Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00

Subject: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 09:51 AM

Friends of mine are staying in the city for a week while one of their children is in hospital (a minor operation), and the youngest daughter, a nine year old, struck up a friendship with a couple of other girls in the neighbourhood. They have commandeered a section of the pavement of the local public school, and while visiting, I wander over and they are in the midst of a version of hopscotch. Ever up for hopscotch, since the last time I played was probably 30 years ago, I join in. My turn comes, and I throw my stone (gathered from the side of the playground), and it rolls out of the first square. Not good. The nine year old daughter looks up at me: "You are tossing from too high up. You must change." When my turn comes round again, I crouch, and get it in, and get a few rounds in, and then as I attempt to hit the further squares, I miss. She sighs.

She looks at me sternly, like a Zen master."You need to breathe slower and not move so much. Throw it softly, and don't skim it. It should land flat, like this --" and she arcs her hand up and hits her other hand flat. I try again, and miss. She shakes her head.

Eventually I get better, but it is pretty rocky.

I don't know, but I suspect that one day she will rule the world. It will certainly be in good hands.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: Kim C
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 09:58 AM

Children aren't afraid to tell you how it is. I think that's something a lot of us lose as we venture toward adulthood; and those of us who don't lose it, or regain it somehow, are often seen as overbearing or domineering. It don't seem quite right to me.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 10:07 AM

I suspect you're right PT. Then again, I also suspect you are incredibly inept.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: LR Mole
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 10:14 AM

I don't know...I trust the stone, myself, but I do what I'm told, too. Or leave the game.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: GUEST,Mbo_at_ECU
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 10:15 AM

Yeah, when I speak my mind, they tell me to "grow th f*** up!". Hmmph.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: MMario
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 10:18 AM

that's because you've grown out of the "wise young" stage and into the "hey we can really annoy this kid" stage. *grin*

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: Catrin
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 10:28 AM

The stone knows where to go. The child instinctively knows to throw it in such a way as to let it find its own direction. Then it goes the right way - Glasshopper.....

Catrin

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 10:33 AM

As a thrower, I am incredibly inept, but as a hopper (especially the full turnaround), I am dynamite.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 10:39 AM

Somehow Peter, I'm going to have to see this to believe it. Could you demonstrate to Rick or Heather and have them e-mail me a verification?

.....and Meebo, grow the fock up!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 06:00 PM

Peter T.

I'm impressed that you even played hopscotch 30 years ago. My recollection of 30 years ago is that boys thought hopscotch was icky.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: Jim Krause
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:01 PM

I certainly thought hopscotch was a girls' game. Probably cuz I couldn't get the hang of tossin' the durn pebble at nine yrs. of age. Face it, hopscotch was a little too athletic for me. On second thought, I don't think I had the game even figured out when I was nine. Couldn't figure out what the purpose of the game was, what you were "supposed to do" and how anyone managed to win. I didn't need a stone or a piece of chalk just to jump around. I could do that in the back yard on the grass.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Aug 22,00
From: MMario
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 05:05 PM

My own experience with hopscoth is closer to 40 years ago, but hopscotch was played by both the guys and gals in my school - but not together of course. (well, maybe at home with family - but you wouldn't admit it of course)