MindWindow

Note: As part of a page I publish on behalf of my English as Second Language tutoring services, I incorporate a weekly quote and then give my own impression of what this quote means. Today's quote seems to be important enough and one which -even though generated some two centuries ago- is very present. Comes from Henry David Thoreau.   He was an American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher. His best-known work is “Walden”, and his essay “Civil Disobedience” is an argument for disobedience to an unjust state. “THINK FOR YOURSELF, OR OTHERS WILL THINK FOR YOU WITHOUT THINKING OF YOU.” MY TAKE: We have all become involved in the massive social networking movement. As a result, many people are -at most times of the day- embedded into their telephones, ignoring all other activities. All the latest trends imposed by their favorite person(s) and all the latest thinking presented by the same group. The most important issue is to be perceived as “the same”, not as s...

  CHAPTER II – A JOURNEY STARTS. Usually, at the start of any trip, there is a degree of preparation involving its scope, destination, means of travel, time involved, anticipated end results, and cost. Especially that potentially ever-expanding detail: cost. For this particular trip, most of these preparations were foolishly glossed over by the anticipated end results factor.  After a couple of phone calls to specific “international business” contacts ( Question: what would we do without these dearly beloved “contacts”? … Answer: probably lead a normal life ) it turns out that, given an existing set of parameters, there was -at the time- a market for this currency where good money could be made.   When I asked for a “general indication” of what “good money” meant, I was told that based on the amount, availability of the goods and/or buyers, cost of transport, and contract details, the general commission would be 2% of the total face amount value of the transact...

  There are moments in life when decisions are made;  sometimes these are not well thought out and the resulting ripples become an undertow, then a veritable tsunami of issues and life-changing consequences. I am not sure I will ever finish these memories, but ... CHAPTER I – THE BEGINNING. The year was 1997 and the month, I believe was November. Something that would impact the decision to come had happened some 2 months before. Almost like the stage being set by that great force in the infinite, for what was to be the future direction of our lives. My employer and I had parted ways. The whys and wherefores of this are not relevant to this tale. What is, is the fact that I was ( un )gainfully unemployed when the aforementioned conversation took place. Even though my severance packet ( didn’t quite make it to “package” ) had been generous ( no doubt due to some degree of guilt on the part of my employer ), the cost of living and daily expenses index sent us a strong signal thes...

  It was 75 years ago yesterday that I first saw the light of this world. Not truly remembering the whereabouts of my previous experiences as a living entity, I guess it was decided to do my best to enjoy the habitat into which I had just been delivered.   I suppose there was a degree of celebration, for I was the first child born to my mother (others would follow ) and the first grandson born to my maternal grandparents ( and yes, several other grandchildren would follow suit ). Yes, I am being somewhat specific, for I never actually had the chance to play on ( hang from?)   the other branch of my family tree. But that is another story… or, perhaps a little later in this one.   There really isn’t much I can pass on to you about my first few years. There seems to be the usual, well-documented early life void in my memory banks when it comes to this lovely, carefree period of one’s life. Yet, a brief moment of some 15 minutes during the early part of my second ye...

Some 22-23 years ago, I met this guy in the midst of a business transaction. One of the many guys met and one of many transactions that I would try to complete in the course of time.   Also, one of the same many that would fail to produce results. That first meeting was uneventful. Almost irrelevant you might say. It happened in Zurich, Switzerland, and we were both there trying to pursue a possibility; a dream which, as dreams are wont to do, can disappear in a wisp, a word, a thought. Leaving no trace behind.   We had little chance to speak since we represented different interests at the time. But the stage was set. It seemed we were of a mind, of a different set and more dedicated to truly resolving the puzzle, than most of those with whom we had to deal. The average guy’s interest was geared only to cashing in whenever possible and at whatever cost... to someone else, preferably. It was a year later we met again. This time in Paris and working the same interests. We ...

NOTE: This piece was originally written some 7 years ago. I am now in the process of choosing several pieces which will go into a compendium for possible publishing. That means I am reading anew most of those written along the way and, in reading this one, it hit me how it is that time passes on, but the apparent futility of the human mind (when it truly wants to be futile) does not change. What do you think? Everyone wants a little piece of the pie, and everyone wants to have their 5 minutes of fame … We live in a country that was founded on very basic principles. There would be no royalty, no feuds. A duly elected government where all would be equally represented. Everyone would have the same possibilities and each individual would have the opportunity to pursue those very possibilities, according to his/her capabilities. That was some two hundred years ago. The world has changed since then. It has become much more complicated, faster, smaller in a way. We now know what happens o...

