Robert, I think you know what this means to me. I have lost a daughter forever also. My sadness is as yours. I'm sorry for your loss. I miss your words of wisdom, many from a heart broken as mine. I'm sorry that life is not fair. Your letter is beautiful. I miss you. Regards, Two Dogs. (aka Dos canines)
Here's another by the same author, from about the 1800's:
"DIVISION OF PROPERTY" Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Some sailors were starving at sea On a raft where they happened to be, When one of the crew Who was hidden from view Was found to be feasting most free.
Then they cursed him in language profane, Because there on the pitiless main While the others did starve He could ladle and carve, Eating food which they could not obtain.
But, said he, 'tis my own little store! To feed all of you would take more! If I shared 'twould be found That it would not go round -- And you all would starve on as before!
It would only prolong your distress To distribute this one little mess! The supply is so small I had best eat it all -- For me it will comfort and bless!
This reasoning sounded most fair, But the men had large appetites there, And while he explained They ate all that remained -- Forgetting to leave out his share!
I'm noticing the new theme of woodsy wisdom and outback living in your posts. Not sure that clubbing squirrel is the most nutritious option, though!
It occurs to me that there are a few skills needed to live alone in the wilds: building, hunting (possibly), clothing, gardening, cooking, and food preservation.
The building will be tough to practice for now, but the learning curve could be tackled now. Similar for hunting.
Not sure how far off the grid you want to go, but making your own clothing is another skill and option.
But the most intriguing idea to me is the gardening/cooking/preservation. The prison there is labeled "low security", so does that mean gardening is allowed? Is there a garden? Is there land available for one? If there was, the grown food could be fed back into the prison, where everyone could eat of it.
I don't recall if you've ever mentioned gardening in your posts, but it might come in handy someday in the wilderness.
And depending on how successful it goes, you could put your building skills to work and build a greenhouse for the winter, for the hydroponic angle. If it saved money for the prison in food expenses, they might even go for it.
Your quote of the story of a man who threw a loaf of bread at the poor to drive them away brought to mind a poem I read a while back that had a similar theme... I thought you might enjoy it. :-)
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"HOW MANY POOR!"
"Whene'er I take my walks abroad, how many poor I see!" Said pious Watts, and thanked the Lord that not so poor was he. I see so many poor to-day I think I'll walk no more, And then the poor in long array come knocking at my door.
The hungry poor! The dirty poor! The poor of evil smell! Yet even these we could endure if they were only well! But, O, this sick and crippled crew! The lame, the deaf, the blind! What can a Christian person do with these upon his mind!
They keep diseases growing still like plants on greenhouse shelves, And they're so generous they will not keep them to themselves; They propagate amazing crimes and vices scandalous, And then at most uncertain times they wreak the same on us!
With charity we would prevent this poverty and woe, But find the more we've fondly spent, the more the poor do grow! We've tried by punishment full sore to mend the case they're in; The more we punish them the more they sin, and sin, and sin!
We make the punishment more kind, we give them wise reform, And they, with a contented mind, flock to our prisons warm!
Then science comes with solemn air, and shows us social laws, Explaining how the poor are there from a purely natural cause. 'T is natural for low and high to struggle and to strive; 'T is natural for the worse to die and the better to survive.
We swallowed all this soothing stuff, and easily were led To think if we were stern enough, the poor would soon be dead. But, O! in vain we squeeze, and grind, and drive them to the wall -- For all our deadly work we find it does not kill them all!
The more we struggle they survive! increase and multiply! There seem to be more poor alive, in spite of all that die! Whene'er I take my walks abroad how many poor I see, And eke at home! How long, O Lord! How long must this thing be?
In case Nicki or someone else wants to call me out...I have, personally, donated to specific inmates for stamps/commissary. I wish I had more to give but the giving I do is based on their communication to me (us) via this website.
STFU Mr. Clarke. Do your time for your crime. Stop whining. Enough said. I do have apathy for SOME convicts - depending on their crime and their remorse. Mr. Clarke is not in that circle. There are others here I want to help. Personal choices.
RSS
I enjoyed your spoken words! This is your Sis! Just found out about our blog minutes ago. Hope to hear from you!
Regards, Two Dogs.
(aka Dos canines)
"DIVISION OF PROPERTY"
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Some sailors were starving at sea
On a raft where they happened to be,
When one of the crew
Who was hidden from view
Was found to be feasting most free.
Then they cursed him in language profane,
Because there on the pitiless main
While the others did starve
He could ladle and carve,
Eating food which they could not obtain.
But, said he, 'tis my own little store!
To feed all of you would take more!
If I shared 'twould be found
That it would not go round --
And you all would starve on as before!
It would only prolong your distress
To distribute this one little mess!
The supply is so small
I had best eat it all --
For me it will comfort and bless!
This reasoning sounded most fair,
But the men had large appetites there,
And while he explained
They ate all that remained --
Forgetting to leave out his share!
I'm noticing the new theme of woodsy wisdom and outback living in your posts. Not sure that clubbing squirrel is the most nutritious option, though!
It occurs to me that there are a few skills needed to live alone in the wilds: building, hunting (possibly), clothing, gardening, cooking, and food preservation.
The building will be tough to practice for now, but the learning curve could be tackled now. Similar for hunting.
Not sure how far off the grid you want to go, but making your own clothing is another skill and option.
But the most intriguing idea to me is the gardening/cooking/preservation. The prison there is labeled "low security", so does that mean gardening is allowed? Is there a garden? Is there land available for one? If there was, the grown food could be fed back into the prison, where everyone could eat of it.
I don't recall if you've ever mentioned gardening in your posts, but it might come in handy someday in the wilderness.
And depending on how successful it goes, you could put your building skills to work and build a greenhouse for the winter, for the hydroponic angle. If it saved money for the prison in food expenses, they might even go for it.
Just some thoughts.
- Chris
----------
"HOW MANY POOR!"
"Whene'er I take my walks abroad, how many poor I see!"
Said pious Watts, and thanked the Lord that not so poor was he.
I see so many poor to-day I think I'll walk no more,
And then the poor in long array come knocking at my door.
The hungry poor! The dirty poor! The poor of evil smell!
Yet even these we could endure if they were only well!
But, O, this sick and crippled crew! The lame, the deaf, the blind!
What can a Christian person do with these upon his mind!
They keep diseases growing still like plants on greenhouse shelves,
And they're so generous they will not keep them to themselves;
They propagate amazing crimes and vices scandalous,
And then at most uncertain times they wreak the same on us!
With charity we would prevent this poverty and woe,
But find the more we've fondly spent, the more the poor do grow!
We've tried by punishment full sore to mend the case they're in;
The more we punish them the more they sin, and sin, and sin!
We make the punishment more kind, we give them wise reform,
And they, with a contented mind, flock to our prisons warm!
Then science comes with solemn air, and shows us social laws,
Explaining how the poor are there from a purely natural cause.
'T is natural for low and high to struggle and to strive;
'T is natural for the worse to die and the better to survive.
We swallowed all this soothing stuff, and easily were led
To think if we were stern enough, the poor would soon be dead.
But, O! in vain we squeeze, and grind, and drive them to the wall --
For all our deadly work we find it does not kill them all!
The more we struggle they survive! increase and multiply!
There seem to be more poor alive, in spite of all that die!
Whene'er I take my walks abroad how many poor I see,
And eke at home! How long, O Lord! How long must this thing be?
Charlotte Perkins Gilman (c. 1895)
I did discover that rechargeable NiMH batteries should NOT be dropped, as they can be damaged.