Winning Words 7/22/10
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” (Oliver Wendell Holmes) While at the family reunion last week, I saw some kids wearing molded rubber bands on their wrists. I was intrigued by the shapes of the bands before they were stretched and how they could return to their original shapes. Life is not like that. We are what our experiences have made us. ;-) Jack

FROM DM IN MICHIGAN: My nieces also have those bands and whoever thought of that is making a fortune. FROM JACK: My granddaughters had several on their wrists, but I had never actually looked at the bands in their original shape. MORE FROM DM: My niece had about 30 of them on her wrist. When I asked her what they were for she said that they were pretty cool colors and that she liked the shapes (of course all her friends have them). I asked to see the shapes and they range from animals, words and shapes like stars, hearts stuff like that. She was pretty proud of them that day tomorrow it will be something else. FROM JACK: I read that some schools are banning them, because they are a "distraction." At times I think that we need some distractions in this life.

FROM RS IN MICHIGAN: I always missing your morning emails when you are gone. I too had a week long family reunion in the UP last week…so fun. FROM JACK: We drove through the U.P. twice on US 2, but didn't see you wading in Lake Michigan or shopping in Mackinaw City.

FROM JK IN MICHIGAN: Good to have you back Jack (kind of rhymes - not intentional). Honestly, it was a blessing to you your note this morning in my email :-) FROM JACK: I never know how WWs will "strike" the people who read them. I'm glad that sometimes they are a "hit."

FROM PRJM IN MICHIGAN: And they call those "back to original shape bands" "Silly" -- I think they're pretty sophisticated to be able to return to original shape! FROM JACK: I've seen some pretty silly shapes, including some in a mirror. MORE FROM JM: Yeah, except the shape in my mirror doesn't bounce back to the original!

FROM MOLINER CF: Even rubber bands get brittle if not used regularly. FROM JACK: That's another good reason for exercising regularly.

FROM LIZ IN ILLINOIS: How cool that you are interested not only in the kids, but in those fun little bands, the name of which escapes me. Most adults don't pay a bit of attention to the youngsters, much less to their latest fad. I seek out the kids, too. They have a lot to say, when big people take the time to listen. Glad you're back. FROM JACK: Listen to your elders is good advice; so is listen to your youngers.

FROM JC IN HONG KONG (VISITING IN USA): I like the last comment. It correctly dispels the false notions many mistakenly invent about how we were BORN THIS WAY, and it is a warning against complacency; areas where Western society has failed miserably in the last 50 years or so. Rhetoric is cheap in USA, wisdom is rare, and is discarded along with old quotes like one looking quickly into a passing mirror. The old lighthouse in Mackinaw City is being visited today by many such wristbands. Ironic? Symbolic? Diminished utility still
can have tangible beauty. Sometimes they are better discarded, sometimes remembered. Enjoy the beauty while it's there. Where is my utility and beauty? (Self-check time!) FROM JACK: A lighthouse is a warning place for ships. There are other warning signs for each of us to heed.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: Great to read your WW again and to know you had a good time and arrived back at home safe and sound. For some reason your WW made me think of the mind/body connection and ruminate on the thought that a body stretched by experiences to a new dimension also doesn't really go back to the original dimension. Seems like there is something of the previous experience that wants to hang around and maybe that's a good thing so's we keep remembering what we've gone through. FROM JACK: As Thomas Wolfe wrote, "You can't go home again," ...except in your memories, and those are sometimes imperfect.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: Stretching our imagination is a good thing too. Our youngest grandson, Noah who just turned 6 July 13, has an extremely vivid imagination. He and I were having a wonderful talk about the lodge he was going to build when he grows up. "It will be for old people your age Gramma and for young people my age. There will be games for the young people and a game for the old people." I asked him what games we will play. He replied, "The young people will ride go-carts and the old people your age will have wheel chair races. But don't worry Gramma, there will be a nurse there so if you get injured or close to death, you will have help!" Those were his exact words. We are always changed by the new experiences and sometimes even changed by the old ones! FROM JACK: Noah's a sharp kid. How about motorized wheel chair races?

FROM MO IN ILLINOIS: Welcome back, J.F! Good quote. Essentially what I told my 24 yr. old grandson Aaron, who is taking vacation time from his job (a very good job!) to do a Habitat For Humanity mission trip to El Salvador. He will never be the same person after experiencing that trip! Fred (his pastor dad) and Judy took their whole family on a round the world trip, right after Aaron graduated from H.S,. for three months, while he was on Sabbatical, and this has had an impact on all three kids. Emily just finished her junior year of College. through U. of Minn, in Puerto Rico, and she did her Sr. yr of H.S. in Costa Rica, living with a family that she is still very attached to. So unlike the rubber bands.,...they have been stretched to a new shape! FROM JACK: When I got back to the computer after being gone for a week, there were soooo many messages. It was hard to give them the attention they deserved. I wonder if it's that way with "memorable" experiences. Probably not, because the experiences you mentioned are far more interesting than most e-mails.

FROM AM IN MICHIGAN: Wall St. Journal had a writeup about those bands. Amazing new world again.