  NOTE: in my ESL page on FB, I often put a quote and an accompanying “read” (my own). This one, however, was so impacting and so present, that I felt it should be put in the blog. I don’t know how many people may read this, but even if only one does, it is worth it.   QUOTE FOR THOSE WHO CHERISH LIFE. It has been a long, work laden week, leaving little time for putting content on FB. However, we must finish the week “in style”. Today is a running commentary and longer than usual, and it will bring us to the quote itself.   Once in a while, I watch excerpts of some of those global talent shows and did so this week just to get my mind “cleared” for a while. It was a lucky decision, for it brought on one of those rare moments in which someone truly touches your heart and gives a life lesson.   Her name (stage name) is “Nightbirde”; she is thirty but looks twenty. A beautiful smile and radiating pure joy and happiness. Even through the small smartphone screen, s...

Today is Saturday. In truth a beautiful day, as days go. Sunny and warm, but not hot… there are several yard sales going on in the neighborhood, kind of like trying to get back into a quasi-normal lifestyle. But, no… I decided not to buy any more yards, since the one I already have is really giving me a run for my money trying to keep the grass down and the flowers up.   Memorial Day is here and, as usual, many people are gearing up to having their barbeque ready for a cookout sometime during the three days. Most will give a passing thought to the reason for the holiday; some will take time and reflect on this and some, will only think of the hamburgers and/or chicken legs. War is hell, somebody said wisely at some point. I am a veteran circa Viet Nam but was never on the front lines, shooting or being shot at. My closest work to this was being the point man on the riot control squad. We were involved in some minor action(s), since I was stationed on land that was considered th...

  NOTE FROM THE “EDITOR-IN-CHIEF”. (also known as the the loud guy, janitor, gofer and overall do-it-all person) As a language tutor, it is indeed my privilege to get to know my students fairly well, for most of the classes are on a one-on-one basis and it gives us ample face to face time. Also, some have been with me in one way or another or some time, so there is a friendly and trusting rapport which is established along the way. This, in turn leads the classes into occasional moments of quiet conversation or even guidance efforts ( no, I am not a psychologist, just an old guy with a lot of years of people management experience ) and with all the needed “caveats” in place, we talk. This was the case this morning, in an individual class. I shared this in the school’s FB page and thought that it might be worth an inclusion in this hallowed ( not “hollowed” ) blog. THE PRIVILEGE OF MAKING DECISIONS. Very often we come to think, when a decision taken in best interests does not ...

  There was this doctor I came to know while living in Chile for a year of Sundays, back in the 1980’s. That stay has been explored elsewhere in these meanderings, so I will just talk about the doctor, whom I will call Patricio (a good, solid name and not uncommon in Chile ). He was a general practitioner and, as such, had been well recommended to us by a common friend. This turned out to be a good recommendation for he not only became our doctor, but eventually we struck a friendship with him and his family. After some visits to his office, followed by the eventual striking of a friendly banter relationship, one day Patricio called me and asked whether we would like to come to their home for dinner with him and his wife. This was a way to formalize the friendship, as it were, for in Chile back then ( God Lord, I’m beginning to sound like an old man… Don’t you say a word!! ) society was managed by certain protocols; home invitations, when extended, were indicative of a desire to...

  It has been sometime since I last sat by the water at Wally’s Pond. For those of you who have not been to Wally’s Pond before ( actually, you have all been invited … you just haven’t joined me ), let me tell you that it is a placid, tranquil place where the water is clean and clear, the birds chirp, there are no outside noises and it never rains. And in case you have not guessed it, this wonderful place is in my mind; the place where I sometimes manage to hide for a little while from all the unwanted events that are happening around me. And God only knows there have been plenty of those resonating in the last few months. At my age, it is an achievement of sorts to be able to get by without any medications at all. Or so the doctors tell me. Blood pressure, heartbeat, oxygen count … check. Cholesterol, a tad high … not enough to worry about it. Weight … being managed. Yes, a few too many apple pies with ice cream but, hey … if we have to go down, let’s enjoy it!!   The onl...