In old age we are like a batch of letters someone has sent. We are no longer in the past, we have arrived.
Knut Hamsun
*******************
I'm a mad man. No, there's no doubt about it, I'm completely cracked; stark, shivering crazy. I've lost it.
Shakespeare calls old age "second chilishness." It is a theory that all babies are born insane and gradually grow into sanity and wisdom as they mature. I don't remember much about my babyhood but I'm of the opinion that it might be the other way around. I think it's possible that all babies are born completely sane and knowing everything which they can't articulate except to other babies and that they gradually grow to lose it in the carriages and play pens of the world. Imagine how frustrating it must be for a baby not being able to tell anyone what you know. It's enough to make you wet yur diaper and wake up in the middle of the night crying for no apparent reason.
Not having lived a normal life has taught me that there is no such thing. Being a wanderer has taught me that the only place anyone really lives is in his own head. And being an artist has taught me to gracefully let go of the ball and chain which is generally known to the world at large as common sense.
But being mad is a good healthy way to be as far as I can determine. I do illogical things. If I am on my way to the market I stop and feel the leaves of a tree or a bush. If I pass the kitchen sink I squeeze a little soap into the sponge and wash three dishes instead of the whole sink full. If anyone lived with me they would become exasperated at my behavior or else go mad themselves.
I say things no one understands. I know that, because every time I make a statement of pure, inspired wisdom it's met with a blank, uncomprehending stare. There's a small tree in front of the house. When I refer to it as "yonder wood" no one cares to know why.
When I find conservative nonsense and liberal grunting humorous people don't get it. But when I become fascinated by some obscure news item that doesn't make the papers or the TV news every day they just think I'm off the beaten path of life. Well, I am. I'm the crazy old loon who lives by himself in the attic, harmless in his madness. He listens to Wagner operas and reads philosophy. He's a total fruitcake.
The letters have been sent and read and the attempt to summarize the contents has taught me that there are no summations (which it also says in my Profile).
So what's left for an old crackpot to do? To what have I arrived? A certain benign orneriness, acceptance and refusal, an abiding sense of humor, willingness to face the fog and walk into it. I can now change my own diapers, if I wake up in the middle of the night the only thing I want to know is what time it is. I accept the fact that I will never have all the things in my playpen that I want. I refuse to get angry at any one but myself. I refuse to do today what I can put off to tomorrow. I don't follow the Phillies. I refuse to accept everything any authority tells me. I will think for myself and not worry about it if the thoughts come from the mind of a lunatic.
I refuse to be afraid of death. If you go to England you can visit the grave of Charles Dickens, but Dickens isn't there, he's still alive. If I could live my life all over again I would change almost everything. But would I then have something to summarize? I doubt it.
Being an actor has taught me that the world is a stage and the roles keep changing, but they are all masquerades. So I will set Sir Percival spinning, wash my hands and face in the words of some other old maniac's sink, play in my pen and enjoy, as much as possible, the role in which I have somehow cast myself.
DB - The Vagabond
*********************
SPRING QUESTION
(This is not a contest.)
In your opinion what is the most amazing thing that could happen during this decade? Make it as outrageous as you want but keep it within the realm of what you consider a possibility.
Only 4 responses so far.
Answers will be published the first day of Summer.
dbdacoba@aol.com
DB - The Vagabond
*******************
Showing posts with label common sense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label common sense. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Fill The Silo
Everything depends on execution,
Having just a vision is no solution.
Stephen Sondheim
******************
If artistry can be described as blue collar work then I certainly qualify. I was an assembly line actor, a factory worker forging visions into realities, hammering ideas into events, a card carrying union member, skilled labor who knew my craft.
It's apparent that one of the issues of life is that we must spend a lot of time and energy accumulating a large store house, a full silo, of common sense. One of the rules a union actor must follow is to perform the play as directed. It's a very good rule when the director has a vision of the play. It means the actor's work will be consistent with that vision and with the qualities of the rest of the production. And in most cases it works out that way. But there are a few times, now and then, when the director does more harm than good. I call them destroyers instead of directors. Three of the biggest mistakes a director can make are not being completely familiar with the script, casting favorite people in roles they are not suited for and trying to make the play say something it doesn't. Those three faults can be summed up by saying the director did not think ahead. Considering what the results of something are likely to be before you start out is a matter of common sense.
