper area of the auditorium. She was all alone. I imagine her parents brought her. She came and sat right there at the edge of the stage as I was singing. I focused my attention on her and she was more than delighted to receive it. I went into a tale, just for her.
We had a really good time as she helped my in building the tale. When I finished my 10 minute slot I made sure to thank her for her inspiration.
I could choose to focus my thoughts and energies on the large group of children that were escorted out or I could choose to view the gift of the young girl’s presence at the edge of the stage.
Which would you choose.
Dooni, dooni kononi be nyaga da
