Satori á Santa Fe: An Army of One in the Wild, Wild West
Well, here I am, planning to test the waters of Blog Mania with bits and snippets from my life, my work, my reading, my continuing education, and other nebulous dark regions.
If you were to ask me why, I'd probably answer with some flip, vague explanation about needing to share my vast lack of knowledge with my fellow unwashed masses. Or, perhaps more thoughtfully, I would say something about needing a place to collect my thoughts and chase (and share) random pennies dropped from heaven.
At the very least, I might describe myself as merely another thirsty soul seeking a welcome kick-in-the-eye: the notoriously rare flash of understanding known as Satori.
(Thank you Dawn, my sweet; thank you Jack Kerouac; thank you Universe…)
I believe every bit of experience, every human contact, every turn of the wheel has the potential to… what? Torture us? Forgive us? Wake us? Rock us?
Let's find out!
Yes, I have a lot to learn about web logging, and I hope you'll feel completely obligated to toss bricks at my head as I progress in this eclectic endeavor…
Endeavor.
Now that's a good word--endeavor--it always reminds me of something I learned from the classic western film The Outlaw Josey Wales, starring Clint Eastwood. It was actually the character of Lone Watie (Chief Dan George), the elderly Native-American who joins Josey Wales on his heroic journey to peace, who kicked me in the eye by recounting a humiliating trip by recently defeated tribal chiefs to meet the President in Washington, D.C. He describes how he drew inspiration from the President's speech (encouraging the chiefs to "endeavor to persevere"), and took the words to heart:
If you were to ask me why, I'd probably answer with some flip, vague explanation about needing to share my vast lack of knowledge with my fellow unwashed masses. Or, perhaps more thoughtfully, I would say something about needing a place to collect my thoughts and chase (and share) random pennies dropped from heaven.
At the very least, I might describe myself as merely another thirsty soul seeking a welcome kick-in-the-eye: the notoriously rare flash of understanding known as Satori.
(Thank you Dawn, my sweet; thank you Jack Kerouac; thank you Universe…)
I believe every bit of experience, every human contact, every turn of the wheel has the potential to… what? Torture us? Forgive us? Wake us? Rock us?
Let's find out!
Yes, I have a lot to learn about web logging, and I hope you'll feel completely obligated to toss bricks at my head as I progress in this eclectic endeavor…
Endeavor.
Now that's a good word--endeavor--it always reminds me of something I learned from the classic western film The Outlaw Josey Wales, starring Clint Eastwood. It was actually the character of Lone Watie (Chief Dan George), the elderly Native-American who joins Josey Wales on his heroic journey to peace, who kicked me in the eye by recounting a humiliating trip by recently defeated tribal chiefs to meet the President in Washington, D.C. He describes how he drew inspiration from the President's speech (encouraging the chiefs to "endeavor to persevere"), and took the words to heart:
We thought about it for a long time, "Endeavor to persevere… endeavor to persevere." And when we had thought about it long enough, we declared war on the Union.So, let's declare war on the dark regions, the so-called mundane and enslaving details of everyday life, and, now, endeavor to persevere together, okay? Are you with me?
posted by Richard Cooper at 11:00 PM
10 Comments:
Richard, thought I'd take this historic opportunity to be the first to post a comment to your blog!
'endeavor to persevere' is one of those typical politician statements. You can almost swap the words round: 'persevere to endeavor' and it means the same - ie, nothing. The chief was right.
Thanks for being the first commentator on this blog, Roger! It's such a great movie--here's another great bit of dialogue:
Ten Bears: These things you say we will have, we already have.
Josey Wales: That's true. I ain't promising you nothing extra. I'm just giving you life and you're giving me life. And I'm saying that men can live together without butchering one another.
Ten Bears: It's sad that governments are chiefed by the double tongues. There is iron in your words of death for all Comanche to see, and so there is iron in your words of life. No signed paper can hold the iron. It must come from men. The words of Ten Bears carries the same iron of life and death. It is good that warriors such as we meet in the struggle of life... or death. It shall be life.
I'm intrigued by blogging. I find that small peeks into other peoples minds are fascinating. Thanks for inviting me Richard.
Dawn
Hi Dawn--I've only met three Dawns in my life: a girl from my old neighborhood; my girlfriend; and you. It must be a small club you women of the Dawn have…
Endeavor was the name of the ship used by Ernest Shakleford to sail to the Antartic. The ship got stuck in ice, which ultimately crushed it. But Shakleford persevered and saved himself and his entire crew.
Julie, that's a great story. I saw the documentary last year about that expedition. I believe it took them two years to get back after being stranded against the odds.
"Dyin' ain't much of a livin' boy"
Aidan, sometimes logic does not sway the desperados!
Satori is "a welcome kick in the eye" That is great. I've been getting Satori left and right recently, and now I have a word to describe it.
Trish,
Wear your black eyes proudly! Each satorical event is another piece to the puzzle of existence.
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