Monday, October 27, 2008

Get on the bus!


Caption: Theodore, 6, catches the 8:01 to Campbell.

This morning the Clarks of New Jersey walked down the middle of the street to Theodore’s bus stop at Voorhees Place and Amboy Avenue. Bella and her dad crossed Amboy from their beautiful white farmhouse, and in a moment our happy party heard the screech of the bus brakes.

Bella hugged her dad furiously. Theo gave his mother a tender hug, but when he was told to “give a hug to daddy,” he changed gears. Careful not to get too close, he quickly approached dad with arms outstretched. He applied pressure to dad’s left elbow and right hip. He pushed his hands together, as one would squeeze an exercise machine. During this little gesture, which surprised dad very much, Theo smiled happily.

Theo’s contact with dad usually involves a kick, a punch or a stab with an imaginary light saber. So this embrace was relatively touching, and most welcome!

Theo earned his fist badge as a Tiger Cub Scout, and he was very proud. The badge was for learning the Tiger Cub motto. I asked him what it was. “Do your best,” he said.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Hostages to Fortune


The author, at an Ace convention in St. Louis.

The Clarks of New Jersey Web log has been very quiet in recent weeks. Business travel and work have encroached upon free time. Casey Clark, the author, has been in St. Louis, Indianapolis, Chicago – all in the last three weeks. And he’s going to Denver and Atlanta in the coming month. Work, work, work.
Here is what the great Bertrand Russell wrote about work: “Work is of two kinds: first, altering the position of matter at or near the earth’s surve relatively to other such matters; second, telling other people to do so. The first kind is unpleasant and ill paid; the second is pleasant and highly paid.”
Anyway, Daddy is happy not to have to move heavy objects. The readers of this log will kindly forgive the author for his neglect and remember that the value of entertainment contained herein combines high value and low price. More on the Clarks of New Jersey will be broadcast soon. Thank you for your patience.