School Daze

I feel like I am living in a dystopian world. I am supervising
 teenagers at a local high school and they have an assignment
 in Google Classroom, so all I have to do is take roll and
 stand back and wait for the magic to happen.

However, this generation of students aren't very magical.

 They have smart phones that give them the illusion of

 having all the answers right in their little hands.

Students  these days are incredibly naive and clueless.

Earlier today we had a presentation: Run, Hide, Fight.
The point was to try to imbue these smart- phone- alecks with
survival skills. Isn't it innate that when a human feels threatened
 they do those things automatically? Who dumbed these
 youngsters down? Public school? Or perhaps the entire culture.
When the nightly news hawks the next $1000. dollar
 Apple phone and the schools arm their students with their
 own Chrome Books, have we gone too far?

Some capitalists (aka 1 percenters) are getting rich by sucking
 those below them dry. The ad industry propagandizes not keeping up
 with the Jones's so much as taking over the world.
 Video games and other Internet time stealers, make this
 new crop of teens believe they can get/have whatever they
want. And therein lies the problem of entitlement and lack
of appreciation for anything given or done for them.
They have been taught that they can have the best of everything.
Shame on the adults who didn't bother to give them some clue.     

Teachers agonize over the future of our country because
the number of responsible young people has shrunk significantly.
 Who's going to run things when these folks are supposed to
take over? Baby Boomers are living longer, but how the heck
 long can they live?
Some of us try to warn the brighter ones, but the number of
conscious ones is shrinking. Will this be looked back on
 as a Dark Age in our history?
 It is disheartening to me how many times young people wail
when  they are asked to to read.
Reading passes information acquired by one generation on to
next so they won't have to reinvent the wheel and more important
 things. Some examples of what could be lost: Essential services
like medicine and law could founder within the next couple decades
 if there are only a few people who are ready, willing and able to
 carry that torch. Police and Fire fighters. And you can forget about
 Shakespeare!
 Does  anybody else see a crisis brewing when kids nowadays need
 to be taught how to survive a school shooting?
.This brings me to Darwin's Natural Selection. When I listened
 to a colleague explain the power point regarding their survival
I sensed an overall boredom. Survival skills  should be inherent.
It's no joke how many people die in car crashes while trying to text.
 People are even falling down holes intended for maintenance workers.
If a man-hole cover is off and someone on their phone is walking
 in that general direction, is it okay to holler a warning? Remind me again,
 Why did we get rid of one room schools?   Raintreepoet, pondering.

Deadbolt Rhapsody

A Guy I knew had his mind made upand wasn't changing it any time soon

He had a big brain and a higher education

He was well-read, but perhaps not broadly read

He figured things out, easily and moved on

 not one to ponder the mysteries of the Universe

To his way of thinking, everything was self-evident

He would acquire facts, form an argument,

adopt it and snap!-His mind would shut

However, he took it one step further than a closed mind-

He clicked the deadbolt  on it.

Have you ever met anybody like that?

Raintreepoet. pondering.

Lost in the desert...or space

Hey! Where is everybody?

Earth to Raintree, come in!

Have you ever had that wandering and wondering feeling
that you may not be exactly where your body is?
I've had that feeling for awhile. As you can see I haven't
been posting anything for some time. The truth is I wasn't
sure I had anything of merit to say and I don't like to waste
space, so I was silent.
The really sad truth is that the political climate in this country
 has clammed me up.
People are on edge and I am not sure that what I have to say
about it would be welcome. I mean cops are shooting people.
People are shooting cops. I am not a cop, but I am a person
and I am loathe to get involved in the wrong circumstance.
So, I've been reading a lot, watching Netflix and minding
my own dang business.
I do have opinionated opinions still, however, little harm is
done telling them to my cats Oliver and Winston. They mostly
look right through me anyway.
Women are fighting for respect again. Men are denying it.
What's new? Battle of the sexes is at least as old as Adam
and Eve. He blamed her for taking a bite of that fruit and
frankly, it's been a hell ride ever since.
Bottom line is: we all have differences and similarities and
the worst of us are human and the best of us are cat...or dog.
Go smoke something fun and have a truly great day.

raintreepoet is back!

Review: The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig

Doig has such an irresistible way of drawing the reader in.

