Education of a Wandering Man
"Why?" you ask? Because my husband asked me to. As he wanders around the house mad because I just told him I wasn't going to watch "The Legend of Boggy Creek" right now. So, I'm reading Louis L'Amour in secret. I don't want him to actually know I've started it. I feel reasonably confident that he won't read this blog -- as he reads it once a year when I order the year's blog book (or "blook" as Kate would call it).
I have finished the first chapter. Yes, only one. I wanted to get my thoughts written down before I went on. I must say that I hope the chapters to come are equally as thought-provoking. You see, my husband seems to think that this book, well, sort of defines him. So, I'm curious. I'm some quotes in here typing furiously while he mulls around the doorway unaware of my sneakiness. But, he needs to go away so I can get the book out and type. And speaking of the book... I have it stuck down in my Nook cover so that he doesn't see I'm actually reading it.
Originally I thought Kyle was trying to reference his need to be a cave man but I think this is going in a different direction entirely. My interest is piqued. Here we go:
"My life may not be great to others, but to me it has been one of steady progression, never dull, often exciting, often hungry, tired, and lonely, but always learning." Wow--I can totally see my husband in that sentence from page 3. What a great quote that I think all of us can identify with on some plane or another.
Here is another excerpt--same page-- on the concept of education. Wait, you did know that the author did not get farther in school than the tenth grade, right? Anyway...this is brilliant. "If I were asked what education should give, I would say it should offer breadth of view, ease of understanding, tolerance for others, and a background from which the mind can explore in any direction. Education should provide the tools for a widening and deepening of life, for increased appreciation of all one sees or experiences. It should equip a person to live life well, to understand what is happening about him, for to live life well one must live with awareness."
Let's just stop here for a second. How profound is that thought? I certainly got that from my veterinary education. But that was a doctorate. And you expect to get that at the highest level of education. What about the rest of the world? What about those young, impressionable minds that are going to waste. And as L'Amour puts it---since we pay our teachers pennies, the world will pay for it someday. Well, guess what...we already are. (Don't get me started on the younger generations (and yes, it's bad when someone my age talks about the younger generations -- probably mine is just as bad) -- helping to put "O'bama Yo Mama" in the presidency...oh wait, if I type his name my phone will be tapped and my email rifled through. Oh well, hope they find some thing worth thinking about. Nah, they'll be too busy ticking off the Middle East and Russia.)
Lest, I digress. Let's go on.
I'm going to close with the following ponderings. First, L'Amour's father was a veterinarian. That's probably where his wandering mind stemmed from. Just sayin'. And last, L'Amour's bookshelves. Holy cannoli's. The way he describes them they go way, way, way up. Full of books of every genre. And then each one opens out and has a parallel row behind. I. want. that. library.
Enough for now. Gotta go watch this mess about Boggy Creek. I'm putting the book back in the Nook Cover. You'll hear from me again soon.
I have finished the first chapter. Yes, only one. I wanted to get my thoughts written down before I went on. I must say that I hope the chapters to come are equally as thought-provoking. You see, my husband seems to think that this book, well, sort of defines him. So, I'm curious. I'm some quotes in here typing furiously while he mulls around the doorway unaware of my sneakiness. But, he needs to go away so I can get the book out and type. And speaking of the book... I have it stuck down in my Nook cover so that he doesn't see I'm actually reading it.
Originally I thought Kyle was trying to reference his need to be a cave man but I think this is going in a different direction entirely. My interest is piqued. Here we go:
"My life may not be great to others, but to me it has been one of steady progression, never dull, often exciting, often hungry, tired, and lonely, but always learning." Wow--I can totally see my husband in that sentence from page 3. What a great quote that I think all of us can identify with on some plane or another.
Here is another excerpt--same page-- on the concept of education. Wait, you did know that the author did not get farther in school than the tenth grade, right? Anyway...this is brilliant. "If I were asked what education should give, I would say it should offer breadth of view, ease of understanding, tolerance for others, and a background from which the mind can explore in any direction. Education should provide the tools for a widening and deepening of life, for increased appreciation of all one sees or experiences. It should equip a person to live life well, to understand what is happening about him, for to live life well one must live with awareness."
Let's just stop here for a second. How profound is that thought? I certainly got that from my veterinary education. But that was a doctorate. And you expect to get that at the highest level of education. What about the rest of the world? What about those young, impressionable minds that are going to waste. And as L'Amour puts it---since we pay our teachers pennies, the world will pay for it someday. Well, guess what...we already are. (Don't get me started on the younger generations (and yes, it's bad when someone my age talks about the younger generations -- probably mine is just as bad) -- helping to put "O'bama Yo Mama" in the presidency...oh wait, if I type his name my phone will be tapped and my email rifled through. Oh well, hope they find some thing worth thinking about. Nah, they'll be too busy ticking off the Middle East and Russia.)
Lest, I digress. Let's go on.
I'm going to close with the following ponderings. First, L'Amour's father was a veterinarian. That's probably where his wandering mind stemmed from. Just sayin'. And last, L'Amour's bookshelves. Holy cannoli's. The way he describes them they go way, way, way up. Full of books of every genre. And then each one opens out and has a parallel row behind. I. want. that. library.
Enough for now. Gotta go watch this mess about Boggy Creek. I'm putting the book back in the Nook Cover. You'll hear from me again soon.
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