So refreshing to hear a positive story. It reminds of last weekend when we celebrated my Mexican’s girlfriend 50th birthday. All her friends were over and they laughed and laughed oblivious to the worlds problems. All I could think of is the scene in Monsters Inc when the little girl laughed and it sent shock waves through the “fear” based electrical system. Laughter and magic is what they want us to stop doing. Let’s not let them.
Well Jon, you hit a home run with this one… again! The commenters seem to agree. The news analysis is good and you’re joining dots that others can’t see, but maybe the feeling in this piece will do more to trump evil than any indignation, however righteous.
There’s a scene in Atlas Shrugged where John Galt is being harangued and his response is demanded. He ignores them completely and speaks directly to the camera, to inspire his fellow human beings. You just did the same thing.
A wise man said you can’t take a bucket and remove darkness. But if you light a lamp, however small, darkness flees. It’s not a thing in itself but simply the absence of light. Maybe the same is true of the evil in this world. It’s not a thing in itself but the absence of light, of consciousness, of understanding, of kindness, of joy.
You're right. At the age of 14 I learned how to make fireworks, bottle rockets in particular. Based on sodium nitrate and aluminum powder, they'd sit in the bottle for about a whole second as the shower of orange fire and white sparks ramped up to lift off power, and then whoosh into the sky with a huge tail, disappear for a second, then go "pop". Sheer delight and a heaping helping of pride. Not your ordinary bottle rocket.
Just make sure you warm up with about 50 easy tosses. Sometimes you see old MLB pitchers in their 60's throw out the first pitch and can tell something blew. A baseball rolled to me last summer. Im 69, and picked it up to throw it back, stopped, and tossed it underhand. A very wise decision.
Self-determination is worthy of celebration and recognition. Ya know, to maybe make it more sociably acceptable. To recognize what one has and can do. To drop that lousy ideal of the lowest common denominator and to see all of the different powers that each person can aspire to instead of making it any kind of sin or psychological malfunction. When I'm feeling and acting on it, I am most alive.
I liked pitching baseballs. It was an art form as a kid. Hit the catcher's mitt. But hitting the ball was scary. Standing there with a bit of wood while some kid throws a hard ball in my direction was frightening. Those thing hurt when they hit you. And then there are the foul tips which are foul indeed and also hurt like hell.
I took up tennis where at least I had a decent weapon to defend myself from a softer ball.
How dare you write something refreshing! And so old-school and obviously white. And male. And competitive... ugh! And fun... watch it, Jon.... you're not supposed to celebrate the pleasures of a free society. All those statue have torn down, and here you are trying to erect one. Just sayin', bro... watch your back. Curve ball incoming from far left field. Or not... they can't throw a curve, can they?
As I read this I am 'seeing' my little grandsons, 7 and 4, practicing bending forks, whistling through new spaces in their teeth, alert to pending new out-of-the-ordinary skills. Good on you Jon and good on you all for your responses, including my friend PJ
For you it was the kid throwing the curve. That was in your wheelhouse. I think all of us grow up with a series of 'realer than real' moments. Testing the limits. There were hundreds for me. Some little, some that were huge at the time. I can do that, moments. Try and try then, YEAH! Without that drive what are we? I'm 77 and it's still there.
Great story Jon. Reminded me of playing catch with my dad and him hitting pop flies to my brother and me in the summertime. Simpler times...simpler pleasures
I really appreciate this piece and the flash of brilliance in one of your last lines: "And you were, from that moment on, different than you’d been before." That's a sentence that needs to be digested and reflected upon. It hints at the power of self-mastery, creativity, self determination, and that all important reckoning of self--all concepts fundamental to growth and potential. This is what we need to continue to forge within ourselves and to cultivate with kids; this idea aligns us with the universe--it is to become part of life--reaching out and striving towards something beyond the self as it exists in one moment. Thank you, Jon
Celebrate being 85 years old and still one of the sharpest knives in the drawer. Sure glad you are here and writing for us. Thank you.
yeah, i guess it's a use it or lose it kind of a deal.
It's stories like these that you want to read. Thanks!
