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by PAM
Like I said before, July is "my month". :) It's wonderful that so many exciting things happened
Happy-ness...this month... I am truly thrilled! Therefore, I would like to close this memorable month with something that I think is indeed quite special.
I am currently re-reading a book by John C. Bogle, which I purchased last year, and I've just gotten around to reading it this month - finally! And now, I'm leafing through it again. Uh-huh, my current schedule affords me some leisure reading time, which is heavenly! I feel lucky, and I'm thankful. :) I'll post something about my experience with this book, too... at some point. In the book, Mr. Bogle reminded his readers about a beautiful poem written by one of my favorite writers of all time, the late Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. The poem is entitled, "Joe Heller", which was about the author of the highly appreciated World War II book, "Catch-22". The poem was printed in "New Yorker" in 2005. These days, New Yorker is one of my fave "on-line hangouts" as well, and I hope they (and the legal owner/s of this work of Mr. Vonnegut's) would forgive me for posting the poem here.
Here goes...
Joe Heller
True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.
I said, "Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel 'Catch-22'
has earned in its entire history?"
And Joe said, "I've got something he can never have."
And I said, "What on earth could that be, Joe?"
And Joe said, "The knowledge that I've got enough."
Not bad! Rest in peace!
--Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - 2007)
The New Yorker, May 16th, 2005
July has been very kind. I learned a lot this month - technology-related stuff, fascinating stuff... and, in the personal front, I've gained invaluable insights on so many things that used to be really perplexing. Things didn't change, but July brought me a different kind of inner strength to confront conflicting thoughts and ideals on important things, and the borrowed wisdom to see what they all meant, and why I should, in fact, be thankful for them. In the process, I met wonderful new people - new friends - as well... and that gives me so much joy.
Thanks, July! :)
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Thanks to a former student of mine who dropped by my "hangout" earlier today (to show me her new car... which I never saw!)... our conversation actually inspired me to write this post. Thanks, "pangit"! ;)
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