Bone's Story
Speaking of the regenerative aspects of vacation, just how regenerative is a sabbatical? That's what Ham of Bone had for the past year and I could wish he were a blogger who would give - in the immortal words of Cincinnati talk show host/raconteur Willie Cunningham - "a full report". How can I live it vicariously when Bone's so niggardly with the play-by-play?
Long-time readers and first time callers will recall the saga of Ham of Bone. Smart guy and a hard-worker, Bone got caught looking for another job and was given the axe and has exhausted the unemployment compensation. He's now really looking for a job.
Part of the lure of sabbaticals, voluntary or otherwise, is they unfracture time, unparcelling it and altering its "if it's Tueday and 4:30 I'm doing this" quality. Vacations also restore the senses, especially the sense of sight which is always the first to go. I drive to work and most days couldn't tell you one thing I saw. Worse, I can eat dinner with my wife and never really see her. Hearing, smell, taste and touch seem a bit more insulated from the ravages of art-poor living.
I sense that renewal is a process, not an event. When I catch myself engaging in negative emotions it's usually because of a faulty world view. If I'm discouraged it's insufficient belief in God's power. If I feel self-pity, it's due to a sense of entitlement and presumption. If I'm hurt, it's often pride. Angry, anger. Lustful, lust. Not exactly brain surgery but no one equates goodness with intelligence. This is not to say we should be emotionless robots but I do wonder at the negative emotions as a symptom of something else.
But back to Bone. His year had much to show for it. Three screenplays, lots of quality time with the children (I can't speak to quality time with the wife) and lots of reading. He says the year went by fast and I don't doubt it did. I'd always wanted to save up money and take a year off work but by the time I saved up the requisite money I realized two things:
a) a year is to a 30-year old what 3-months is to a 15-year old. In other words, time speeds up as you age in sensation though not in reality and this cheapens the value of a year off.
b) one looks askance at the idea of needlessly devastating the nest egg. See Albert Brooks' "Lost in America" for details.
Thoreau cautioned the poet against waiting to retirement to begin his art, but you gotta eat too. Can you have your art and eateth too? I guess if you own a blog!
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