I once read a history of the US invasion of North Africa during World War Two. In one case the generals in America made a careful inventory of everything they would need when they got there. But they loaded the ships in such a way that the most important first weapons were in the bottom and other things like food, medicine and land vehicles were at the top. When the ships arrived they couldn't port because of enemy fire so the land vehicles were useless and the marines had to unload them and a lot of other things before they could even get to the weapons. A lot of soldiers died. Someone was not using common sense.
It's not difficult to think things through and consider possibilities and alternatives. Why don't we do it? Because we don't know we are supposed to? Because we're lazy? Because we have faith that everything will work out just fine? Because we don't envision what the result is and are just following blindly along as things develop?
There's a Persian proverb that says "One pound of common sense requires ten pounds of common sense to apply it." A two hour opening night in the theatre may require 200 hours of preparation or more. I used to enjoy hiking the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I had a book, a trail guide with maps, which told me about the trail I was considering. I always checked it first. I wanted to know how difficult the climb was going to be and where it came out before I started. I learned that lesson the hard way.
The hard way is the way most of us learn common sense and I suppose there isn't any other way that is so effective. We know enough not to put our hands in the fire because of what happen the first time we did. But why do we have to suffer and make others suffer because we didn't do the sufficient thinking ahead of time? That's just another one of life's mysteries.
The Vagabond
******************
Spring is almost here. Get your answer in.
WINTER QUESTION
(This is not a contest.)
Given the resources and opportunity, what one thing do you want to do in 2010 that you've never done before.
You have the Winter to answer. Answers will be posted on the first day of Spring.
Only 20 responses so far.
dbdacoba@aol.com
DB - The Vagabond
Having just a vision is no solution.
Stephen Sondheim
******************
If artistry can be described as blue collar work then I certainly qualify. I was an assembly line actor, a factory worker forging visions into realities, hammering ideas into events, a card carrying union member, skilled labor who knew my craft.
It's apparent that one of the issues of life is that we must spend a lot of time and energy accumulating a large store house, a full silo, of common sense. One of the rules a union actor must follow is to perform the play as directed. It's a very good rule when the director has a vision of the play. It means the actor's work will be consistent with that vision and with the qualities of the rest of the production. And in most cases it works out that way. But there are a few times, now and then, when the director does more harm than good. I call them destroyers instead of directors. Three of the biggest mistakes a director can make are not being completely familiar with the script, casting favorite people in roles they are not suited for and trying to make the play say something it doesn't. Those three faults can be summed up by saying the director did not think ahead. Considering what the results of something are likely to be before you start out is a matter of common sense.
I once read a history of the US invasion of North Africa during World War Two. In one case the generals in America made a careful inventory of everything they would need when they got there. But they loaded the ships in such a way that the most important first weapons were in the bottom and other things like food, medicine and land vehicles were at the top. When the ships arrived they couldn't port because of enemy fire so the land vehicles were useless and the marines had to unload them and a lot of other things before they could even get to the weapons. A lot of soldiers died. Someone was not using common sense.
It's not difficult to think things through and consider possibilities and alternatives. Why don't we do it? Because we don't know we are supposed to? Because we're lazy? Because we have faith that everything will work out just fine? Because we don't envision what the result is and are just following blindly along as things develop?
There's a Persian proverb that says "One pound of common sense requires ten pounds of common sense to apply it." A two hour opening night in the theatre may require 200 hours of preparation or more. I used to enjoy hiking the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I had a book, a trail guide with maps, which told me about the trail I was considering. I always checked it first. I wanted to know how difficult the climb was going to be and where it came out before I started. I learned that lesson the hard way.
The hard way is the way most of us learn common sense and I suppose there isn't any other way that is so effective. We know enough not to put our hands in the fire because of what happen the first time we did. But why do we have to suffer and make others suffer because we didn't do the sufficient thinking ahead of time? That's just another one of life's mysteries.
The Vagabond
******************
Spring is almost here. Get your answer in.
WINTER QUESTION
(This is not a contest.)
Given the resources and opportunity, what one thing do you want to do in 2010 that you've never done before.
You have the Winter to answer. Answers will be posted on the first day of Spring.
Only 20 responses so far.
dbdacoba@aol.com
DB - The Vagabond
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