So refreshing to hear a positive story. It reminds of last weekend when we celebrated my Mexican’s girlfriend 50th birthday. All her friends were over and they laughed and laughed oblivious to the worlds problems. All I could think of is the scene in Monsters Inc when the little girl laughed and it sent shock waves through the “fear” based electrical system. Laughter and magic is what they want us to stop doing. Let’s not let them.
Well Jon, you hit a home run with this one… again! The commenters seem to agree. The news analysis is good and you’re joining dots that others can’t see, but maybe the feeling in this piece will do more to trump evil than any indignation, however righteous.
There’s a scene in Atlas Shrugged where John Galt is being harangued and his response is demanded. He ignores them completely and speaks directly to the camera, to inspire his fellow human beings. You just did the same thing.
A wise man said you can’t take a bucket and remove darkness. But if you light a lamp, however small, darkness flees. It’s not a thing in itself but simply the absence of light. Maybe the same is true of the evil in this world. It’s not a thing in itself but the absence of light, of consciousness, of understanding, of kindness, of joy.
You're right. At the age of 14 I learned how to make fireworks, bottle rockets in particular. Based on sodium nitrate and aluminum powder, they'd sit in the bottle for about a whole second as the shower of orange fire and white sparks ramped up to lift off power, and then whoosh into the sky with a huge tail, disappear for a second, then go "pop". Sheer delight and a heaping helping of pride. Not your ordinary bottle rocket.
Just make sure you warm up with about 50 easy tosses. Sometimes you see old MLB pitchers in their 60's throw out the first pitch and can tell something blew. A baseball rolled to me last summer. Im 69, and picked it up to throw it back, stopped, and tossed it underhand. A very wise decision.
Self-determination is worthy of celebration and recognition. Ya know, to maybe make it more sociably acceptable. To recognize what one has and can do. To drop that lousy ideal of the lowest common denominator and to see all of the different powers that each person can aspire to instead of making it any kind of sin or psychological malfunction. When I'm feeling and acting on it, I am most alive.
I liked pitching baseballs. It was an art form as a kid. Hit the catcher's mitt. But hitting the ball was scary. Standing there with a bit of wood while some kid throws a hard ball in my direction was frightening. Those thing hurt when they hit you. And then there are the foul tips which are foul indeed and also hurt like hell.
I took up tennis where at least I had a decent weapon to defend myself from a softer ball.
How dare you write something refreshing! And so old-school and obviously white. And male. And competitive... ugh! And fun... watch it, Jon.... you're not supposed to celebrate the pleasures of a free society. All those statue have torn down, and here you are trying to erect one. Just sayin', bro... watch your back. Curve ball incoming from far left field. Or not... they can't throw a curve, can they?
As I read this I am 'seeing' my little grandsons, 7 and 4, practicing bending forks, whistling through new spaces in their teeth, alert to pending new out-of-the-ordinary skills. Good on you Jon and good on you all for your responses, including my friend PJ
Thank you, Jon!
Loved every word!
Ralph Kiner once brought up that Life Magazine said a ball couldn't curve. He said they should stand at the plate and look. Trust the Science.
For you it was the kid throwing the curve. That was in your wheelhouse. I think all of us grow up with a series of 'realer than real' moments. Testing the limits. There were hundreds for me. Some little, some that were huge at the time. I can do that, moments. Try and try then, YEAH! Without that drive what are we? I'm 77 and it's still there.
Keep on truckin Jon.
Great story Jon. Reminded me of playing catch with my dad and him hitting pop flies to my brother and me in the summertime. Simpler times...simpler pleasures
All of the real passions, thrills, joys, and memories of life are distinctly non-technological…..
Beautiful Jon, thank you.
I really appreciate this piece and the flash of brilliance in one of your last lines: "And you were, from that moment on, different than you’d been before." That's a sentence that needs to be digested and reflected upon. It hints at the power of self-mastery, creativity, self determination, and that all important reckoning of self--all concepts fundamental to growth and potential. This is what we need to continue to forge within ourselves and to cultivate with kids; this idea aligns us with the universe--it is to become part of life--reaching out and striving towards something beyond the self as it exists in one moment. Thank you, Jon