  In this novel, The Whistling Season he began with Paul Milliron,

a Montana state employee who’s assignment was to close

one room schools. His reflection goes back to the one room

school of his youth in Marias Coulee.

 The story is mostly told by Paul’s eleven year old self. Paul had

two brothers, Damon and Toby, the family baby and his

widowed father, Oliver.

By page two a newspaper advertisement was introduced

with the title: Can’t Cook But Doesn’t Bite.  Paul’s father

showed him the ad and there was some debate over not

whether to look into it, because the household had struggled

with four bachelors and disorder, but that Oliver also

needed someone to cook.

By the end of the first chapter, Paul was once again the

Montana state employee tasked with deciding the fate of

56 county rural schools aka one room school houses.

Chapter two plunges us into the saga of the Milliron family,

Friends and neighbors and their way of life. Doig seamlessly

time travels between the early 1900s and 1957, when his

character Paul is tasked with the duty of pushing progress

in Montana’s educational system.

In close to half a century, Paul Milliron witnessed monumental

change; He was philosophical about what was lost and what children

gained from a one room school education.

This story goes way beyond its own borders and could be a

metaphor for humanity’s wisdom when stupidity is usually,

initially an easier path.

As Doig added characters and complications and they affected

the Milliron family, we can see how they could just as well

be us.

Frankly, at the end, I was impressed with the choices of two young boys

and I believe you, the reader, will be, too! The ending underscores

the power of love and Doig gives us all hope!

I heartily recommend The Whistling Season.

Raintreepoet, reporting.

Review: LUST FOR LIFE

A novel of Vincent Van Gogh
By Irving Stone.
Illustrated with 150 reproductions of Vincent Van Gogh's
paintings, arranged by J.B. Newman.
Copyright 1934 by Irving Stone.
Copyright 1937 by The Heritage Club.
Printed in the United States of America.

To begin with the book is bound in a reproduction of a
Van Gogh painting that depicts a rich farmland--so very
Vincent.
Vincent Van Gogh led a hard working, driven life. He dirtied
his hands with miners and farmers and drew and painted them
as he self-educated himself in his art.
Vincent was supported by his younger brother, Theo who was
an art dealer and who believed fiercely in his brother Vincent.
Theo supported Vincent for several years so that Vincent could
concentrate solely on his art.
Vincent was a man of great conscience and felt guilty taking
money from Theo on a wish and a promise. Despite giving
Theo all his work to sell, Vincent never felt worthy.
As Irving depicted and history reflects, Vincent dressed like a
bum, was unkempt and had frequent bouts of starvation to the
point of fever and illness. Still he was so driven, he produced
a painting every day.
After Vincent failed to become a minister like his father, Theo
 talked him into moving to Paris to live with him. There Vincent
met Gauguin, Seurat, Cezanne, Lautrec and many other
 "Impressionist" artists.
With  a new artistic vision, Vincent moved to Arles where there was
so much sunshine, yellow entered his art. (Little did he know that
"Sunflowers" would one day sell for $88 million dollars at auction.)
Vincent's final destination was Auvers, where he welcomed Gauguin,
so they could paint together. Arguments ensued and Gauguin left.
Vincent, desconsolate eventually went mad. He died a prolonged death
from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Theo held him in his arms and
promised to create a gallery of Vincent's art.
Unfortunately, Theo died six months after Vincent. Thanks to Theo's
widow, the brothers were buried side by side in Auvers.
 Sunflowers grace both graves.
This Irving Stone book was labeled a novel because Stone had to
fill in some blanks to make the story. However, his main source
was 700 letters that Vincent wrote to Theo during these crucial
years. It could have well been Vincent's memoir. Great read and
even greater illustrations.
I highly recommend it.

raintreepoet, reporting.

Reflections on a Frayed Friendship

Dear Beacon Rock Oracle,

A friend began sending heated political emails to me a
few weeks ago. She's retired and I am still working.
I do not have time to keep up with all the news and it is
my instinct, when I lack the full facts to reserve judgment.

However, I do have opinions, which I shared, much to
my own dismay because within three or four emails ex-
changed, she burned down a treasured friendship that
began in the 80s. We are now in our 60s.

