To thine own self be true

Looking back as an only child of poor working-class parents, I was left, largely, to play on my own with few toys, to make up my own fun, play, and worlds. My imagination started early from being left with an old radio to entertain me whenever my mother ‘stepped out’. Voices, music–all ‘got in me’ then. My mother remembered me running into the house whenever favorite ’50s songs came on the radio. Anyway, this has much to say about why and how I became attracted to popular music at a very young age. The creative expression of music part publicly lasted from grade 10 to 2003. A singer, a songwriter, a guitarist, always a band leader.

Likewise, without toys, I was left to make my own–6 or 7ish pretending hockey sticks were James Fenimore Cooper rifles, for instance. Classics Illustrated comics (I now own a copy of each title–most I never saw when young) were my first main reading and ‘story’ got into me there, inspiring various approaches, tones, values, and behaviors. All hemisphere crossings, no question.

Whatever stirred my initial imagination became ‘large’. My private world was inhabited with various characters I would play myself, sometimes with a pickup or passing friend or my dog. It was a free and glorious time. I made it all up as I went. There were only people and things to be curious about. With both parents working or away, I was free to look after myself (a latchkey kid all through school) and play pretty much through high school as well, as my marks then will attest.

Looking back, I see though that the possibilities for expanded thought and experience came mainly by that insatiable curiosity and my primal, unfettered imagination–key qualities I still have today. Those qualities blossomed even more in the luxury of 5 heavily book-based university years (education was instrumental in setting up a career the next 30 years in teaching). Though music would continue to be a sideline (performing for thousands and making not-bad money too) until 2003, it was specialized reading (literature) which fired the imagination, passion, and desire to share the gifts of lit, culminating in teaching.

I was and have been very lucky further with the hemisphere transition into creative expression via writing, including books, poetry, and a blog. My books have sold over a million copies. Not bad for a poor working-class only child.

And so the hemisphere crossings continue, what with the finding a comfort zone for innumerable topics and depths on these blog pages, and the grandfather experiences, connecting with a young version of myself and son, my childhood, my son’s childhood, and how we learn, grow, and develop–educationally speaking–from the beginnings to my own advancing age.

My life has been one of constant growth and adaptation. It has Largely been an inner one I once shared more in person with others and the rest of society. It was an inner life which has always sustained me and made me what I essentially am today–very autonomous and my own more-than-integrated person. In many ways, the hemispheric crossings have been the most fun, the most pleasurable of all. ”

Tothineownselfbetrue.ca’ is a record of all those defining moments of being and becoming, my character, and values.

Have I said before that I have been a lucky man?

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An abundance of freedom and leisure (in childhood, after school, in university, via school leaves, and finally during 12 years of retirement) also played a great formative role as well. One needs time and no bosses to think, grow, change, imagine, create, write, or perform.

“crossing hemispheres’ term–with a thank-you to Jerry, a good friend-collaborator and Jane Healy’s educational classic Endangered Minds

“You can never step in the same river twice.”
“All is flux, nothing stays still.”

Our modern preoccupation with process and processes owes a great debt to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus (600-540 B.C.?) He was absolutely correct–nothing stays the same; everything changes over time–be it a human being, a pet, a building, a natural scene, a work of art. Everything is subject to change and, over time, dissolution. The moment, the mood, the thing, being, or place will be changed in seconds, again and again, and so forth. It will not be there forever, let alone seconds, months, days, months, years, decades or centuries from now. Time and its passing implies change and process; process implies our notion of time in its various forms experienced–clock time, mental time, etc. We are forever finding ourselves in various contexts experiencing one process or another. Usually, process implies a duration or portion of process.

There is also an inevitability of process or processes, regardless of how small or how large. To live, to be born, to grow, to decline are all given, inevitable aspects of process. Consciousness is also very much related to process–where one is or is situated in a given process. And so we are relatively aware or unaware of where a process has come from or where it is going, or where we are at any given moment in Heraclitus’s river. We can only be sure that all we see and experience is a part of process and processes, that everything will change (including us), and that there will always be process and processes as the fundamental part of human lives and experience as well as in nature, societies, cultures, and any individual or socially experienced life.

From a Heraclitian perspective, windows, doors, and opportunities become significant; they simply will not necessarily be there to choose later. They will disappear, dissipate, or crumble. Much like those precious personal moments of being or becoming experienced alone or with others. They, too, like everyone, like everything shall change or pass.

As an orientation and the beginnings of consciousness, a basic understanding of process brings one closer to understanding the ephemeralness of life, experience, and anything seemingly permanent. In the end, nothing lasts and everyone or everything changes. The flow itself–the central underlying one- is simply called process. As process, flow subsumes chi, movement, change, and never stops.

“Everything flows and nothing stays.”

Fact. Basic fact, orientation, and world-view. “Process” was not invented in the twentieth century nor today. Nay. It was introduced by an ancient with a lot of common sense and observation who simply knew how things really are and how they go everywhere for everybody and everything for all time.

