* Chapter 18 * 25 May 1997

25 May 1997

Viele Grußen (Ger., many greetings),

***** SCAN attached of me as a baby *****

Let us begin this chapter with 3 notes I posted on the NY Times New Jersey Forum Message Board related to "Why study Languages?". I am a firm believer that the study of any language(s), increases a person's ability to reason more logically, among other things. I find that most Americans are loath to learning a second language, even when they are forced , by employment or otherwise, to live in a foreign country. In my experience, the exceptions are RARE!!

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Subj: Arabic

Date: 20-05-1997 00:06:21

I already learned German in Germany, and Spanish in Spain. While in Madrid I took a beginning course in Arabic-- did not learn too much. Why am I interested in this language?

1. Arabic is politically important.

2. It is economically important.

3. It is scientifically important because there are many OLD Arabic texts languishing in libraries around the world, containing many scientific treatises which have never been translated/studied. The pre-15th Century Arabic scholars studied astronomy, herbs, minerals, animals including man-- and who knows what their writing might hold!

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******A second posting:

Subj: Language Utility

Date: 20-05-1997 00:25:34

Languages, which ever one you study, are useful because:

1. It helps you understand the structure and function of your own language!

2. Like mathematics, it trains your mind/memory in logical thinking/reasoning, which is paramount in all of lifes problem solving

3. Goethe once said, So viele Sprachen spricht einer, so viele Seele hat er = The more languages you speak, the more souls you have! It is the key to understanding other peoples and how they think and live-- it is the basic structure of any society

4. with international commerce becoming more important, especially in the Eastern European and Asiatic fronts, experts are in great demand as technical/commercial/scientific translators

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******The last of my language postings:

(with additional comments)

Subj: Positive Interaction

Date: 20-05-1997 15:06:15

If you have ever visited a non-English speaking country and spoken with the inhabitants only in English the result may have either positive, frustrating or unavoidably skewed.

POSITIVE in the sense that you may have had less problem shopping or at the hotel-- which is OK on a short-term basis and at the BASIC NEEDS level.

FRUSTRATING because in certain countries the English fluency of the general population is barely adequate to near nill at the conversational level.

UNAVOIDABLY SKEWED because if you do not speak the language of the land your personal contacts will inevitably always remain with a markedly lower reality/feelings content than would otherwise be possible. Examples:

1. Peoples do not express their innermost feelings readily in another language. They will not discuss politics, their attitudes about America or their own country, and many other topics because, I think, you do not meet them at their own "level " which translates to "speaking their native tongue".

In Germany (in the 60's) a old woman on a train told me, in German, "Isn't it a shame what we did to the Jews! If we would have allowed them to fight with us we would have won the WAR!!"

A professor at the University of Bonn told me, because he had to arrange a geology field trip for me and was not interested in doing it, Hitler wuBte was mit den Ausländern zu machen!! (Ger., "Hitler knew what to do with foreigners!")

The Director of a youth hostel in Wilhelmshaven spent many hours extolling the merits of Hitler and gave me some of the Nazi books banned after the WAR!

At a viewing of Die Ewigen Juden (Ger, The Eternal Jews -- a Hitler propaganda film) at the student union in Bonn, many of the young German students loudly expressed pro-Nazi views!

When I would see an Afro-American walking in Bonn (an international Capital!), Germans would actually stop and stare. I compared it to when I would walk past a field with cows and all the bovines would turn to look at me! At the same time, a student told me, in German, "It is awful how YOU treat the blacks in America!! , while "blacks" had difficulty finding lodging there!

The father (a Latin/Greek teacher at a local high school) of a friend of mine in Wilhelmshaven, site of the most important submarine base during the WAR (bombed to hell by the British), despite his absolute coolness and correctness said, in English(!), "The fucking British destroyed the base and told us, "you will never be fucking united again!"" Fortunately, or whatever, they now are.

