A replica cannon.
There must be some perfect correlation between imagination, creativity, raw talent, application and productivity that perfectly align to bring about say an Einstein or Tesla or Elon Musk. I think of Walt Disney or much earlier Galileo, Michelangelo, Stradivarius – you can add any number to the list of individuals that have significantly benefited mankind by their winning combination.
Interestingly though, misused they bring about the likes of King Herod, Nero, Genghis Khan, Hitler, Bin Laden just to name a few.
I’m not nearly smart enough or intellectually savvy enough to profess any understanding of how it works, the perfect combination or what turns some toward beneficial use or diabolical misuse. But I do recognize that all of these attributes exist in each of us to varying degrees.
I am presently recovering from surgery on my hand. The Doctor was very firm in his instruction that “He owned my thumb and hand for the next 3 months.” Any, and I repeat, any incorrect use of my hand during the recovery period can severely jeopardize the progress or even negate the beneficial effect completely. In short he put the “fear of God” into me! It’s really hard to sit here in my music studio looking at my guitars that are begging to be played. Even harder to type with one hand – but alas – I find this is presently my lot.
All this to say that for the last week, possibly for the first time in my life, I am sitting quietly, thinking. Remembering things. Contemplating. Wow! Pretty cool!
(I’m actually bored out of my mind – but I digress.)
I’ve been biding my time writing down various recollections. The more I probe my memories, the more clearly I begin to recognize my own strange idiosyncrasies and why I am the way I am. Why I do some of the seemingly pointless things that I do.
Take for example a replica cannon I built back in the late 80’s. I built it to sit by our flagpole. The flagpole just looked like it needed a cannon next to it. Here’s a picture.
We’ll come back to the cannon later. (The way this is going it might be much later.)
So all this introspection has given me the opportunity to do some interesting self evaluation.
It would seem that I have a vivid imagination, an insatiable creative bent that takes many forms, Music, construction, writing. It drives me crazy if I am unable to exercise some creative outlet constantly. Unfortunately though, I just have an adequate level of raw talent, and a very low level of understanding practical application. Consequently my personal productivity is almost non existent. Not to say I haven’t been productive throughout life. I’ve been very productive at times, but only within the framework of a clearly defined task. My creativity has never had its own practical application.
(This is getting deep.)
Somewhere along the way we started watching the miniseries North and South. I often worked late and I seem to recall it would be on television around 8:00 in the evening, so Sara would videotape it for me. Of course my boys could then view it multiple times. It wasn’t too long before they were making costumes, collecting toy guns, planning, executing and fighting imaginary battles in the woods. Building forts. Drawing maps.
Dragging my replica cannon into the woods. Leaving it out there for me to hunt for. Arguing over who’s turn to use it for the days battles. It didn’t spend a lot of time near the flagpole!
Since I am blessed – or cursed – whatever the case – with a vivid imagination, creative bent and a passion for American History, I decided that it was necessary to build a second replica cannon. By this the battles would become more evenly matched.
Can’t have one son outgunning the other. Indulgent father? I don’t think so. I did enjoy seeing them play.
It also kept them out of my hair….
As the miniseries went on for quite a few weeks, the interest in this particular activity continued to ramp up and seemed to have taken a very healthy root. Accordingly I decided that our summer vacation, should lean heavily toward furthering the boys understanding and appreciation of that period in American history. We dutifully headed the family truckster toward Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry, Appomattox and all the various dedicated battlefields in between. It was great – I was incredibly fascinated with the adventure. So were the boys. For about 45 minutes – at which point one or both boys and possibly their mother began begging for Disneyland…
Ah.. we persevered however, and the boys did see a great deal of countryside and acquired a firsthand knowledge of the immensity and human tragedy of the War between the States.
An appreciation and respect for the freedom and rights of everyone regardless of race, ethnic background, education, and economic or social status.
I’m sure they also acquired several toy muskets, costume accessories, and various artifacts to add additional realism to their activities. (If souvenir’s weren’t available to entice, it’s highly unlikely these types of educational forays would ever take place.)
But back to the cannon.
Here we are approximately 30 some odd years, 4 moves and 4 houses later and I’m still dragging that original cannon along. I get it out occasionally and put it by the flag on Memorial Day or some National Holiday. Seems ridiculous. It’s in the way, hard to store and in reality just another thing the boys will have to get rid of at my demise.
I’ve discovered, by way of my recent introspection, that I keep it because along with my vivid imagination, and creativity, I also seem to be encumbered with a healthy dose of mushy sentimentality –
Wonderful memories of my boys playing with it. Outside, enjoying the woods and fields, the home we once had together, the land they grew up on.
I also don’t have the slightest idea what else to do with it…. It does keep the neighbors guessing!