Dear Paul, Melanie, Rob, Roice, and Ben,
cc: file, Diane Cluff, Darrell and Nancy Krueger, Sara and Des Penny, Grandma Hafen via Tony Hafen, and Lloyd and Luana Warner.
Welcome to "Thoughtlets." This is a weekly review of an idea, belief,
thought, or words that will hopefully be of some benefit to you, my
children, with an electronic copy to on-line extended family members.
Any of you can ask me not to clutter your mail box at any time.
"I finally went to see Titanic Friday night. Sara went with me. We had
a very nice evening. I had promised to meet with some graduate students
at the VETL at 5:00 and she accompanied me. Afterwards we went to a
nice Italian restruant for dinner, down in The Village off of Kirby and
on University. The movie was at Tinseltown, where they have a very large
screen and stadium seating. Paul, there have been a lot of changes in
stuff, just in the year you have been gone.
I think Grandma Hafen would really enjoy this movie. Maybe it's because
the present day star is a Grandmother who was on the Titanic as a young
woman. She is kind of crusty, with the same kind of piss and vinegar
fire-in-the-eye Grandma Hafen has. I also saw some of my characteristics
characharized in the movie. I recognize I have a tendency to put myself
into movies too much. I guess you could say I have always had hard time
recognizing the boundary (if there is one) between virtual and real
worlds. In fact I came across a quote when I was reading a book on
Saturday on this very subject I really like:
<![CDATA[ `The process of creation starts with thought-an idea, conception,
visualization. Everything you see was once someone's idea. Nothing
exists in your world that did not first exist as pure thought.
This is true of the universe as well.
Thought is the first level of creation.
Next comes the word. Everything you say is a thought expressed. It
is creative and sends forth creative energy into the universe. Words
are more dynamic (thus, some might say more creative) than thought,
because words are a different level of vibration from thought. They
disrupt (change, alter, affect) the universe with greater impact.
Words are the second level of creation.
Next comes action.
Action are words moving. Words are thoughts expressed. Thoughts are
ideas formed. Ideas are energies come together. Energies are forces
released. Forces are elements existent. Elements are particles of
God, portions of All, the stuff of everything.
The beginning is God. The end is action. Action is God creating -
or God experienced.'
Page 74, Conversations with God - an uncommon dialogue -
book 1, Neale Donald Walsch
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Of course, I saw myself as the young, blonde good guy. Someone who seems
reckless to others, yet doesn't feel he is taking any serious risk. A
person who loves art (although I have no talent), life, and the outdoors.
Someone who is dedicated and willing to go to any length for someone he
loves and cares about. Then I also saw myself as the fiance, bad guy.
There were three specific events: (1) the emotions tied to where he hit
is fiance, reminded me of my reaction to Ben's grades; (2) the out of
control jealous reaction, where he broke the table reminded me of my 20th
anniversary; and (3) when the heroine put a expectorate in his eye
reminded me of the last time I told your Mom I love her and she responded
`Well, you are just going to have to get over it.' I don't know if any
of you ever let your imagination run away with you, where you mix up
entertainment, or virtual worlds, and real life. I hope you learn young
to act and feel appropriate in each domains. The key line in the movie
to me was when the scientist who was dredging the Titanic said something
like `I've been working on this for three years, and before I met her
(the Grandmother) I never got it. I do now.'
Quentin Reed and I wrote a song on the 19th of May in 1973 about crossing
the boundary from childhood fantasy when we were growing up. I would like
it to be a reference in these Thoughtlets and so I quote:
<![CDATA[ `The Wooden Shoe
Once I lived in a nursery rhyme
Never aware of the sands of time
I went there with some friends of mine
We didn't know what we would find
We stayed there in a wooden shoe
Learning poems that we turned into
I'm sure you've heard a rhyme or two
That came out of that wooden shoe
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row
Little tin soldiers taught us marching songs
Happy rag dolls would dance along
We marched on down the road in style
Until we'd gone a crooked mile
We went along a mountain ridge
Until we came upon a bridge
But the unicorn told us we most not cross
Or else our childhood would be lost
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady
Late that night while the unicorn slept
I crossed the bridge, big tears I wept
I'd grown too big for the wooden shoe
And the sad thing is it will happen to you
But I no longer do despair
I watch my children playing there
Playing with dolls like I used to do
When I lived in the wooden shoe
Rock-a-bye baby in the tree top,
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all'
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The more you grow up, the more I realize I will only be watching you from
a distance. Russia, Santa Monica, Austin, and even College Station are
a ways away from Houston. I do appreciate each of your efforts to stay
in contact and to let me be part of your lives. My prayers and thoughts
and love are with each of you."
I'm interested in sharing weekly a "thoughtlet" (little statements of big thoughts which mean a lot to me) with you because I know how important the written word can be. I am concerned about how easy it is to drift and forget our roots and our potential among all of distractions of daily life. If you ever want to download any of these thoughtlets, they are posted at http://www.walden3d.com/hrnmen or you can e-mail me at rnelson@walden3d.com.
With all my love,
Dad
(H. Roice Nelson, Jr.)