Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

‘Songs To Aging Children Come’  This is the title and a line from an early Joni Mitchell song I heard in the late sixties.  In the song she says in beautiful language and this is a paraphrase:  there is all this beauty around and don’t you see it.  I do.  And she ends the song saying:  ‘songs to aging children come.  This is one’.  Back then and now I identified with the song.  Another line was ‘people hurry by so quickly, don’t they hear the melodies…’

I saw all this beauty around me as a young adult and others were not seeing it.  I could not understand that.  Even today.  I starting writing back then to the present to record this marvelous world before me and slow down my pace so I could capture this beauty.  Then she ends the song:  ‘Songs to aging children come.  This is one.’  I had to grow up and still be child-like so I understood her song perfectly.  I was not all alone.

Tags: 1960's, being child-like, growing up, Joni Mitchell, marvelous world, music, seeing beauty around me, sense of wonder, slow down my pace, songs, writing
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Every time I pass a stream or a river I gaze downstream (or upstream).  To me the body of water represents mystery.  If I am on foot I want to see if I spot any fish or other creature in the water.  By car, I am on the outlook for any kind of duck or egret or other bird.  I am always curious what I will see.  There is a marsh nearby and I am always looking for a snowy egret or the much larger great egret there.  I could not believe it when I flushed a blue heron who was drinking the water of the small creek less than an hundred yards from my house.  I face nature with a sense of wonder.  There is always the sense of mystery.  I know the Almighty has instilled that in me and every child has it and far too many lose it.  To view this universe without a sense of awe is a great loss.  With it, you will discover wonders and beauty all around you.  All you have to do is open your eyes with a sense of expectation.

Tags: bird-watching, birds, blue heron, body of water, discover wonders and beauty around you, duck, egret, fish, God, great egret, marsh, mystery, nature, open your eyes, river, sense of awe, sense of expectation, sense of wonder, small creek, snowy egret, stream, The Almighty, this universe, water birds, wildlife
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No computer program can replace a parent.  An ad on TV glowingly praised a computer program for teaching a young child basics like numbers and colors, etc.  A computer can not instill a sense of wonder and thirst for knowledge.  The interaction of a parent to his/her child is vital.  The right computer program can only be an aid.  The primary teacher of a child is always the parent who can nurture their proclivities.  The interaction of a computer program is always limited.  I don’t care how well designed the program is.  A computer program can never replace a parent or teacher.

Tags: child, computer program, interaction, nurture, parent, sense of wonder, teacher, thirst for knowledge, TV ad
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My Eulogy

Writing our own eulogy is our latest exercise in our small writing group “Inklings”.  I really am balking at doing this exercise.  I am finding this to be a very difficult thing to do.

I guess I am afraid my life has been in vain–just an exercise in futility.  My life is an illusion.  I like to think I matter to others but maybe I don’t.  Maybe the only person I make a difference to is my wife (and no one beyond that).

I write about things that matter to me and maybe that is an exercise in futility, too.  I really don’t know.  I am afraid to write my eulogy.  I can not listen to my own eulogy although if I could I am not sure I would want to.

I am not sure anyone would come to my funeral.  I’d like to think at least one person namely my wife and two kids who are young adults would notice my passing.

Anyway, it has taken me several paragraphs to get here.  Despite my reluctance I will attempt to write my eulogy.

I like to think that after I die some of my words I have written (thousands) would inspire someone out there.  I would like to think I have earned the respect of people and would be considered a kind person.  And maybe I do not deserve that reputation although I would like to think I have.

I like to believe there would be a celebration of a life well spent.  That most of the memories I left behind would be good ones.

I do not know whether I will live to the day that I will have grandchildren.  It still may happen.  If so, I hope I will leave them a legacy behind–something for them to aspire to.  I want others to believe never to give up no matter how difficult your situation has become.  Perhaps my struggle with my bipolar illness will give others hope if they had to deal with a mental illness.  There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

I want others to laugh at some of the words I have written.  Humor is important.  One should never forget to laugh at oneself.  Never take yourself too important.  I hope others will occasionally come across some of my humorous poetry and laugh.

May I have imparted to my children how beautiful this world really is.  A sense of wonder is a legacy I would be proud to have imparted.

Maybe I can sum up in one sentence the legacy I would hope I have imparted to others:  to be able to laugh, to see the beauty in the commonplace, to never give up whatever your difficulties and to learn to love those around you.

If that is part of the memories most of the people who I have left behind have of me I would be proud and would feel my life has been well spent.

Tags: afraid my life is in vain, afraid to write eulogy, aspire to, beautiful world, beauty in the commonplace, bipolar illness, celebration, difficult situation, difficult to write, earn respect, exercise in futility, give others hope, grandchildren, humor is important, humorous poetry, Inklings, kind person, laugh, laugh at oneself, leave good memories behind, life an illusion, life well spent, light at end of tunnel, love those around you, make a difference, matter to others, my eulogy, my funeral, my legacy, my wife, never give up, notice my passing, proud of my legacy, reputation, sense of wonder, two kids, write about what matters to me, write to inspire someone, writing group
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