Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Double Feast

My last lesson’s over, I’m ravenous, and the fridge is frightening. I know better than to head into the grocery on an empty stomach, plus I’m feeling pretty lightheaded—lightheaded enough to forget my book du jour as I head out. But there are benefits to living out of one’s car—I find another book from the way back and slip into an air-conditioned booth to await my burger. Ignoring the news on the TV overhead and the bemused stares from the table of guys across the aisle, I dive back into a reprint of a 1907 text that Liz gave me before we parted ways.

“When the student is ready, the Master appears.” Every sage worth her or his salt voices some iteration of this platitude. Nowhere does this apply more than to books. You pick up a text and the words swim on the page— and your wandering mind washes away. Then you pick up the same book under different circumstances and BAM—the words and your mind fuse with a powerful focus and it all CLICKS.

6 weeks ago, wading through the opening chapters of the book was laborious. Tonight, the archaic, slightly condescending words resonate to my core. It's time.

I double-feast with book and burger—both delicious, both feeding my hunger.

3 comments:

  1. Hey baconator, what was the text that Liz gave you?

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  2. "Our Invisible Supply: How to Obtain" by Frances Larimer Warner. It's the one Kelly liked so much.

    THe one I left at home that night was "You Were Born Rich."

    It's a Uible-icious Read-a-Thon in the Gypsy Caravan these days!

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  3. Beautiful post. "When the student is ready, the master appears" is great line for teachers to remember. As an English teacher, I cling to that platitude. The Great Teacher said it all the time of course--let you who have ear to hear hear. In other words, you get it when you get it, and when you're ready to learn the universe is at your service.

    Great post.

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