Sunday Beau, Sandra/Mad Snapper’s heart dog, wrote,
MY HEART MAMA IS TAKING MONDAY OFF TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PLAY A SONG ON GARAGE BAND! BOTH BLOGS!
In fact, Sandra ended up doodling on her iPad with the Procreate app. The details don’t matter. She reminded me of this story about Kurt Vonnegut that I repeat from time:
In 2006, a teacher at Xavier High School in New York had her students write a letter to their favorite author inviting him/her to come speak to the class. Only one author, Kurt Vonnegut, answered. He turned down the invitation, but his reply is heartwarming:
November 5, 2006Dear Xavier High School, and Ms. Lockwood, and Messrs Perin, McFeely, Batten, Maurer and Congiusta:
I thank you for your friendly letters. You sure know how to cheer up a really old geezer (84) in his sunset years. I don’t make public appearances any more because I now resemble nothing so much as an iguana. What I had to say to you, moreover, would not take long, to wit: Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.
Seriously! I mean starting right now, do art and do it for the rest of your lives. Draw a funny or nice picture of Ms. Lockwood, and give it to her. Dance home after school, and
sing in the shower and on and on. Make a face in your mashed potatoes. Pretend you’re Count Dracula.Here’s an assignment for tonight, and I hope Ms. Lockwood will flunk you if you don’t do it: Write a six line poem, about anything, but rhymed. No fair tennis without a net.
Make it as good as you possibly can. But don’t tell anybody what you’re doing. Don’t show it or recite it to anybody, not even your girlfriend or parents or whatever, or Ms.
Lockwood. OK? Tear it up into teeny-weeny pieces, and discard them into widely separated trash receptacles. You will find that you have already been gloriously rewarded for your poem. You have experienced becoming, learned a lot more about what’s inside you, and you have made your soul grow.God bless you all!
Kurt Vonnegut
So hurray for Sandra, and also for Ann who inspires us with her doodles. They not only feed their souls, they make the world a happier place.
May 21, 2024
Tears in my eyes, I was about to say I do the rhymes a lot on the blog but then got to the place of tear it up and never show it to anyone. that I have never done. thank you for this post and for understanding how much playing does to and for me. after a break, I will continue on my merry way..
We don’t have to throw it away, that was just to free the kids from being judged. We know how to play without worrying about that.
OMG, I love this. I agree with him too about just doing art. It doesn’t have to be good it just has to make you happy.
Yes, and sharing it with nonjudgmental friends is frosting on the cake.
What a lovely and inspiring letter. It should be widely circulated for today’s young … and old.
God bless.
Yes!
…hurray for old geezers.
Yes. 🙂
I so love this…so glad you shared it.
Thanks.
What a great letter!
Yes. 🙂
I love his philosophy! Have you read the story about him going to the PO to buy a single envelope?
For some reason, this reminds me of an artist I once followed and purchased product – SARK. Here’s a link to one of her most popular prints:
https://planetsark.shop/products/how-to-be-an-artist-by-sark-premium-matte-art-print
I bought and read a couple of her books years ago. 🙂
OH how I love this! I have read most of his books and he is one of my favorite authors. I always look forward to posts from The Mad One. Seems she can learn anything technical.
Yes, she has talent and passion. 🙂
Aww, what a great guy he was to take the time to reply to the students and to do so in such a meaningful way. He really took the time to deliver a great message.
I know. 🙂
That letter was really amazing and how nice he responded. I love Mad Snapper and Ann too!
🙂