Rules for a Knight

I stumbled across this book during a recent visit to the bookstore.  Frankly, the only reason I bought it was because of the Title.  Since my maiden name is Knight I felt it would be a great coffee table conversation piece.  

A few days after purchasing this book we went on the long drive from Missouri to Alabama to celebrate my Aunt's 97th birthday.   We like to fill the hours on the road by reading to each other.  It makes a dent in the books stacking up on our night stands and inspires conversation alone the way.  

I'll confess hubby wasn't very excited about the book once he realized it was written by the actor and writer Ethan Hawkes for preteens.   I admit that I had no idea who Ethan Hawkes was so I had to do some research on him and his book.  After that I couldn't wait to read it.  Once we got into reading the book we realized it was a book that should be shared with every family with children.  
It teaches through tales of being a Knight all the things that children of our generation  learned from family, teachers and the daily trials of growing up.  

There are 20 Rules For a Knight: 1. Solitude; 2. Humility; 3. Gratitude; 4. Pride; 5. Cooperation; 6. Friendship; 7. Forgiveness; 8. Honesty; 9. Courage; 10. Grace; 11. Patience; 12. Justice; 13. Generosity; 14. Discipline; 15. Dedication; 16. Speech; 17. Faith; 18. Equality; 19. Love; 20. Death. 

 It seems that so many of these twenty rules   have become lost in the busy life of today's parents and children and I believe we need more books like this one.  Heck, if I could afford it I would send one to each of the thirty-five households in my immediate family. 

Should you decide to give this book a try do shop for the best price.  I got my copy at Barnes and Nobel for $18.00 but later found it for $12.73 on Amazon and even less on Ebay.  

In the “Editor’s Note," Hawke explains that the book is his own reconstruction and interpretation of a professor’s literal translation (from Cornish) of a badly damaged letter, purportedly written by a 15th-century knight and Hawke ancestor to his children on the eve of his death in a historical battle, found in the Hawkes’ family farm basement in the early 1970s. Hawke clearly states that the authenticity of the letter has not been conclusively established and that, where he struggled to convey the knight’s thoughts, he borrowed from the writings and expressions of other “knights”, most of whom are 19th- and 20th-century authors, thinkers, leaders, and artists: Emily Dickinson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bob Dylan, Victor Hugo, Vince Lombardi, Nelson Mandela, Thich Nhat Hanh, Anais Nin, River Phoenix, and Mother Teresa, to name just a few. So the book makes no claim to originality or exclusivity.

Since I have been discussing Rules.  This showed up on my Facebook and hit home for me.  Rules number 3, 8,9 and 10 are certainly something I need to work on and part of the reason I decided to get back to blogging.  

Back in January of 2014 I did a post where I announce I was trying to write a book about the weirdness that is my life.  For those who expressed interest  it is still a work in progress.  Emotionally I can only handle writing it in small doses.  Plus, I have changed the format several times which meant starting over.  Not being very computer savvy I even lost the file for a while before realizing I needed an external hard drive to save it too.  Will keep you posted.  

Old Age is not for Sissies

Back in 1989 Art Linkletter published his book "OLDAGE IS NOT FOR SISSIES."  Back in 2007 (year hubby and I were married) my new husband introduced my then 82 year old mother to the phrase.  Since then it has become one of her favorites and she must use it several time a day.   Now everyone in my family quotes it. Everyone but me that is--------- until now.  I am finally starting to understand the real meaning behind this expression, and yes I have to agree old age is not for sissies.

It has been sixteen months since my last post.  I'll spare you the details of our merry-go-round of medical adventures, but it can all be summed up with the following;  In the month of October we had twenty-eight doctors appointments and one major surgery between my Mother, hubby and me.  While, October was excessive, not a week has gone by in the last sixteen months without at least one of us having to visit the medical building for something.

In addition to the usual holiday chores December required us to make a week long trip south so my mother could spend some time with her family to celebrate her sisters 97th birthday.  While this was a stressful time for us it was also marked with some unforgettable moments.   One being, watching these 90 and 97 year old sisters snuggling up in bed together swapping stories and giggling like school girls at a sleepover.

All the events of the last year have convinced me that I have to make a change in my life.  I have had all I can stand of being either the bored stiff patient, or the run ragged caregiver collapsing from loss of energy.  It is time I reclaimed some of my past life and make time for things that excite and energize me.  So I am starting by trying to blog again.

I will not gaurantee that I will be able to get out and about enough to find fresh fodder for my post, so you may get bored with me and want to move on.  But, I will do my best.  Hope you will get back in the habit of stopping by.  If you like what you see then please spread the word so that I can rebuild my following.

Mea Culpa's

I’m starting to wonder if all my chemo has warped my mind.  I admit I am a glass half full kind of gal. I also like things done a certain way. Actually, it’s more than like; I need to have things done a certain way. Some folks I know wouldn’t hesitate to say “a place for everything and everything in its place” is my mantra. I also like all the proper social rules followed when it comes to doing things for others.

But, lately, I seem to be continually crossing the line when it comes to my expectations of others actions.  Last night there was a huge row at our house and it was entirely my fault. I’m afraid I gave my poor hubby “nine kinds of hell” because I disagreed with how he chose to sign a birthday card, of all things.

Sweetie, I know I’m terrible at admitting fault and saying “I’m Sorry” so please accept this very public apology.  You had every reason to be upset. 

(Well, it wasn’t entirely your fault, Love. If I am so full of wisdom at my advanced age, why didn’t I just sign the darn thing and be done with it. Then, there is that law of nature that women must have the last word.  Usually, I am fine with it but last night I went where no rational man ever goes and tried to have that last word myself.  I should have known I was flying directly in the face of nature and a tradition going back, at least, to the Stone Age. As long as we don’t go to bed mad and you still don’t complain about my cold feet, we are fine.)

   

New Adventure

I started my first blog in 2005 when I was single.  That led to a new blog once I married.  After my husband presented me with a very nice digital camera I started a photo blog so I could share my work.  I was sailing along, marveling that there were people out there who actually wanted to follow me,  Then cancer happened.  For a long time I  couldn't find the energy to continue posting and once the desire returned I found the things I had been posting had become too saccharin for the new me.  Plus, my continuing health problems stopped me from seeking photo opts and story ideas like I once did.

The fact is,  facing a possible death sentence changes how you see and think about yourself and the world around you.   While I have always been outspoken. I was careful to not put anything into print that would embarrass or offend the people I come into daily contact with. My new view of this world formed from 60 plus years of struggling, coping, picking up the pieces and starting over is not as sunny as I tried to make it before I got sick.

I have no idea where this will go,  I just know I need something that will stir my creative juices while allowing me to occasionally vent my frustrations with the changes that old age is forcing into my life.   

I hope that whatever the results of this new effort turn out to be, it will be something you can relate to and hopefully enjoy enough to want to pop around occasionally for a visit.