I was thinking about this story today. It was told to me by my uncle when I was a toddler and I still remember some of it. I typed the name in to Google and apparently it's by W.W. Jacobs. Do you know the one?
-Three wishes granted on a cursed withered paw. Parents wish for £200. Son gets mutilated in factory machinery. Factory offers £200 compensation. Parents wish for son back...Etc (I won't spoil the end)
Although Uncle Ted told it pretty well, there was something really cool about the original. I'm no English student, but I liked the idea that fate is a powerful thing. If it's disregarded or changed there are always conseqences. Wishing for £200 on a mummyfied paw is quite an obvious example of changing fate, but what about buying a lottery ticket or quitting work because the boss is a Neo-Nazi? Is that changing fate or taking a risk because it's the right thing to do? It's not always obvious to me.
Why am I writing this? Am I trying to change fate, taking a risk, or just farting in the wind?
It's the first day of the kids summer holidays today. I've got three weeks off from the band. I haven't sorted anything out yet. What are we going to do? I'm frightened. Maybe I"ll just drive everyone to the beach & see what happens.
About Me
- Rob
- Life's pretty sweet mostly. I spend my days stoked, doing really gnarly shit. Sometimes shit gets really, really gnarly & I've scored some sick wipeouts, but I just get back on my board, & do something really gnarly.
8 comments:
What are the beaches like in England? Anything like the ones in Seattle (freezing, rocky, littered with syringes)?
Hey Rob!
Interesting subject here. I think that if fate exists, then certain pathways in your life are set and there is nothing you can do about it... If you could change them, it wouldn't be fate..
The things that you cán change, aren't fate.. So, if your boss is a Neo-Nazi, then buying a lottery ticket is looking for an easy way out with very little chance on succeeding. Looking for a different job or a different employer seems a better option, but it means taking risks...
At Stephanie: I just travelled for two weeks through the South-west of the UK. It was great, if you have the chance you should really visit the UK. I liked the sandy beaches of the north coast of Cornwall, surrounded by the magnificent rough landscapes of the Cornish coast, romantic sunsets, even nice waves for surfers.
Hi!
(well, I know this comment has nothing to do with what you've posted, but... I've been thinking about asking you this for a long time and I never have the courage to do so... well, i'll just ask anyway and I'm sorry if i'm being too indiscreet, ok? You can delete this comment if you want)
I'm your fan, that's it. I love the band, of course, but I think that you're an amazing musician (I've created an community dedicated to you in Orkut - it's something like myspace you know) and somehow I had to tell you that! I think you're great!!
Also, I have a question: why didn't you come to Brazil with the band months ago? I hope there was nothing urgent or too bad that made it impossible for you to come! I love seeing Charly on stage , but isn't you! =)
Well, that's it. Finally I posted here. Cheers from Rio de Janeiro!Uh, and sorry my bad English.
P.S. Good luck with the kids! I'll do just fine.
wonderfool@gmail.com
Thanks for your kind concern Marianna.
I was sad to miss the Rio de Janeiro show. It was for the same reason I missed the U.S. shows- My family needed me.
I love touring, but my kids & I, needed to come first.
Luckily, I had the time to show Charly the set up & parts to play, and luckily, he's a pretty talented musician.
We have China coming up in September. I've never been before. Hopfully we'll have some fun.
hey rob, don't be frightened. take the kids to the isle of wight, everyone loves it there and it's all within a few miles. no worries.
Well, the behaviouralists would have it that the structures of the brain are, while somewhat set by the conditions of biology, re-train-able; that the pesky amygdala is not something that takes long to re-programme (but that it will repeat endlessly the mistakes of the past in order to keep you in what it percieves to be (with no emotion) your "comfort zone" (or "safe")). Nurture over nature within the confines of the physically possible? Perhaps that's still biological determinism...
It worries me. Not just because of history (see: WWI and WWII and the ridiculous fin de siecle arguments about biological imperialists), but also because I want, so often, to be more than biology. I want some kind of political or artistic or social "will" to be...
You know, to be able to think for more than a minute that you really could do or think something that could precipitate something real.
As a reader of cards (and, when we want a laugh, palms), I regularly tell people about the set of options that seem available (what seems to be fated?) require their active involvement. There are a million variations, but you have to step into the mess to actually get anything to move.
But then I look at some fabulous picture of some nebula...or fractals...or anything that "nature" (or the processees of the universe) have churned up (and still hold me in awe -- unlike my own puny biological process which is too familiar to produce anything like awe on a regular basis) and I wonder why a puny ant (a mere human) can possibly think that they are doing more than farting in the wind...
And then I think about chaos.
And then I start to worry that there are no choices.
And then I worry that there are lots and I am just not making the right ones.
And then I realize I need a cup of coffee and a good book.
Hey, Rob!
Thanks for answering me so soon! I'll never forget your concern!
Marianna - the one from Brazil.
Alright Rob!
I dunno about the whole fate thing. I think life is all about decisions. Choose one path and things stay the same. Choose another and life could get better. Choose another and you could end up in shit creek.
Am I allowed to swear :S?
Anyway it's safe to say you've chosen mostly the good paths. Would love to be in a successful band.
Cya around dude
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