Why?

As every parent knows, "why?" is a common word among young children. And so it should be as, in order to learn, we have to constantly ask questions. It can of course be frustrating when one has given an answer to the original "why?", to have that puzzled looking face ask, "but why?"

As older people (I have, unfortunately, have to include myself in that category) are sometimes described as going through their second childhood, I realize that I am also asking "why?' quite often nowadays.

Some examples:

1) why do organizations, especially academic ones, spend vast amounts of money on researching subjects which most people know the answer to and not those that can really improve the quality of life. Does it really take a research team at an English University several years and many thousands of pounds to come up with finding that cats can control a human by purring and "creeping" round their owners legs when they want to be fed? or that the reason there is an increase in child obesity is that they are eating too much junk food and sugar, are not exercising enough and spend too long in front of a computer screen?

2) why do normally sensible, caring, intelligent adults, immediately change into crazy, selfish, demons when sitting behind the steering wheel of their car?

3) why do the aforesaid adults, who are normally discreet when sharing confidences with real friends, turn into pseudo gossip columnists when making comments on Facebook, MySpace, blogs, etc., sharing their innermost secrets and desires with their virtual friends and indeed, the world? Oh! wait a minute, I do that too!

4) why is it not possible in this age, without living in the wilderness, the North or South Pole, or sailing around the world single-handed, to have some outer peace and stillness in one's life, even in one's own home? Inner peace is easier in any location I know.

5) why is it that very often, those who give advice are the worst recipients of it?

6) why is it not possible for me to ask these questions, without being accused of being a "grumpy old man"?

I could go on (an on).

Perhaps young children could give me the answers, before they are tainted with adulthood.

Decisions, decisions - part 2

As mentioned in the previous post, decisions are made virtually every second of our lives. Even when we sleep decisions are made which effect our lives.

Before completing my apprenticeship I had already made a decision to leave my "master" on becoming a journeyman. In fact I had already secured a new position three months before my signing off. I felt I needed more experience and started in August 1965 at the well established book printing company of Page Bros (Norwich) Ltd. I had been promised a job as a Monotype keyboard operator, something I had started at Norwich City School of Art Printing Department.

Joining a much larger company was daunting, but I was welcomed by a brotherhood of printers and made lifetime friends, many of whom still live in Norwich and correspond regularly. As printing technology developed, from letterpress to offset lithography to digital, I and my co-workers developed with it, ever learning new skills.

Taken in 1974 probably during a 12 hour late shift at the MonoPhoto Mk V keyboard. Like the 70s style?

My point is that the decision to join this company, which was founded over 260 years ago and still going strong, was another great one. I retired early in 2000 after enjoying 35 years of working there and 40 years in the printing trade. I can count on one hand, well okay, maybe two, the number of times I woke up and thought "I don't really fancy going into work today", even during some scary winter snow storms, on my 17-mile commute along country roads.

I feel blessed that I was fortunate in making the correct decision for me, and as it turned out, for my family.

The next life-changing choice was made in 1968, but that's another story.