Saturday
14 October 2017

— and still, unbelievable, no frost yet.
 
Good Morning All,

My California nephew writes: "When my dad retired he hardly knew what to do with himself. He sat out the mandatory six months the IRS required of him and afterward rushed straight back into the same batch of work -- same office, same people, same assignments, same skillset. Obviously he missed that particular thing he used to do. "Work is my hobby," you probably heard him say.
Your situation is different, of course, stuck there in the North Sea, but reading your explanations of how poetry works and reviewing quizzes you sent previously or have created newly, sometimes I wonder …," and he goes on outrageously to suggest, basically, once a teacher always a teacher.

And here I'd thought I’d played my cards so subtly in these pages that no one (other than an irate friend or two) had ever noticed. (Chorus of voices in background: “Uh-huh, about as subtle as a fart at the altar.")

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I feel relieved. Also, I may no longer be quite so reluctant to toss in something here that might be construed as teacherly. 

So, what the heck, here are a couple of items from 1001 English Delights. They are probably old hat to you, but you may enjoy them, anyway.

I. Literary Topics

The Cardinal Virtues: The ancient Greeks, who have given us so much, maintain that we must strive for four qualities above all others:
Justice: a belief in honesty and fair treatment towards others and--as importantly--ourselves.
Prudence: a cautious and calm thoughtfulness that helps us consider any situation or decision without merely rushing into things.
Fortitude: long-term and unfailing courage that helps us quietly and patiently endure hardships until the wheel of fortune turns and things get better.
Temperance: what the Greeks call “The Golden Mean”, taking the middle way, not going to extremes in thoughts, actions and behavior. For example, enjoy food, but don’t be a piggish glutton.
Remember, these are topics that artists explore. Not all artists will agree that the Cardinal Virtues are always good ideas. Writers examine when they are and when they aren’t. If Vincent van Gogh, for example, had believed in temperance, it is unlikely we should have seen any of his paintings. His extreme passion for life—what the writer Irving Stone called his “lust for life”--shines in his works. 

N. Just for Fun

T. S. Eliot's Spelling Jest: What does ghot spell? If you were playing the old game of Twenty Questions and asked if it's an animal, vegetable, or mineral, I'd say it was an animal. If you asked, vertebrate or invertebrate, I’d answer the former. Mammal, bird, amphibian, or reptile? Amphibian.
The poet T. S. Eliot, a playful fellow when he wasn't being deadly serious, has explained that it is a perfectly okay way to spell fish. How so? You take the gh in enough, the o in women, and the t in action and--voilá!--you get a variant spelling for those watery creatures anglers like to catch on hooks.
Try it out on your parents and siblings. It'll drive 'em nuts!
Here's another: wryxyd. Hint: “I wryxyd in the country of Denmark.” Hint two: the words charity, xylophone, dizzy, and wrong will help. Answer below.

By the way, my gun-control survey seems to be going over like your proverbial screendoor on a submarine. I’ve amassed three responses so far. I did actually think I would get ten or so. I’m not sure what went wrong. But I guess I’ll give it one more day.

Go Well and Stay Well,

Bhekaron

P.S. Gun-control survey once more with feeling! I really really would appreciate a few of you taking the two minutes. And if I do get ten responses I shall put the results in here. Results that may not be what you’d expect.

P.P.S. Two Holly snaps.

P.P.S. Answer: reside.