Snipets of last weeks letters
I must confess I always get nervous when receiving a compliment from an English teacher, particularly on my writing. Case in point, have you ever looked up the history of the meaning of "nice" in the OED?
That said...
Thank you for your kind words.
I had a busy weekend. I practiced some tai chi, went for a bike ride, Shakespeare in the Park (Comedy of Errors), and then flying with my brother. Last night all I wanted to do was quietly knit.
I think it is wonderful that your boys knit. I hope they don't give into societal norms and keep it up. Perhaps my last Blog entry will convince them...oh, wait, do they like girls yet?
….
My sister just did a similar trip, she flew off to New York with my niece. Jen, my niece, just entered grad school at NYU. While she just spent the last four years at Berkeley away from home, the east coast seems a world away I guess. She was nervous so mom went along to help her settle in.
...
Ok, what was the question?
I think you can tell a lot about a person by how and what they write about themselves. How well they write conveys intelligence and education. What they write tells what they care about. Pictures are also worth a thousand words. If a person just puts a webcam shot where they look like a deer caught in the headlights you know they are not very invested. At the other side of the spectrum are the overly produced shots. A glamor shot is not necessarily a mark against in my book, there is a time and place. But I also want to see that a person is in touch with nature, and I am not talking about anything with a motor attached. I like to know a person is willing to get their hands dirty.
I have enjoyed the correspondence in the past. Getting to know someone through letters is much different than dating. A first date I am usually all nerves, and usually fumble half my words. With this process, I am still nervous on that first meeting but at least some common ground has been established.
...
I keep meaning to mention, I have some dance in my past. In college I danced Ballet and Modern. I worked with a friend for a while who was trying to get a dance company off the ground. I did a few professional gigs but the company folded after a couple years. One of my Tai Chi students, Isabelle, is a former Russian trained ballet dancer. She said she could tell I had dance training the first time she saw me doing my Tai Chi.
…
Thank you for the compliments. Your letters have been wonderful, long, and full of life. It has been a pleasure conversing with you. In the age of computers and television, I fear writing is becoming a lost art.
….
If you are asking me (I think you are, but I can't be sure) I think you should call your son. At first call every few days for, then you should taper off to once a week. Given the closeness of your relationship I think you both will be feeling the loss. He will indeed work out his own stuff, but it's nice to know Mom has not forgotten and is only a phone call away.
Do you have a webcam? It is nice to see a smiling face with the conversation.
...
Making time for a relationship is an important point. Both partners have to put in time and energy. But to be frank, past performance is the best predictor of future results. Do you know that you want this change?
…
What makes my life meaningful...
There is the care of and for my family. I don't think I have mentioned I live with my parents. I left southern California mostly for them, my mom had a stroke about 2 years ago, and my father just turned 80. On visits home I noticed the lawn was not getting mowed and other things. My living here allows them to live in the home they have known 40 years for a little longer. The great thing about tree work, I can do it anywhere. I get up a little before 6, my father has the coffee on when I come down. We read the paper together before I go to work.
I love to hear my snowboard cut into a turn on a long graceful arc and feel the frosty wind in my face. It is fun to hit the slopes with friends but I go by myself a fair amount during the season.
I love to teach. I am not sure how I would do day to day. Working with the guys on my crew, helping them with their tree IDs. Demonstrating that an old dog can learn new tricks, Sam is a 70 something veteran from the navy and learning Tai Chi for the first time. He is one of my favorite students. I think I would like to teach in a community college somewhere an arboriculture class.
I think I will need to return to the northern California coast sometime soon. It has been too long since I have climbed a tall redwood. Waking in the dawn light, 200 ft. off the ground is a rare pleasure.
Having a great meal with good friends.
A glass of wine in the garden.
Making it to the top of Mt.Hamilton after a 3 hour ride.
Ok, back to work for me, I am teaching a 3 hour seminar on Thursday on how to identify hazard trees.
~Greg
That said...
Thank you for your kind words.
I had a busy weekend. I practiced some tai chi, went for a bike ride, Shakespeare in the Park (Comedy of Errors), and then flying with my brother. Last night all I wanted to do was quietly knit.
I think it is wonderful that your boys knit. I hope they don't give into societal norms and keep it up. Perhaps my last Blog entry will convince them...oh, wait, do they like girls yet?
….
My sister just did a similar trip, she flew off to New York with my niece. Jen, my niece, just entered grad school at NYU. While she just spent the last four years at Berkeley away from home, the east coast seems a world away I guess. She was nervous so mom went along to help her settle in.
...
Ok, what was the question?
I think you can tell a lot about a person by how and what they write about themselves. How well they write conveys intelligence and education. What they write tells what they care about. Pictures are also worth a thousand words. If a person just puts a webcam shot where they look like a deer caught in the headlights you know they are not very invested. At the other side of the spectrum are the overly produced shots. A glamor shot is not necessarily a mark against in my book, there is a time and place. But I also want to see that a person is in touch with nature, and I am not talking about anything with a motor attached. I like to know a person is willing to get their hands dirty.
I have enjoyed the correspondence in the past. Getting to know someone through letters is much different than dating. A first date I am usually all nerves, and usually fumble half my words. With this process, I am still nervous on that first meeting but at least some common ground has been established.
...
I keep meaning to mention, I have some dance in my past. In college I danced Ballet and Modern. I worked with a friend for a while who was trying to get a dance company off the ground. I did a few professional gigs but the company folded after a couple years. One of my Tai Chi students, Isabelle, is a former Russian trained ballet dancer. She said she could tell I had dance training the first time she saw me doing my Tai Chi.
…
Thank you for the compliments. Your letters have been wonderful, long, and full of life. It has been a pleasure conversing with you. In the age of computers and television, I fear writing is becoming a lost art.
….
If you are asking me (I think you are, but I can't be sure) I think you should call your son. At first call every few days for, then you should taper off to once a week. Given the closeness of your relationship I think you both will be feeling the loss. He will indeed work out his own stuff, but it's nice to know Mom has not forgotten and is only a phone call away.
Do you have a webcam? It is nice to see a smiling face with the conversation.
...
Making time for a relationship is an important point. Both partners have to put in time and energy. But to be frank, past performance is the best predictor of future results. Do you know that you want this change?
…
What makes my life meaningful...
There is the care of and for my family. I don't think I have mentioned I live with my parents. I left southern California mostly for them, my mom had a stroke about 2 years ago, and my father just turned 80. On visits home I noticed the lawn was not getting mowed and other things. My living here allows them to live in the home they have known 40 years for a little longer. The great thing about tree work, I can do it anywhere. I get up a little before 6, my father has the coffee on when I come down. We read the paper together before I go to work.
I love to hear my snowboard cut into a turn on a long graceful arc and feel the frosty wind in my face. It is fun to hit the slopes with friends but I go by myself a fair amount during the season.
I love to teach. I am not sure how I would do day to day. Working with the guys on my crew, helping them with their tree IDs. Demonstrating that an old dog can learn new tricks, Sam is a 70 something veteran from the navy and learning Tai Chi for the first time. He is one of my favorite students. I think I would like to teach in a community college somewhere an arboriculture class.
I think I will need to return to the northern California coast sometime soon. It has been too long since I have climbed a tall redwood. Waking in the dawn light, 200 ft. off the ground is a rare pleasure.
Having a great meal with good friends.
A glass of wine in the garden.
Making it to the top of Mt.Hamilton after a 3 hour ride.
Ok, back to work for me, I am teaching a 3 hour seminar on Thursday on how to identify hazard trees.
~Greg