THIS STRANGE, MYSTICAL WORLD

Sitting upon father’s knee, feeling the warmth, recognizing the familiar scents, even the bristle on his face brought comfort as it gently touched my cheek. In a strange, mystical way I was never able to enter into the fullness of his world. It was a world, however, which would come into clearer focus as I aged and the cycle of life brought me into that wondrous laboratory called fatherhood.

Walking behind grandpa down the rows of his weedless garden, I eagerly shelled and ate fresh peas, wondered at the savor of the carrots which vanished while bits of the fertile earth still clung and climbed the cherry trees relishing in the delights of ruby fruit. In a strange, mystical way I was never able to fully enter into the entirety of his world. Now, in the days of my grandfatherhood I sometimes catch dazzling eyes of grandchildren looking at me with puzzled glances.

Mr. Hill stood with a whistle wreathed about his neck. I tried to imitate his talk, placed my hands on the laces of the ball as he had instructed, insisted the barber cut my hair in the same style which crowned his head. But in a strange, mystical way I was never fully able to entirely enter into his world. Little did I realize in those sometimes innocent days that I would one day imitate his daily walk with expectant students surrounding.

Heroes are stars admired from afar. Models are examples of materials skillfully formed.
Harvest is a reward for planting well done.
Life is following where others have led.

Little son of mine, as you sit on my knee are you warmed by my love? What fond memories are filling your head today? Do you desire to know more fully the strange, mystical world which you now view with quizzical eyes? A world which I promise will come into clearer focus as you age and the cycle of life brings you into the wondrous laboratory of fatherhood.

Come to the garden sweet grandchild of mine. Taste of the fruits, dirty your clothes, learn and love the wonders of growth. Life will soon demand that you leave the safe world of wonders and embrace the realities of that strange, mystical world you now view from afar.

Bright and enlightened students who have walked so long with me, how much of what you have heard and seen will help you to understand even a little bit better this strange, mystical world you live in? Do you not see the many that encircle your life who are attempting to traverse the mystical world imitating what they see you do?

Heroes are stars admired from afar.
Models are examples of materials skillfully formed.
Harvest is a reward for planting well done.
Life is following where others have led.

With a child perched on a knee, with a finger grasped in a small hand, with apprentice duplicating skilled strokes we go forth entwining our days of learning about the strange mystical world into the lives of those of the oncoming generation.

Therefore, away from the desk, out to the yard, you’ve observed and studied these long years, ‘tis time to show others the way of this strange, mystical world they now view from afar.

As the stars rotate in the heaven, heroes fall from their stand.
As skilled hands wrinkle, cherished objects rust and lie broken.
As the moon cycles, the stubble is plowed.
As we learn to follow, forever we will lead.