Watership Down

Got through another book, Watership Down!  You know, these fantasy animal books are quite the read.  When I read about the author, Richard Adams, I was surprised to hear that he generated the idea for the book from stories he told his daughters before going to bed every night.  Good for the daughters to encourage him to write it.  All kids, when they feel their parents have a talent, should strongly encourage them to go for it and commit.  I remember telling stories every night to my son Christian about Jeremy, a superhuman kid who did good for his family while always seeming to get in situations he wished he didn’t.  Every night ended with “To be continued” and Christian always said, “more dad, more”...  I miss those days.  And to think son number #1 is going to college in 7 weeks.  How time does fly.  I yearn for those days.  I wish they didn’t go so fast.  Being a father to a 5/6 year old is one of the best days of my life.  While I love having teenage/young adults, it was much easier a decade ago.  Cherish the days my friends.  Watership Down was a good journey story that challenges those who look for a better life to not be afraid to go on the journey.  I always love characters who take the advice of the “crazy” one in the group.  It is those who are a little off the norm that usually has it right.  Think about how in community we tend not to give voice to those outside the norm.  When I teach my graduate course at NYU this will serve as a really good discussion about how we deal with a loud voice who gets ostracized from others.  Funny how we as humans always believe (or want to think that) that animals behave like humans.  Animals don’t wish for that at all.  Maybe we should follow their lead.  Well on second thought, having just come back from puppy play night at the local kennel, maybe that might not be a good idea.  Biting each other on the neck and sniffing privates.  Oh, to be a dog.  I so digress….  Sorry friends.  It happens.