Thought for the Day - June 16,00

Subject: Thought for the Day - June 16,00
From: GUEST,Peter T.
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 08:44 AM

Many years ago, when I was 16 and away at school, one of my English teachers asked me to come and babysit for his children. It was about 9 o'clock as I was wandering around his bookshelves, when I came across a title that intrigued me -- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man -- I took the book down, and opened it, and my life was changed, utterly, completely, forever. I can remember the chair, the room, and that I broke into tears at the same moment as the terrible fight broke out over the death of Parnell, and on and on. I devoured that book, Dubliners, and all the rest I could handle, and years later I went to Dublin and walked the whole city, and the Bay, annotating my copy of Ulysses, and later, spent much time in university libraries tracking the vagaries of Finnegans Wake, and struggling -- as I still do -- to come to terms with his genius. Today is Bloomsday, June 16th -- commemoration day for all good Joyceans -- and a brief toast to James Joyce, who long ago changed my life.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - June 16,00
From: Brendy
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 08:51 AM

A happy Bloomsday to all!!

B.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - June 16,00
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 12:16 PM

Happy Joycean Day. Thank you Mr. Joyce for having such an important impact on Peter's life.
Peter is pretty blooming brilliant too, don't you think?
Little Neo

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - June 16,00
From: annamill
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 12:58 PM

You know Peter, sometimes you strike me as a character out of a Dicken's novel. Do you realize how lucky you are to have had the opportunities that have developed you? I know I fell very lucky to have read the thoughts resulting from these opportunities. I wish, and I'm sure many others feel the same, I could get to know you better. When I read you, my life seems so mundane. Again, for about the thousandth time, thank you for sharing.

Love, annap

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - June 16,00
From: GUEST,Peter T.
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 03:13 PM

Umm, gee thanks -- I wonder which character out of a Dickens novel I fit (this is in the nature of a pre-emptive strike before I get nuked) -- besides Miss Havisham (time I cleaned out those closets) or the Convict in Great Expectations (get that file, kid!!!)? On bad days: the dithering cad Eugene Rayburn (anyone who has missed the first two episodes of Our Mutual Friend on American PBS has missed something -- the last episode of the series, like the last episode of the book, is a big disappointment), on worse days: Bradley Headstone (the lost murderer).

Actually the truth is, my life is incredibly mundane, and like a lot of people on the Net, I thrive on the space for a little reflection and distance that is provided by this format. As someone once said, we ought to get the chance to edit our lives as we go. I am pretty boring to meet in public (I have many, many witnesses to this!)

Anyway, I have been very lucky, and I know it. One of the best luck days was when I read James Joyce -- it happened at the right moment, and gave me something a lot of people don't get -- the experience over a number of years of wrestling with someone else's world view, someone of genius who I loved. It is what I tell my best students: find someone out there whose writings or art or music you love, and learn everything you can about it, and get into that person. Jane Austen or Bill Monroe or Pablo Picasso. Whatever. There is nothing better, I think. Tagging along, immersing yourself in a great mind: and we get to do that with books, art, music. Think of how amazing that is -- and how seldom we take the opportunity. I do it much less than I did -- but can you imagine how much one would spend to sit down for a day with John Milton? Open up Paradise Lost -- 99c on a remainder table yesterday morning in the BOOKBLAST store on the way to work -- and there he is.
Another good luck day was when I stumbled on the Mudcat. Another good luck day was when I met blooming Bonnie. Another good luck day will be when I meet you, annap. And another Good Luck DAY IS THIS SUNDAY IN TORONTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - June 16,00
From: GUEST,Corinna of California
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 05:25 PM

Peter - mundane is relative as even the most common of activities or ideas can shake the world when timed and presented appropriately. Anyone who is moved by Joyce cannot be boring. Likewise for anyone who takes the chance to edit their lives and reflect. The boring ones are those who never chance, never change, never notice the wonder of it all.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - June 16,00
From: Mbo
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 05:34 PM

That proves it. I am boring.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - June 16,00
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 05:47 PM

Peter, you are not boring. Why I stayed awake the entire time you and I chatted over coffee. And it wasn't the coffee that was keeping me bright eyed and bushy tailed either.

Bonnie