September 1, 2005
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Topic: YSKOV (you shall know our velocity) day 1…new streak of goodness
After I finish this book…I’ll start googling around to see what others thought of it, but I want to do as much self-reflection and self-thought on it while going through it. It’s been ages since I came across a book that made me pause fairly often, and re-read.
So Will and his friend Hand continue to spend some time in Senegal. Part of their journey involves handing out large sums of money, sort of like Richard Pryor in the movie “Brewster’s Millions,” except that in this book, Will stands to gain nothing from giving away his money, except for the fact that he simply doesn’t want it.
The two try to come up w/ methods for distributing the money. One idea is to tape the money to a donkey, so when the owner returns, they find a surprise. Hand attaches a piece of paper that says, “Here I am…Rock You Like a Hurricane,” which becomes quite funny when you imagine some poor Senegalese farmer discovering a wad of money w/ that note attached to it.
My sense of why the title has its name, is from Will’s youthful energy, his desire to do it all. To settle down in Senegal, fall in love, learn to farm, and to also work at the field hospital…
“fifty life-directions all seemed equally appealing and possible – SHARK WRANGLER!!! Whatever happend to training to be a god-damned shark wrangler?”
I imagine Will yelling to the world in general, “You Shall Know Our Velocity!!!!!!!” I will not stop until I’ve done it all.
Will: “I want to marry this country…I want to spend a lifetime here…I could do it…And my mind leaped ahead, skipping and whistling. In the first year I’d master French, the second year join some kind of traveling medical entourage, dressing wounds and disseminating medicine. We’d do inoculations. We’d do birth control. We’d hold the line on AIDS…”
Hand: “Sounds good.”
W: “But that’s one lifetime…but while doing that one I’d want to be able to have done other stuff. Whole other lives – the one where I sail [on a boat made myself] through the Mediterranean , the Red Sea, the Caspian Sea…only seas. No oceans.”
H: “The problem is…while doing that, I’m not out here w/ my Senegales wife. And I’m definately not running white-water tours in Alasks.”
H: “So choose one.”
W: “That’s the problem, dumbshit.”
In other news…only hours from the beggining of a festive Thur. night w/ an old friend.
Looking at a potential 3-days of white water kayaking this Labor Day Weekend!!!
Graduation Party More Lucrative Than Planned Future Career
BLOOMINGTON, IN—Caryn Niering, who last week received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University, earned more in cash and gifts during her graduation party Monday than she can ever hope to amass in her chosen career as a school psychologist. “I got a pretty sweet deal at the party,” Niering said. “My uncle Mark gave me a check for $1,000, and my dad bought me a new Volkswagen Jetta.” Niering’s total haul at the graduation party was $19,600, while her starting salary as a school psychologist will be $17,000 a year.
Comments (3)
That book sounds much like me. There is far too much to do in this life, and not nearly enough time to do it. Which is why I feel so stagnant in college, I suppose. According to your post, I just need to graduate.
And your site lately, has made me happy just to read it. You are taking advantage of the little things, the little adventures that make you happy, and that makes the reader feel the same. Thanks.
I like the story of the chicken wings and walking barefoot.
Sorry, my writing was a little random last night. At 4 in the morning, I was starting to fall asleep with my computer in my lap, but I knew that I needed to write something.
A couple weeks ago, we went down there. It started to rain when we were on Bourbon Street, we were already wet, so we kicked off our shoes and waded through the streets. They have (had) these little machines that collect the rainwater, to try and lessen the amount of water, since there are no drains. They take the water, mix with soap, and millions of bubbles are created in the process. I don’t think that I explained it as well as it could have been. It was amazing.
I think that I am going to pick up that book, by the way. I started reading the other two that came so highly recommended by you. Perks of Being a Wallflower, and The Alchemist. Haven’t gotten through the second one yet. The first one was fabulous. Thanks for the review.
Glad, so glad, to see that you are happy. 