What Do I Know?

I'm a writer.  

At the moment, I'm also dripping in sweat and about to finish the last of a peanut butter and butterscotch chip concoction .

"They" say to write about what you know and write everyday in order to "be" a writer.

This advice goes beyond the obvious and literal message, I write words therefore I'm a writer of words... but doesn't quite get to the deeply-thinking level of:
  
     What's the sound of one hand clapping?.  

It is, in my opinion, closer to A woman needs a man the way a fish needs a bicycle.

Let's break it down a bit:

      Write Everyday  

This is practical.  It seems to reason that if one writes daily, one gets more writing done; easy enough.

      Write About What You Know

This is trickier.   I know a lot of things.  I know, for example, that Reese's should never expect to make money on a peanut butter and butterscotch concoction (Listen, all I could think about on my bike ride this afternoon was peanut butter with semi-sweet chocolate chips .  Imagine my bummer level when I discovered the Nestle product in my freezer was butterscotch chips and not chocolate).
 



I know a fair amount about kids as a teacher and a parent of almost 20 years. 
 

And, I know when I've upset my wife (although it would be great to know when I'm almost upsetting her.  Alas, timing is everything).


     Some more "know"ledge (Build on What I Know):
 

I know what it's like to live in Claremont, CA and La Paz, Bolivia and Singapore. 

I know how to program a VCR (analogous to knowing how to hunt caribou for most of us, I know.  Still, if you need help with that Thursday 8pm show on NBC, I'm your guy).

I know what it's like to ride a Harley 200 miles straight into the Mojave Desert in the middle of Summer.

And, I know what it feels like to let a 15 year old daughter pursue her dream, convince her mother and explain to her sisters why it's worth supporting (even though it's a bummer not to have her around).

Hey, I don't want to give the impression that I know everything.  There's a bunch of stuff I don't know at all.


      Know What I Don't Know


I don't know how to live within my means. 

I don't know how to live a boring life (see previous).

I don't know how to adjust the derailleur on my bike.

But I do know that each of these matter in my life.
 

I don't know how to live within my means.  
  

This is not new.  We are not frivolous nor are we living like paupers.  We just can't get through the month, fiscally-speaking).

-We are a dynamic family of five (two teens plus one on the verge).

-We believe in nurturing the whole child so we spend the money on extra-curriculars.   $$$

-School bus, taxi, public transportation, gasoline & maintenance $$$

-We don't eat sand nor do our pets.  $$$

-We take vacations from time to time.  $$$

-We host dinner parties and sleepovers a few times a year. $$

-We return home in the Summer and do a bit of shopping & living.  $$$

-We support real estate investments in the US (full and part time rental properties). $$

-We go out as a family or as a couple once or twice a month.  $$

We have a nice house that we furnished eclectically and tastefully but not expensively.  We run air conditioning at night mostly.  We are comfortable at home. $$

We do not penny pinch.  We recently saw our maid return to her home after 6 years and have no plans to replace her at the moment.  We sold our car two years ago and have an inexpensive motorcycle for transportation. We've done a hard analysis of our budget and find few places to cut.

We have credit debt.  $$$$

No memberships to clubs.  No expensive hobbies.  No illegal vices.  

And, no regrets.  Worries and frustrations for sure, but no regrets.  We have met interesting people and traveled.  Our kids are better for the experience.  It has, as a twisted rationalization, been a good investment in out kids' future. 
 

I don't know how to live a boring life.  


My wife and I have friends.  Our kids have friends.  We are social and love to have a good time.  It keeps us young.  We try and have people to the house as it's a relatively inexpensive way to socialize.  Furthermore, we travel (individually, together and with others).  We love our alone time but can't live without our friends.
 

I don't know how to adjust the derailleur on my bike.


The derailleur is a mechanical part of a bicycle's drive train.  Leave it at that.  They are not impossible to adjust; I just don't know how to do it.  If I had an issue on the road, I would be poorly-prepared for the repair.

Here's the thing:  I am a writer.  As such, I am going to write about what I know and do it daily.  I'm going to continue writing about raising adolescents (in schools and at home).  My blogging has been sporadic at best, however.  

But, something new happens everyday - something that affirms what i already know or challenges it.  That seems like a good opportunity to write & reflect.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. 

Confucius must have been a writer.