Monday, June 28, 2010
Rank and Respect in the Dojo
A friend on FB just posted that when he first stepped into the dojo he felt safe because everyone was wearing the same white uniforms and you could instantly tell a person's rank by the color of their belt. That's one of the things that appeals to me about the martial arts, especially the traditional martial arts. The first precept for learners in World Yoshukai Karate Kobudo Organization is Respect and Manners. In our crazy, out of control world, it's a good feeling knowing that you can expect protocol and decorum. For 1 1/2 hours during class, there is a sense of order and tradition. You can take a deep breath, relax, and know there's sincere appreciation for authority, respect for others, and honor for the hard work and achievement represented by the color of the belt.
Recovering Literary Snob
The kids and I went to the library today, one of our favorite things to do in summer. Cool air and a great big room full of good books is just irresistible. Add to that the fact that everything is free and you have a very nearly perfect afternoon. Before going inside, we scavenged used magazines from the freebie bin in the foyer. We found a Southern Living we hadn't seen with beautiful cookies for Valentine's Day on the cover. Hmmm . . . . maybe we can adapt the ideas for making sugar cookies for July 4th.
The librarians must think the Lewises are directionally challenged, because as always, we veered to the right to lose ourselves in the children's books. If I have it figured right, there will be time for the possibility of grandkids before Brock is too grown for the juvenile section, so I'll have a longterm reason to stay in the children's section. The best part of the library to me is the picture books. My eyes scan the waist-high shelves for unfamiliar titles and old favorites. I usually spend my quota checking out books I want Brock to experience before he's too old. When we get our books home, I keep them in a bag in the living room so they're visible. That way, they seem to beg us to open them before other things gobble up our time and leave the library books unopened and forgotten.
As I was looking, I ran into our pastor's wife and we exchanged ideas about good books for our boys to read independently. I mentioned that Rex has enjoyed Great Illustrated Classics and got a sneer from the young librarian nearby.
I knew the look - it meant, "You're letting your kids read abridged classics?" Among homeschoolers, especially whole book, classically-oriented, Charlotte Mason-y homeschoolers that's akin to heresy. The librarian then told me I better check them out quickly because she was taking them off the shelves.
I took a deep breath before I said anything. I used to be a purist too. I refused to let my children read or hear abridged or adapted literature. Sadly, my kids were missing out. While I've read classics to them, they want to read for themselves. Because our boys have some learning differences, reading has been a challenge and the unabridged classics have at times been too difficult for them.
Rex bought his first Great Illustrated Classics book at a garage sale. I don't remember which book it was, but I remember his reaction to it. He sat up well past midnight reading and asked the next morning for more books in the series.
I learned from that experience to relax. The books that the librarian described as having an ugly spine nonetheless provide a way for Rex to experience the stories. Culturally, that's important. He needs to know what Robinson Crusoe, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Frankenstein are all about. Long after he leaves home, he'll have memories of the adventures that have shaped us and the authors who have painted masterpieces for us with words. And, his mom will always be grateful she's a recovering literary snob.
The librarians must think the Lewises are directionally challenged, because as always, we veered to the right to lose ourselves in the children's books. If I have it figured right, there will be time for the possibility of grandkids before Brock is too grown for the juvenile section, so I'll have a longterm reason to stay in the children's section. The best part of the library to me is the picture books. My eyes scan the waist-high shelves for unfamiliar titles and old favorites. I usually spend my quota checking out books I want Brock to experience before he's too old. When we get our books home, I keep them in a bag in the living room so they're visible. That way, they seem to beg us to open them before other things gobble up our time and leave the library books unopened and forgotten.
As I was looking, I ran into our pastor's wife and we exchanged ideas about good books for our boys to read independently. I mentioned that Rex has enjoyed Great Illustrated Classics and got a sneer from the young librarian nearby.
I knew the look - it meant, "You're letting your kids read abridged classics?" Among homeschoolers, especially whole book, classically-oriented, Charlotte Mason-y homeschoolers that's akin to heresy. The librarian then told me I better check them out quickly because she was taking them off the shelves.
I took a deep breath before I said anything. I used to be a purist too. I refused to let my children read or hear abridged or adapted literature. Sadly, my kids were missing out. While I've read classics to them, they want to read for themselves. Because our boys have some learning differences, reading has been a challenge and the unabridged classics have at times been too difficult for them.
Rex bought his first Great Illustrated Classics book at a garage sale. I don't remember which book it was, but I remember his reaction to it. He sat up well past midnight reading and asked the next morning for more books in the series.
I learned from that experience to relax. The books that the librarian described as having an ugly spine nonetheless provide a way for Rex to experience the stories. Culturally, that's important. He needs to know what Robinson Crusoe, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Frankenstein are all about. Long after he leaves home, he'll have memories of the adventures that have shaped us and the authors who have painted masterpieces for us with words. And, his mom will always be grateful she's a recovering literary snob.
Because A Friend Said I Should
I'm doing it. I'm venturing into Blogsville. After a Sunday afternoon with a writer friend, I was persuaded to take the plunge. Because I'm so scattered and focused at the same time, I've postponed stepping into this new-for-me territory. I couldn't settle on a narrow enough topic for a blog. So, here I am, with the intent of writing about what I do, how I live. The closer I get to 50, the more determined I am to live my life well, hence the title. You see, earning my Black Belt at age 48 was one of the most simultaneously gratifying and difficult things I've ever done. It's become a metaphor for how I live. I want to give every day my all and live my life abundantly.
Expect my blogs to be varied, as my attention often takes me down winding and curving roads. Sometimes the journey with me will be amusing, only occasionally serious, but always interesting.
Expect my blogs to be varied, as my attention often takes me down winding and curving roads. Sometimes the journey with me will be amusing, only occasionally serious, but always interesting.
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