I am now thinking that I need  to disconnect from any
"friends" who connect with me rarely in person, but
act like we are best buds online. I have come to the
conclusion that we have grown in other directions and
 these communications are the last vestiges of letting go.

In my opinionated opinion, a clean break is less
painful. Especially, when one is being accused and
indeed is innocent.

I did nothing to this woman, but be her friend.
Whatever she is going through personally, was
suddenly puked on me.

 The only thing I can think of is that she is a livid Trump- hater
 and seems tweaked that I don't join her. I refuse to give that
 reprobate my attention/power.

What more could I have done?

Wondering in Vancouver


Dear Wondering in Vancouver:

You could have done nothing more. You are right
on the money with "we have grown in other directions."
It sounds like your retired friend has time on her hands
and maybe didn't plan ahead about how to best enjoy
her retirement.

And I agree, cutting loose from FaceBook and email friendships may
 make you happier in the long run. The less investment,
 the cheaper the product, I always say.

With 7+ billion souls on the planet, I am sure you can find
many new, kinder friends.

Grant should not be taken for Granted

Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War General and
United States President
Born: April 27, 1822
Died: July 23, 1885

The last time I posted I was in the middle of
 reading GRANT by Ron Chernow.
I've been in reading mode the last few months
and have read several satisfying books, however,
Ron Chernow's tome still trumps everything I've
read in years.
At 1,104 pages, GRANT is the best historical
writing this history buff has ever read. Chernow's
biography of GRANT could best be described as
creative non-fiction. It reads like a very good novel
and was a page turner to the end.

Grant was personally slandered and libeled and actually
dismissed as a "drunk" while winning wars and running
the United States as our 18th president, serving two
terms shortly after turning the tide of the Civil War,
being the only general Abraham Lincoln said would
fight. As a result Grant brought the south to its knees
and yet was a total gentleman when he tendered Lee's
surrender. Now that's a class act!

Jealous, lesser men could not accept nor understand
Grant's integrity and unwillingness to succumb to
ordinary ego. Grant was humble to a fault.His presidency
was rumored to be corrupt, when in fact, U.S. Grant
was simply surrounded by corrupt men. He did not
recognize the dark side of others because he himself
was honest and trustworthy. Grant saw the best in
 other human beings. That was his fatal flaw.

A 20 cigar per day habit finally ended Grant's life,
but not before he spent an entire year penning his
memoirs to have a nest egg for his family.
His friend, Mark Twain sold 300,000 subscriptions
and encouraged Grant in his final days. The memoirs
garnered what in today's money would be roughly
8 million dollars--a best seller in any era.

I highly recommend GRANT by Ron Chernow. I am
still reading Ulysses S. Grant's memoir, which is also
a tome.

raintreepoet, reporting.

How about Martin Luther King and Ulysses S. Grant Day, eh?

Today is Martin Luther King Day. We have time off (teachers as well

as others in government positions) to pay homage to Martin Luther King. 

I am white, non-prejudiced, and have carried some shame for what my 

race has perpetuated onto the black race. 

Needless to say, I am an admirer of MLK's leadership and sacrifice to

help his people. In other words, I get why this recognition of MLK is 

important. 

However, as a history buff, I hate when other important figures, in a cause, 

are overlooked. The person I refer to is Ulysses S. Grant- the guy who led 

the northern armies to win the Civil War and free the slaves.

 ( He also served two terms as a U. S. president.) More than that

Ulysses S. Grant gave refuge to thousands of runaway slaves; clothed them,

fed them, protected them and also drafted thousands of them to fight the 

Confederacy, their former masters and subjugators.

As I read GRANT by Ron Chernow, I wonder, "Do black citizens of this

country know what Grant did for them?" 

There is no Ulysses S. Grant Day. He is not included in the celebration of

important presidents. Grant is not one of the faces on Mt. Rushmore. 

Excuse me! Who accomplished more to save our union than Ulysses S Grant?

Who fought harder to free the slaves?

I do wonder if Martin Luther King was aware of who Ulysses S. Grant was

and what he did for the black race. 

Keep reading, folks. GRANT by Ron Chernow would be a good start. 

I honor both MLK and U. S. Grant as the two men most prominent in 

fighting for equality in the United States of America.! 

raintreepoet, ruminating.