PRACTICING SHIATSU AT FIELD OF DREAMS
It’s been some time since I last wrote about the Field of Dreams project, building a library for the refugee kids of the Albert Street School in the Jozi CBD. The conversion of the old manse into a secure space to house the books has been delayed by about a month.
Andrè of Amecon Construction, who’ll be doing the rebuild free of charge, is also my neighbour. At present he has that thousand yard rabbit-in-the-headlight stare each time I talk to him. He’s so busy with construction projects that he’s fully booked until early in the New Year. Usually this time of the year the construction business winds down for the festive season. I hear the roar of his diesel bakkie in the morning when I’m still snuggled up in bed and he returns long after dark. I told him that Field of Dreams cannot take precedence over his commitments to his customers.
He’s still confident that the FOD construction will be finished before the end of 2010. II said he must stop stressing, the school will be closing in a week or two anyway - It happens when it happens but I’m confident, knowing him, that it’ll be sooner rather than later.
In the meantime I’m still beavering away talking to Publishers about donating books and have a good number of boxes with the most beautiful books in the warehouse that has already arrived. Those promised by SA Partners in Boston, Book Promotions, MacMillan and Horizon Books have been received. Vivlia, Scholastic and PanMacmillan have committed and I’m confident that FOD will open early in 2011 with well-stocked shelves.
There are a couple of extremely weird titles that came with one of the consignments. I think this was accidentally as they are not suitable for a school library at all:
“Practicing Shaitsu” - This is about Auras, Charkas, Yin and Yang and Zang and Fu Organs, Kyo and Jitsu energy.
“Fate and Fortune” - This book provides a fascinating glimpse into ancient fortune telling practices. There are chapters about Astrology, Clairvoyance and Crystal Gazing, Tea-leaf Fortunes, Dice and The Tarot.
“Prescription Drugs” - The uses and side effects of Diazepam, Prozac and thousands of other prescription medicines are listed. This is immensely suitable for reading by a 10 year old refugee child I’m sure.
“Spanish Vocabulary” - This is a little pocket guide which contains over 3 000 translations which is an invaluable aid for those who are studying Spanish.
I think I need to scratch a bit and maybe I’ll find a book on the “The Easy Way to Construct Gypsy Tents from Scrap Material” The kids will then be able to start very lucrative careers in fortune telling, practicing Shaitsu and maybe selling prescription drugs all over Southern Africa speaking Spanish. This will be in competition to Dr Juju, Mama Rafiki, Professor Shaik and all the other ancient healers in Jozi that promises to bring you good luck, charm your lovers, and see your enemies in a mirror, and many other miraculous miracles.
The best of all is a book titled "How to Steal a Car" by Pete Hautman. I thought the book was a practical joke as it was an unpublished proof but when I Googled the title I found out that it was published. The dustcover reads as follows;
“Some girls act out by drinking or doing drugs. Some girls act out by sleeping with guys. Some girls act out by starving themselves or cutting themselves. Some girls act out by being a bitch to other girls.
Not Kelleigh. Kelleigh steals cars.
In How to Steal a Car, National Book Award winner Pete Hautman takes teen readers on a thrilling, scary ride through one suburban girl's turbulent life - one car theft at a time.”
Goodness Greatness, the mind boggles
These titles are going straight into pulp as it is NOT fit for kids. Call me the sensor police or whatever - I don’t care.
On the other hand I might give a copy of “Practicing Shiatsu” to my friend Andrè - his Auras and Charkas, his Energy of Ki is stuffed.
But Field of Dreams is a reality, dayin-dayoud it's coming closer and closer each day as that wise black cat Don Estorbo de la Bodega Dominicana states on his blog.