Playing with the Playground
Walking up to a Peruvian friend, I say the phrase “Patio de recreo”. She asked me to repeat it ...... again .... and again .....then one more time to be clear on what I was saying. After giving me an impromptu lesson in pronunciation, she asked me why I said it.I explained to her that it means playground (please note the irony of my being unable to pronounce it, and the forthrightness of my 'splainin anything linguistically to a native born Latin American)
. Patiently, she explained to me that it was a phrase that was used differently, in various places.In her hometown of Lima, patio de recreo does not mean park or even strictly “playground”. It means, specifically, a school playground. Though in other places “campo de juegos” would be used to the same purpose.
Why this explanation? I have some thoughts regarding Doug's invitation to play at his patio de recreo.
It would seem as though, the three of us (Doug, Brian, and Myself) have some things in common. We enjoy thinking, writing, creating, and being challenged to write, and challenged about what we write. I say that to say this, I view Doug's Playground, blog edition, as a potential writing group.
Do I think everything we type should be published? No. Do I think it's a possibility that some of it could or should be? In some small way, yes. Doug, your discovery of lulu.com is one means. Your Articles for Educators is a possible end, and as we talked about, a potential means to an end.
Perhaps, my other two compañeros, do not see this potential. That would be fine. It need go no further than this post. But if you see the possibilities as I do, we could take some small steps in that direction.
For instance, setting up the patio de recreo.
I see Brain sitting on the loader and digging, deeper and deeper all the time. Hitting a few rocks, maybe some clay, but continuing to dig. Once the ground is depleted in one area, he pulls the loader over to some new area and begins again. Though, he would be free to try out “el patio del equipo de recreo” in other parts of the playground as well.
Which is what it seems our compañero Doug is doing. Running from one thing to another, letting us know how it all works. He digs deeply with the loader occasionally, but he is just as likely to hang off the monkey bars, climb through the tunnels, or try to tip the swing set over by swinging so high (you may feel free to interpret any of these as you see fit)
Personally, I see myself, thus far, sitting over in the sandbox. I have a sifter in my hand and I occasionally dig down, push some dirt around in it and see if there is anything worth mentioning. Perhaps I need someone to challenge me to get out of the box.
At the school I attended we had a special spot on the playground. It was the “corner”. It was to far to walk there at recess, we only went down there at lunch time. Then some remarkable things could happen. Anything from fights to plays, and the occasional marriage.
Perhaps from time to time we could meet in the “corner”, wherever that may be. And be challenged in person as well as online. This is a quasi-regular event for Doug and I. Either way, it might prove an invaluable time for all of us to be challenged to think and write.
Probably it goes without saying that this is merely a concept piece. But what are sifters of the sand to do when they find something in the dirt? We gotta tell somebody. I would be interested in your comments.
Doug, you know me, I am not attempting a coup over the patio de recreo, but just taking your wonderful concept and seeking to build on it. Which, by the way, is what most writing groups are all about.
Posted On Nov 17, 2005 at 0:00 AM
On Nov 18, 2005 Doug wrote: So what you're saying is...we should get together and write a book?
Trent Replied: Not exactly. Really, what I am proposing is a continuation of what is already happening, just directed a little more. Though we have similar intrests, we could encourage each other in writing individually. The getting together, we do already. Those are times of encouragment and always spur me on to be more creative. I guess what I am thinking of is something to make us (perhaps read here, me) more productive. Does this make sense?
On Nov 20, 2005 Doug wrote: "I am thinking of is something to make us (perhaps read here, me) more productive"
Do you have a particular "something" in mind?
Trent Replied: uh, no. next question
|
Here I StandOpinions, Convictions, and Observations of a PilgrimABOUT ME Current PostsThe Axe in our LivesThe Love of Learning Opinions or Convictions Which is the Pot? I Told You So 
|