While watching the Eurovision Music Festival in the same port city (Schleusen Insel -- I actually lived in a house bordering the ruins of the locks, with a view of it from the window), the German participant was my all time favorite chanteuse, Marlene Dietrich, who was elegant in a flowing white dress and sang Sag Mir Wo Die Blumen Sind, Where Have All The Flowers Gone (one of my favorite songs). The captain of the Forschungsanstalt Senckenberg für Meeresbiologie und Geologie (of Frankfurt -- the Director of which had published "scientific" works on race) research boat remarked, Die alte Krähe! (Ger., the old crow! -- not exactly positive!).

In Spain, again in the 60's, a professor at the University of Madrid (where I received my MS in Palaeontology) told me, in Spanish, "And the fucking Americans took Cuba from us!" I was totally amazed at this overt form of nationalism, which I would never have expected from Spain!

In France, while doing some research on the fossil (Ice Age) walrus at the Sorbonne, I would attempt to communicate with 2 or more professors in English or German, and they would apparently not understand A WORD I was saying. B U T when I was able to speak to ONE by himself I was amazed that they understood me and were able to speak English rather well!! A form of ultra nationalism!

2. As an English-speaking (or other nationality!) TOURIST , whether just visiting or even living for an extended period of time in another country, you will always be treated as an A M I or Y A N K E E or German, French or whatever -- which is not always positive in a commercial or personal sense. The prices charged will not always be the "normal", large tips will be expected, oft times with the waiter standing there with his hand outstretched in not a particularly friendly manner, real estate deals will be "inflated", and one will never get a REAL idea of what the "foreign" people are thinking, be it positive or negative.

It is possibly the fault of the "foreigners" who travel to another country because they USUALLY remain in a group of their own nationality (a form of self imposed segregation !), living in "designated" areas, and generally frequenting the usual "tourist traps ".

In Madrid there are certain residential areas particular to Americans, French and Germans. Some American businessmen and their families I knew had lived in Madrid for many years and could not even converse with their hired help except in a comical manner. They visit their like-tongued friends, form tightly knit social groups and belong to the "national" clubs. Little or no REAL interaction with the populace! The U G L Y - T O U R I S T syndrome!

A "foreign" language can be great fun in and of itself, an aid to a better understanding of one's own tongue, a "subliminal" training device to orient the mind to greater reasoning skills, A N D can be a magical passport to a more fulfilling and complete experience when travelling or living abroad.

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Shiva had three kittens on Monday afternoon in the usual box I left for her in the bedroom. Apparently Kamiel is the father, despite the fact that I put her with Chucky, the male Siamese when she looked like she was in heat!!

Cleaned out the 2 filters for the ponds again -- the water is clearing up nicely.

Loads of Irises in the garden -- the purple variety must be the earliest to bloom. This years Azaleas were really spectacular bloomers, especially the old ones, deep red, back among the cedar trees. Recent windy days have left the lawn strewn with loads of branches and leaf clusters. Shall get to cleaning it up one of these days.

I feel sort of listless -- not a lot of energy to do things despite the nicer weather. Guess it must be the delayed call I have to make to Dr. Williamson, the radiation oncologist, to discuss the Catscan. She called me and left a message on the machine -- I do not feel in any rush to contact her, for some reason!

Wednesday I finally got a reply, after many months of inactivity -- via email -- from Mrs. Grant from that auction gallery I mentioned in the last chapter. She expressed concerns for my health, which was nice, of course, and she asked me what she owes me -- which she already knows, even though her accounting is not up to my standards! I sent her a reply B U T have not heard from her again even though I discovered that she was on-line the next day!

Thursday I received a letter from the Teachers Pension thing concerning the accident report which the school was supposed to send them when I fell at school on 19 December 1996! The Pension people have not yet received it!! The Trenton Board of Education really is an inept group of highly paid "professional" bunglers!!

Friday I got a surprise call from the Mother of a friend, Mike, from Texas -- he now lives somewhere in Kansas. She told me horror stories about his life over the past year and the person he went to live with -- they met on aol! Need I say more? Imagine the worst case scenario and you might come close!!

Got another call from Dr.Williamson, the radiation oncologist to speak with me about the Catscan and further treatment. I told her secretary that I would prefer meeting her in the flesh and review the films, discussing her theoretical plan for more treatment. So I see her next Thursday at 15h.

Today, Saturday, was the first warmish day this week -- it has been unusually cold lately. Rain is forecast for Sunday so I assume I shall have a horrible early day at the flea market -- if I go!

I received email messages from several people who read my language related stuff on the New York Times Bulletin Board saying that the notes were "thoroughly enjoyed", that I made "a good argument" and that I "must make a wonderful teacher!" I was totally surprised to receive anything from anybody concerning some wholly spontaneous thoughts about my experiences/observations in life! THEN, the high point was a email from Martin Stoltz of Sunday New Jersey who suggested that they might use two of my postings "in an upcoming issue of the Sunday New Jersey section" -- Jesus, I can not wait to see if they use one and/or the other, and what they edit/leave out! B U T, I had to reply to him and since I sent 2 of the posts under one screen name and used another s-name for the 3rd, I had to use my a.k.a., Joseph Gregore (my two middle names), for the last, longest posting. We shall see what happens. Die Spanung (Ger., tension) is great!

I discovered that I can get the SciFi channel on cable-- some of the stuff is kewl, like the old Forever Knight and Friday the 13th : The Series. I guess the X-Files will wind up here I F Mulder really killed himself and/or if the extraterrestrials do not revive him! Stay tuned for the next season! Was the X-Files cancelled? Will it be on next season?

Friday night I could not sleep -- Full Moon again? -- so I was up at about 5h when Mark left for a fun-filled day at the flea market -- he goes both weekend days, I only on Sundays.

At around 7h, Bernar and Bernie left for a holiday weekend campout near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina -- a 5 or 6 hour drive, he said. Strange, they both saw me through the new door, typing away at the computer (a good can-not-sleep activity!), and neither one said, "good bye". When I heard a car start up I ran outside and was able to get a departing wave in before they pulled onto the highway. Oh, well, at least I tried! Maybe I am the ogre ?? Could it be that I don't use deoderant or something????

So what did I do all morning? I noticed another New York Times NJ Forum topic that I also feel V E R Y strongly about: N.J.Summers. Oh, shit, you say, here he goes again! T R U E :

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[Colours, some text and embellishments added aposteriori]

Subj: Remembrances I

Date: 24-05-1997 14:05:27

When my Mother died in 1981 the house we had in Wildwood Crest was sold to settle her estate and a most rewarding chapter forever closed in my life. What was it that I have missed since then, except in my memories?

The refreshing early morning trips from Philadelphia "before the season" to get the house ready for summer occupancy, the car always loaded with clothes, snacks, the inevitable thermos of coffee, and the other necessities. My Father's ability to see deer, raccoons and other animals BEFORE we passed them, and to tell my brother, sister and I in time to see them ourselves. His stories of seeing ghosts along the stretch of pine barrens. He even said he once saw the New Jersey Devil!

The painting of the house; planting the tomatoes, corn, peppers and cucumbers in the garden and tending it throughout the season, later to savor its abundant harvest. Enjoying the purple and yellow Irises from my Grandmother's original plants from Philly; marveling at the absolute splendor of the yellow (unfortunately yellow does not show up too well on the screen or I would have used it) flowers of the Prickly Pear Cacti in their own little part of the garden, from cuttings of plants growing wild in the Cape May dunes (who would think that there would be an endemic species of cactus growing in New Jersey?!); transplanting the red cedar seedlings which would always sprout up, offspring of the large tree that would brush my upstairs bedroom window on windy evenings, while the intermittent flash of the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse would illuminate my "dream wall " of sailing ships, of walruses and things.

The fishing trips with my Grandfather (my Mother's stepdad) at the Cape May Canal rockpile, listening to the booming of the shooting range at the Coast Guard station across the inlet. Taking out the aluminum boat we used to fish and crab with the entire family in the back bays. Getting excited as the crabs got out of their seaweed packed bushel basket at cooking time-- I wonder if they knew? Learned how to skin an eel -- not tasted again until when I was studying in Germany; and how to get that delicious sliver of meat which tasted like chicken from the blowfish!

The summer jobs on the boardwalk to help pay for my Villanova education -- a geology major. Operator of a carousel, movie usher (saw The Seven Year Itch so many times I began scratching! As an afterthought, The Blackboard Jungle, which was too violent for my young eyes, turned out to be tame compared to some classrooms I have taught in!), Howard Johnson's ice cream scooper, Skee Ball coupon giver, waiter, short-order cook, dish washer and Stokes laundry "sheet pusher" and later, driver.

The nights/early mornings, after working until 1 or 2 in the a.m., sitting on an empty life guard stand, eating a foot-long hoagie and listening to the rushing sound of the primeval sea washing upon the timeless sand grains of the beach (remnants of former mountains!), while looking at the clear, dark sky to find my favorite constellation, Orion, the Mighty Hunter (all the time wondering whether the high wooden stand would tip over if I leaned too far!). The seagulls and plovers would be darting up and down the water line (didn't they sleep?), keeping pace with the motion of the waves. I would be f l o a t i n g alone in the Universe!

The bike rides to the Cape May County Park to look for lizards. I had planned one trip for over a week. A hurricane developed that day -- I left anyway, naturally -- I was part of Nature and should not fear it! The howling wind was against me and it took me hours to get there! Not even a self respecting lizard was to be seen at the park!!

The frequent shelling "expeditions" from the North Wildwood Inlet to the end of Diamond Beach to the rockpile, finding Angel Wings, Boat Shells, Razor Clams, the Quahog with its deep purple border which was used by the Indians as WAMPUM, the Scallop (not common then due to a disease in the Eel Grass among which it lived), the Moon Snail and its sand collar egg case, two kinds of Whelk or Conch (one of which has since been designated the New Jersey State Shell), sand dollars, star fish, shark egg cases, some fossil corals, horseshoe crabs, and moss animal colonies attached to shell fragments -- among scores of other marine organisms. The Surf Clams were good eating, once you broke open the shell and separated the fleshy, muscular "foot" from the rest of the innards. The seagulls knew this and often dropped, in flight, large clams onto the street below to break them open!

The collecting trips to the shallow parts of the bay end of North Wildwood, using a six-foot minnow seine (aided by Viola Del Costello, a friend who I knew from the Geographic Society trips) to catch often unusual creatures to stock my marine aquaria (which I would take to Philadelphia after Labor Day) with Sea Horses, Pipe Fish, purple Sea Urchins, Sea Cucumbers, and exotic young stragglers such as Cow Fish from the Gulf Stream -- many fish species would swim from the warm Gulf currents and take refuge from predators in the algae filled shallows of the back bays -- thus the ecological importance of the tidal marshes.

The Saturday Nature Walks of the Cape May Geographic Society, studying the myriad of trees, birds, beach life, and a visit to a then-working dairy farm and my first attempt at milking a cow! Even drank some of the warm, fresh milk right from the pail! I would write about these Nature activities in a summer NATURE NOTES column for the Atlantic City Press.

The longish daylong bike rides Evelio, a sculptor friend from Tenerife, and I used to take all the way to the pre-casino Atlantic City, just for the fun of it. Today, even if I could, I would not want to do it-- the "magic" is now gone!

The early morning trips on the Snow's clam boats (they make that canned New England clam chowder -- out of New Jersey clams!), searching for the Ice Age fossils they sometimes dredge up in their massive metal scoops. Remains of the walrus, Mastodon, Mammoth, elk, and other animals that stalked the area many tens of thousands of years ago, as well as recent deep-sea sand dollars, starfish and other forms of marine life from about 100 foot depths. I later studied fossil walrus specimens in several countries in Europe and published a paper (in Madrid) describing a new subspecies of Atlantic Pleistocene walrus. The same specimens still face me in a display case in my study.

Odobenus obesus antiquus Kardas

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Since it did not fit in the space allotted, I had to continue in Part II

Subj: Remembrances II

Date: 24-05-1997 14:05:31

The southern New Jersey area was the major catalyst in my later studies, research, and teaching career. It developed my observational skills, gave me an appreciation for Nature and formulated my absolute curiosity about the World around me. This was only otherwise possible in city museums, where I also honed up on the technical aspects of science.

The real excitement of the shore, I feel, was the

TOGETHERNESS

of the entire family, in our varied work and leisure (the few we seem to have had together!) activities.

The time I went with my brother to see my first and only wrestling match on the boardwalk (I must have been a real redneck!). That pre-summer visit when I won a set of Roy Rogers spurs during an intermission at the movies when they held a balloon blowing contest-- the object was to blow it up so much and fast that it would be the first to break (a seemingly sadistic activity for youngish kids!). The slices of MACK'S pizza we would always get when we were on the boardwalk -- have never had a better tasting no-frills pizza anywhere else in the world. And, of course, the family visit to Church on Sundays -- remember when all the women wore something on their head, the Mass was in Latin (Amen!), you bowed your head at the name of Jesus, genuflected all the way to the ground (not dipped down almost imperceptively!) before entering the pew, and when one never had anything but fish on Fridays? Jesu (bowing my head!), I sound prehistoric!!

The pace-changing weekend visits of my Father, who labored at the General Electric Switchgear plant in Philadelphia, were the highlight of each summer week. I learned so much from his work on the house which has been useful where ever I have lived: how to paper the walls and ceilings, lay floor tile, paint surfaces neatly and cleanly, put up a chain link fence, replace rotten wood components, where to buy materials cheap, do general electrical work, and even participate in some major plumbing jobs. I still remember the exotic smell of the molten lead in the small iron pot heated by a gasoline burner.

The sights, sounds and smells have remained with me where ever I have been. I still miss my parents; my brother and sister and their families are infrequent visitors since Mom died, and I have not taken that memory evoking drive to the shore in over two years!

I can sense an ontological void!

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Shit, can I ever get involved in what I do! My sincerest apologies go out to those who can not labor through more than about 7 or 8 lines at a sitting! (You don't have to raise your hands, thank you!)

WOW, do I have a startling story for you all.

[DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE A WEAK HEART - or bladder]

When I finished sending the above story to the NY Times, I went to look at Shiva's kittens. She wound up putting the three of them in my bed this morning, under the covers and all -- next to my leg! I found her suckling one, found another croaked under the fat Devi (apparently suffocated), but where was the third one? I checked in the basement in the box I prepared for her when she dragged them downstairs. Not there -- not even squeeks coming from anywhere. Returning to the bedroom, I took all the covers off the bed and still no kitten. Where the Christ (no need to bow head this time!) was it? After putting the covers back I glanced at one of the pillows and found three paws, fragments, beside it!! One of the murderous beasts left the paws because it probably found the already developed claws too much of a digestive problem!

Well, I was shocked shitless, needless to say. I have been raising cats/kittens for over 30 years and have N E V E R experienced anything even nearly as grotesque! It was not Tracey, the Doberman. She was asleep in the sun room in her usual spot. The only other cats present were Shiva, the mother, Devi an easy going fixed female who has seen more than her share of non-proprietary kittens come and go over the years, and the devilishly active Kamiel, Bernar's adult male Sphynx, the father of the litter. No blood stains anywhere! And I do not have an Anaconda on the loose -- that I know of! It almost sounds like one of those dinner Murder Mystery Theatre events or something (minus the butler and maid!)! My bet is on Kamiel, although I have no idea why he would play the part of the Goyaesque Saturn (a painting from the artist's dark period in which the god devours his own children!) ! Oh, well, one left -- hope it fares better than the other two!

Health wise I have been sort of OK this week, excepting the bouts of gases and the tired/listless feeling. The $$ S T R E S S does not help at all!

Just got back from the Lambertville Flea Market-- it rained all day and business was near nill! At least I had the chance to get out of the house for a few hours.

Weight: 209#.

Until next week-- I see that Dark Skies is back on TV on Saturday night.

Sigmund

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