Yes, Heraclitus=Process and vice-versa. Who’da thunk?

1955 paperback edition, flatsigned by Arthur Miller (received today–full moon Valentine’s Day 2014). The modern play I taught in English 30 (gr. 12), most years going back to my student teaching round in 1971-72. Most recently, the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman starred as Willy and got good reviews. The 2012 Citadel production of this play was the best I’ve ever seen with a strong Linda. Students used to enjoy reading this one aloud despite its datedness. Many powerful scenes and significant quotations. I have found many of Miller’s ideas from his essays and interviews still speak to our times and common human problems. He was quite the thinker and intellectual. Very honest, always truthful.

No. of original words first coined by Shakespeare. Easily the greatest English writer of all time, he represents the highest point ever of both language and literature in English culture. No one else even comes close.

Presence. Process, Play, Pleasure, Possibilities.

“That is all /Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”–John Keats, “Ode on a Grecian Urn”

(good on/for George’s song lyrics)

(the better Universal Music 2 DVD set)

was, of course, George Harrison, a very interesting unique individual. I spent three engaging days immersed in George. The so-called autobiography, I-Me-Mine, was a disappointment. There is only a short section of about 20-25 pages in George’s own words up front which don’t reveal much. There is a short photo section, then you’re into a long section of his song lyrics with commentaries. This section is ok if you are familiar with at least half of his songs.

Much more revealing by and of George is the unusual, unconventional 4 hr. Martin Scorcese documentary which has many views and insights into George’s characters, life, and music. His Eastern philosophical views and cynical Beatles views made him the most serious and level-headed, honest Beatle of all; even more than John, surprisingly.

There are also many Beatles clips, George songs, and candid photos, films, and sound bites. Best of all, there are many moments of him talking no-nonsense about all aspects of human nature and and his own personal philosophy. His wife Olivia gives many behind-the-scenes comments including an extended take on the deranged lunatic break-in-attack at their mansion when both were nearly killed in the dead of night. She and all his friends are very moved in describing George’s responses to this event, to death in general, and to his own terminal cancer.

In all, the documentary is the best ticket to getting to know, understand, and appreciate George. He comes off as a pretty neat guy, a unique songwriter, something of a loner, a generous friend, father, and husband. The range of talking heads include, movingly, Paul and Ringo–his Beatles buds, his Travelling Wilbury pals (Dylan and Tom Petty), the great race car driver Jackie Stewart, his guitarist-friend Eric Clapton (who played with the Beatles and later married George’s first wife), and Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle of Monty Python fame. All these people were quite impressed by George, his choices, and loyalty.

If there’s one anecdote that’s a killer it’s when Ringo visits the dying George in hospital and says he has to leave to go visit his critically ill child in New York, and George, amazingly, offers to go with him! That pretty much sums up why you should check out this DVD, if you are curious and interested in finding out who the forgotten Beatle and great guy was.

(the recommended MGM DVD)

One of Woody Allen’s best early movies and most serious movies. An homage to Ingmar Bergman including the use of Bergman’s famous cinematographer Sven Nykist. It is a beautiful film to watch for that reason and running at 81 packed minutes, there is nary a dull moment. The moods and atmosphere of Another Woman are pleasant even though there are many emotional and mental conflicts.

The protagonist is Marion (the outstanding Gena Rowlands) surrounded with an excellent supporting cast including a charming Gene Hackman (as the love of her life she never married), Ian Holm (as her flawed doctor-divorcee-husband), Mia Farrow (as the pregnant woman in psychoanalysis who eventually finds meaning in life), Blythe Danner (as Marion’s current untrustworthy friend), John Houseman (in an excellent cameo as Marion’s aging father), and Sandy Dennis (as the bitter early drama-friend who reappears later in Marion’s life).

The individual scenes are memorable especially the poignant seamless flashbacks and the ones with John Houseman. Mia Farrow’s psychological problems parallel Marion’s and she is the character who is a younger alter ego for the protagonist. The portraits of the men vary and it is quite clear that Marion’s father and husband both come up short compared to the love of her life.

There is nothing heavy-handed about this Allen movie. Woody’s writing is incredibly perceptive and his direction is respectfully sympathetic. he gets strong performances out of all his actors.

When Woody Allen’s career gets retrospected, this little gem will be remembered as one the best of the serious ventures. Highly recommended on all points including music for its appropriate repeated use of Erik Satie’s “Trois Gymnopedies” and Weil’s “Bilbao Song”.

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.”

Royal Alexandra Hospital lounge by RD

A federal cabinet minister giving birth to a son is not, though CBC News thinks it is, with its heavily-tilted, prejudiced pc agenda.
I don’t see CBC announcing the births of kids to male MPs.. And for the same reason, the above birth reported today is of no national newsworthy consequence either in reality or the great scheme of things.