History, the birds, Alfred State, and of course… grammar
By Chuck Wiser I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels, picture from the “Bird Room”
My “Signature” line, displayed beneath the article title, expresses exactly why I write. Prior to having the distinct pleasure, and even honor, of sharing my thoughts and words with you I frequently displayed my poetry through Facebook. My invitation to Wramble with you weekly, was l offered up by Owner/Editor Andrew Harris to allow me to share my writings, (or writhings,) on a weekly basis. Andrew and I had forged a somewhat friendly albeit sometimes controversial relationship regarding a local political issue. We often disagreed, but always respectfully. When I first started writing and submitting articles, my title was “Words From Wiser.” My first title idea was slightly different, having the title “Wiser Words.” I immediately changed that after seeing it spelled out. “Wiser Words” implies that this writer is wiser. I’m not!
Many writers, and most poets, are “inspired” by something, and they want to share that with others. Inspiration comes from any, and every, thing. If you can’t, or didn’t, see something yourself, the next best thing is to have it illustrated by those who were inspired that did see it. Facebook became my “public pulpit.”
Social media platforms such as Facebook (FB) present an opportunity for either just watching what people see and say or participating in a discussion regarding any particular subject. Those that just watch are often referred to as “lurkers” by the active participants. This category of readers seldom, if ever, posts anything themselves and that is fine. I often receive comments from both active or inactive people, who have seen something I have written on FB. Comments are usually, although not always, complimentary. They are always welcome.
Giving an update on our wintering aviary friends, the Baltimore Orioles with the male’s nearly florescent orange are now at the feeders. They, and others, come and go with visits merely minutes apart all day long starting often at dawn. Red Breasted Grosbeaks are in abundance also.
Unfortunately, the increased addition of feeders to the house has been an invitation to other appreciated, but not welcome, visitors of the non-winged variety. Visits from the Raccoons have increased, as they too, welcome the jelly available if we forget to bring the dishes in. They will “disturb” our normal Sunflower Seed feeders as well, even if we put cages around those feeders to help deter them. It doesn’t stop them but does discourage them. We need to fasten the caged feeders to the railings of the deck, or they can pull them down and tear them apart in their quest for the delicacy. Yet unseen is a particular favorite, the Indigo Bunting. Over the many years we have fed our feathered friends the Buntings are a hit or miss visitor. Most years we will enjoy the visit once or twice at the feeders and then they move along. A couple of times, though not often, they have stayed with us all season. Usually the birds will glide in, rest on the feeder or perch, then reach in and grab a seed, a bite of jelly or sip of sweetened water, then fly off. Often a mated pair will visit at the same time with one bird feeding while the other waits, and then they swap positions. The first, already having dined, will leave to be followed shortly by the mate.
Occasionally one of the visiting birds will camp out on the perch or in the cage and just sit there for several minutes at a time apparently either waiting for the mate or just sharing the splendor that I see from my Sun Room, aka Bird Room. They too watch as the visitors come and go.
Note Insert: At this point in your reading, I have been writing for nearly 4 hours off and on.
Sitting here in the Sunroom I am observing what is so far this year, the most active aviary frenzy of the birds at the many feeders. I keep stopping to take pictures. My inspiration! I may need to add a picture page to my Wrambling.
As I write/type this, I am mindful of a comment made by a reader many months ago. He asked why I used so many commas in my writing. I think I explained then that they are the written communication to pause or hesitate over a word or phrase to make it more “conversational.”
In a way I think it is also a tie-in to my musical experiences where a comma is inserted into the lyrics text, often as a cue to the singer to hesitate or “take a breath.” Musically that doesn’t mean to “gasp” and often it must be a very quick breath.
Since I opened the conversation link to music as a topic, as I write, it gives me a chance to point out another word combination that makes music directors tear their hair out. If you sing the words “He’s Not” without careful distinction between the words, it comes out sounding like “He’s Snot.” Another word combination recently seen brought a smile to my face and made me wonder if the writers are naïve, or intentionally writing things for effect. With all due apologies for the crassness of this word connection, I recently saw a book or article titled, “Little Lass.”
The use of a particular word in the second line of that former paragraph also offers the opportunity to point out another word that, although spelled the same, can have two completely different meanings. For example: “When I tear something up it brings a tear to my eye.”
The most frequently repeated comments I receive regarding the subjects I write about have to do with my penchant for writing about grammar. That characteristic of our language, next to spilling(sp), is the most difficult to learn or retain after having left your public education English class. When I was teaching at Alfred State College, my teaching topics were all related to Engineering or Manufacturing. I considered it an obligation to point out errors in students’ writing with regards to grammar. I found that the students coming into those curricula were already proficient in such things as in computer work, or Computer Aided Drafting (CAD ) software, but their grammar knowledge or skill was sorely lacking. I used to comment that I spent as much time teaching English grammar to my students as I did teaching the technologies. Was it my job to do that? Not specifically. But I felt it was an obligation for me to try.
Continuing with what has developed into a main topic although not intended as I commenced write today’s Wrambling, I wondered about the writings (or spellings) of utterances we use frequently. I have seen most of these included in fiction novels, but have you ever contemplated how to spell; Tch, Tch, We don’t pronounce that exactly like that as the “T” is not sounded intentionally. Ugh, is an example of the many ways the “gh” sound can be represented. That sound is often combined with the letter “O” as in “through” or ” brought.”
Had I been hired to teach English instead of the technologies, I would have been thrown out on my ear for making fun of the language. I don’t dis-respect our language and absolutely love the intricacies of it, that make most spelling or grammar challenged people hate our language. If I were to write a book, as I have pondered, it would be about our language or what and how poetry is inspired.
At the end of last year’s mowing season, I had decided that I would buy a new riding mower and retire my trusty John Deere X530 (JD) from mowing chores. Some of the mower deck fastenings and moving parts are worn, loose and sloppy. Kinda like my Wrambling’, I guess. Two weeks ago I journeyed to Lowe’s in Hornell and purchased a JD. Unfortunately, you cannot test drive or “try out” the mower prior to purchase. When I got it home, unloaded, gassed up and commenced mowing, I hated it right away. I despise the overuse of the expletive “hated” but in this case it is understated. It’s not that the mower performed unsatisfactorily, it was just terrible to drive. I was spoiled by the power steering on my old JD and I guess I didn’t properly consider or factor in the subtleties or features of the mower. I returned the mower, and they didn’t seem awfully pleased with me, but did honor their “free returns” policy. