Only the immortal words of Porky pig could put it so well. For most of my life, movies have provided a great escape. I will be the first to admit, while I enjoy a wonderfully well-put together classic film, I am a sucker for a Transformers or a Tron. I am looking forward with great anticipation this summer to Thor and Captain America. While the movies have provided an escape for me, once in a very great while, a film comes along that strikes a nerve and really touches my soul. For me this year, The King’s Speech was that film.
The life struggles that King George VI encountered because of his stuttering are so well played and so close to home that the film for me was a kind of cinematherapy.
I was a stutterer in grade school, and that stuttering and “stammering “ as Sister Mary Margaret called it needed to stop. If you see this marvelous film, you see the impact of stuttering on George’s life. He was content to marry, be in the King’s Navy, and raise his girls all in the shadow of his father and older brother. Quite a shy man, the thrust in the limelight at the abdication of his brother threw him into a position he was not emotionally prepared to enter. The film beautifully shows the brotherhood of George and his unorthodox speech instructor.
As I say to my students, enough plot; get to the discussion. Hi, I’m Keith and I stutter. While this is not a testimony for my stuttering, which I still do upon stressful situations, it is a chance to talk about the importance of the film, and what I can do to help those millions of people who stutter or stammer. Perhaps it’s unique that I ended up being a theatre speech major with my stutter. It really was more pronounced in elementary school where I would stutter, and of course, kids would tease. It wasn’t long that I found one of my best adolescent friends Tom, who stuttered and stammered worse than I did. Sister told me that my brain thinks too fast. That you can’t physically keep up with all the thoughts that you have to say so you stutter because of an intellectual “clog”.
The impact of the time of my life is dramatic. Combine the stuttering with the need to be the center of attention for others reasons provided quite a conundrum. I was taught to make a “square in the air” with my forefinger making the corner of the square a syllable of a word or a single syllable word. The concentration of making the square would slow the brain down and get me to enunciate every syllable of the word, slowing me down to make my speech regular. It was amazing how successful this technique was. I have no clue if Sister Mary Margaret was trained or if she just knew what to do; whatever that reason, it worked.
I still have coping skills for my stuttering in my adult life. It doesn’t happen too much anymore, but my wife jokingly calls it going into my “stage voice”. Yup, that would be one way. Another way I have learned to deal with this is by singing. Singing has set beat pattern and rhythm that keeps you from “ going too fast”.
King George puts it this way in the film:
Lionel Logue: What was your earliest memory?
King George VI: I'm not... -here to discuss... -personal matters.
Lionel Logue: Why are you here then?
King George VI: Because I bloody well stammer!
Th-Th-Th-Th-Th-... That's all, folks
Keith
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
A Winter's Day....
Ok there is great quote from Father Perrault in Lost Horizon that says, “Look at the world today. Is there anything more pitiful? What madness there is! What blindness! What unintelligent leadership! A scurrying mass of bewildered humanity crashing headlong against each other, compelled by an orgy of greed and brutality. The time must come, my friend, when this orgy will spend itself, when brutality and the lust for power must perish by its own sword. For when that day comes, the world must begin to look for a new life. And it is our hope that they may find it, a way of life based on one simple rule: Be kind.”
One of my all time favorite books and movies (yes, even the dismal 70’s musical version has some merit), Lost Horizon talks about a world where we should all be kind and what the future could be for us. With the crisis over collective bargaining in WI that seems directed at certain groups not for the good of all, the shooting in Tucson not long ago, the turmoil in Egypt, Bahrain, and now Libya, a dissertation about the New World Order is in order. But, not today. Today I am going to talk about how a camera can give you an interesting perspective on life via the viewfinder.
President’s Day 2011 was a snow filled day. While the world swirled all over with conflict and turmoil from Wisconsin to the Middle East to North Minneapolis, the snow swirled here as well. Dropping nearly 15 inches of the white stuff on the land where a spring melt took away at least that much. Snow depth at our house can be measured by how much of St. Francis’ statue is exposed. While the day took me to the Minute Clinic (an amazing idea and one worth its own blog) and Target, I took some time in the late afternoon before making supper to take some pictures with my new SLR.
It’s been a great while since I took pictures for the sake of taking pictures. My older brother is a professional photographer with a great eye and much knowledge and has always said I was blessed with a good eye. On that affirmation (along with a few trips coming up), I bought a new SLR. I still have my old Canon AE1 which probably still takes great pictures. I used to love to just go and take pictures with it; yesterday, I did just that.
Driving back from taking Zach back to college after the Minute Clinic visit, I saw this great view of a street in the town where I live. The trees were landscaped so that they created a border for the street in the neighborhood. With the large snowflakes falling, it was this beautiful peaceful winter scene. I had to get my camera and come back. I did just that and took several. I went farther down the road and experimented with the focus and the depth of field getting several views of the same thing. Something we don’t take enough time to do in our real lives. I shot a stark tree as the branches crept toward the gloaming. I captured three light posts that looked like alien periscopes rising out of the snow-covered park. I went quickly home, downloaded them and sat back and just relaxed in the peacefulness of the pictures. It was sort of cool that way. I took one and played with it and messed with its light and shades, capturing an antique look in the same picture. It’s been a really long time since I enjoyed just doing this electronic art. My friends, Mara and Kevin know about pictures and capturing everything. My friend, Lisa who took a picture every day and launched them on facebook knows the way, and I, I put up the serene street scene and a picture of my dog (hey every guy has to have a dog).
Finding peaceful diversions to relax is a script for the busy world. Like Father Perrault, in my viewfinder, I can find that Shangri-La he is talking about and keep an archive of things for my future about my past. “So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind. Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time. Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial. For what it's worth it was worth all the while”
Smile! Click!
Keith
One of my all time favorite books and movies (yes, even the dismal 70’s musical version has some merit), Lost Horizon talks about a world where we should all be kind and what the future could be for us. With the crisis over collective bargaining in WI that seems directed at certain groups not for the good of all, the shooting in Tucson not long ago, the turmoil in Egypt, Bahrain, and now Libya, a dissertation about the New World Order is in order. But, not today. Today I am going to talk about how a camera can give you an interesting perspective on life via the viewfinder.
President’s Day 2011 was a snow filled day. While the world swirled all over with conflict and turmoil from Wisconsin to the Middle East to North Minneapolis, the snow swirled here as well. Dropping nearly 15 inches of the white stuff on the land where a spring melt took away at least that much. Snow depth at our house can be measured by how much of St. Francis’ statue is exposed. While the day took me to the Minute Clinic (an amazing idea and one worth its own blog) and Target, I took some time in the late afternoon before making supper to take some pictures with my new SLR.
It’s been a great while since I took pictures for the sake of taking pictures. My older brother is a professional photographer with a great eye and much knowledge and has always said I was blessed with a good eye. On that affirmation (along with a few trips coming up), I bought a new SLR. I still have my old Canon AE1 which probably still takes great pictures. I used to love to just go and take pictures with it; yesterday, I did just that.
Driving back from taking Zach back to college after the Minute Clinic visit, I saw this great view of a street in the town where I live. The trees were landscaped so that they created a border for the street in the neighborhood. With the large snowflakes falling, it was this beautiful peaceful winter scene. I had to get my camera and come back. I did just that and took several. I went farther down the road and experimented with the focus and the depth of field getting several views of the same thing. Something we don’t take enough time to do in our real lives. I shot a stark tree as the branches crept toward the gloaming. I captured three light posts that looked like alien periscopes rising out of the snow-covered park. I went quickly home, downloaded them and sat back and just relaxed in the peacefulness of the pictures. It was sort of cool that way. I took one and played with it and messed with its light and shades, capturing an antique look in the same picture. It’s been a really long time since I enjoyed just doing this electronic art. My friends, Mara and Kevin know about pictures and capturing everything. My friend, Lisa who took a picture every day and launched them on facebook knows the way, and I, I put up the serene street scene and a picture of my dog (hey every guy has to have a dog).
Finding peaceful diversions to relax is a script for the busy world. Like Father Perrault, in my viewfinder, I can find that Shangri-La he is talking about and keep an archive of things for my future about my past. “So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind. Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time. Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial. For what it's worth it was worth all the while”
Smile! Click!
Keith
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Times of My Life
I’ve had the time of my life.
After listening to the new Black Eyed Peas song The Time, it made me reminisce about the original song and the memories flooded back of the summer I moved to the cities and “ Nobody puts Baby into a corner”. It made me reflect on how important music continues to be in my life and how there are milestones in our lives that we can “ stamp” with a song. The first chords of All About Soul by Billy Joel draw a gigantic smile to my face not just for memory but because it’s one of my all time favorite songs.
A while back I posted on Facebook asking people to list their favorite Christmas songs. The radio stations had just gone 24/7 in October with Christmas music, and I thought if I have to hear Feliz Navidad one more time, I would have to commit Hari Kari. Putting the positive spin on the issue, I asked people to list the Christmas music that they could hear over and over again. My number one choice was The First Noel. It has always been and continues to be my favorite of Christmas songs. As a child I was fascinated with the Shepherd part of the Nativity. All these smelly, dirty sheep farmers were in the inner circle. It certainly makes more sense to me today.
The joy of listening to the oldies station is that it becomes your passport to the timeline of your life. I once remember a radio station whose logo was “ the Music of Your Life” and it was. How did they know I secretly jammed to Crocodile Rock when I was 7th grade, or that Jive Talking drove me to college. Carrying my Rufus albums and Marvin Gaye records to high school parties where no one had heard Mercy, Mercy Me or Sweet Thing let alone even know what R and B was
My life was lived according to American Top 40. I was there when Michael and the brothers hit the chart, when Mary McGregor recorded music as a folk singer on Motown, the premiere R and B recording studio. Klaatu and Carpenters introduced me to Aliens in Calling Occupants and of course the monumental impact of the Beatles A Day in the Life.
College brought me to the bar with Disco and my divas Donna Summer, Cher (her third of five recording careers), Gloria Gaynor and one of my all time favorite songs, I’m Doin Fine Now by NYC. U2 got me through my first years of teaching along with the Boss and REO. Jokingly, I suggested we name our first child (gender unknown) Kyrie after a Mr. Mister song popular at his birth. Lucky for him, his mother was not to be swayed by pop radio. The stories go on for at least all of the years I have lived.
Please note that not every song has the great AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH moment attached to it like Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl). I turn anything off that is by the Eagles and Nickelback. I just don’t have the time to waste on those songs. Trust me, there are others.
Thanks to the radio and recorded music, my life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue- thank you Carol King for the great words. You and James have been there the whole time. As I slowly go to Carolina in my Mind, I can bless my 100 years of Wanna Be Startin Something . I am truly a Juke Box Hero who has had The Time of My Life.
You Spin Me Right Round.
Keith
After listening to the new Black Eyed Peas song The Time, it made me reminisce about the original song and the memories flooded back of the summer I moved to the cities and “ Nobody puts Baby into a corner”. It made me reflect on how important music continues to be in my life and how there are milestones in our lives that we can “ stamp” with a song. The first chords of All About Soul by Billy Joel draw a gigantic smile to my face not just for memory but because it’s one of my all time favorite songs.
A while back I posted on Facebook asking people to list their favorite Christmas songs. The radio stations had just gone 24/7 in October with Christmas music, and I thought if I have to hear Feliz Navidad one more time, I would have to commit Hari Kari. Putting the positive spin on the issue, I asked people to list the Christmas music that they could hear over and over again. My number one choice was The First Noel. It has always been and continues to be my favorite of Christmas songs. As a child I was fascinated with the Shepherd part of the Nativity. All these smelly, dirty sheep farmers were in the inner circle. It certainly makes more sense to me today.
The joy of listening to the oldies station is that it becomes your passport to the timeline of your life. I once remember a radio station whose logo was “ the Music of Your Life” and it was. How did they know I secretly jammed to Crocodile Rock when I was 7th grade, or that Jive Talking drove me to college. Carrying my Rufus albums and Marvin Gaye records to high school parties where no one had heard Mercy, Mercy Me or Sweet Thing let alone even know what R and B was
My life was lived according to American Top 40. I was there when Michael and the brothers hit the chart, when Mary McGregor recorded music as a folk singer on Motown, the premiere R and B recording studio. Klaatu and Carpenters introduced me to Aliens in Calling Occupants and of course the monumental impact of the Beatles A Day in the Life.
College brought me to the bar with Disco and my divas Donna Summer, Cher (her third of five recording careers), Gloria Gaynor and one of my all time favorite songs, I’m Doin Fine Now by NYC. U2 got me through my first years of teaching along with the Boss and REO. Jokingly, I suggested we name our first child (gender unknown) Kyrie after a Mr. Mister song popular at his birth. Lucky for him, his mother was not to be swayed by pop radio. The stories go on for at least all of the years I have lived.
Please note that not every song has the great AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH moment attached to it like Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl). I turn anything off that is by the Eagles and Nickelback. I just don’t have the time to waste on those songs. Trust me, there are others.
Thanks to the radio and recorded music, my life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue- thank you Carol King for the great words. You and James have been there the whole time. As I slowly go to Carolina in my Mind, I can bless my 100 years of Wanna Be Startin Something . I am truly a Juke Box Hero who has had The Time of My Life.
You Spin Me Right Round.
Keith
Monday, February 7, 2011
A Bowl of Lucky Charms
Some of you know this and others not yet because I felt if I let the cat out of the bag, I would somehow jinx the success of my venture. I have been losing weight since last May 17. It started as a lark with a desire to have some vegetables in my lunch. From there it sprang into a full fledged attempt. To this date, I have lost 41.7 pounds. While that is cool, more amazingly cool is the fact that I am not using insulin in the mornings, and I have diminished my evening use by half. That in itself would be great, but even more is the fact that I am following through.
While it looks like I am probably going to write about that, wrongo! I am going to write about the hope that springs forth in times of need. The reference to the bowl of Lucky Charms is this: while I deprived myself of many of my favorite things during the last eight months, I decided to give myself one of my favorite all time foods, Lucky Charms cereal. Sunday night after a long day of catching up from my speech trip to Duluth, I poured myself a heaping bowl of Lucky Charms, added just the right amount of milk to be colored by the marshmallows, and ate away. It was truly magically delicious.
While all that seems really silly, eating the bowl of cereal was really rooted in many of the things I noticed last weekend at the speech meet in Duluth, which can easily be summed up in "hope springs eternal". I moved forward with eating the beloved cereal because hope says that one foray into the world of yellow moons and green clovers was not going to halt the direction I had been traveling for so many months. That realization came after hearing so many kids who didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of breaking finals saying, " I'm gonna final today."
For those you not privy to the nomenclature of speech, beyond taking first, breaking finals is about as good as it gets. It puts you in the elite group; the group of the best. They believed that even though the odds were insurmountable, they were going to final! Next week, the same will be heard echoing through other hallways as the kids make their way to their rounds, "I'm gonna final this week." even though they didn't come close the weekend before.
Hope springs eternal. What a valuable lesson for us all. In those times that try us, hope springs eternal. When we are not sure what we're doing, hope drives us on to the right path. When we've run out of hope, hope like a phoenix rises to carry us through.
Tonight as I finish my second bowl of Lucky Charms, feeling quite good about the whole thing. I can't help but buoyed up that message.
On another note, Henry Oertelt died last week. A notable Holocaust survivor, Henry's book, An Unbroken Chain, has been a part of my curriculum for many years. Via his podcast on iTunes and his well written book describing his survival of concentration camp life, many of my students learned that one thing from Henry and his ordeal, hope springs eternal that the world will NEVER know the atrocities of the Third Reich ever again. Rest in peace Henry!
Over and out.
Keith
While all that seems really silly, eating the bowl of cereal was really rooted in many of the things I noticed last weekend at the speech meet in Duluth, which can easily be summed up in "hope springs eternal". I moved forward with eating the beloved cereal because hope says that one foray into the world of yellow moons and green clovers was not going to halt the direction I had been traveling for so many months. That realization came after hearing so many kids who didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of breaking finals saying, " I'm gonna final today."
For those you not privy to the nomenclature of speech, beyond taking first, breaking finals is about as good as it gets. It puts you in the elite group; the group of the best. They believed that even though the odds were insurmountable, they were going to final! Next week, the same will be heard echoing through other hallways as the kids make their way to their rounds, "I'm gonna final this week." even though they didn't come close the weekend before.
Hope springs eternal. What a valuable lesson for us all. In those times that try us, hope springs eternal. When we are not sure what we're doing, hope drives us on to the right path. When we've run out of hope, hope like a phoenix rises to carry us through.
Tonight as I finish my second bowl of Lucky Charms, feeling quite good about the whole thing. I can't help but buoyed up that message.
On another note, Henry Oertelt died last week. A notable Holocaust survivor, Henry's book, An Unbroken Chain, has been a part of my curriculum for many years. Via his podcast on iTunes and his well written book describing his survival of concentration camp life, many of my students learned that one thing from Henry and his ordeal, hope springs eternal that the world will NEVER know the atrocities of the Third Reich ever again. Rest in peace Henry!
Over and out.
Keith
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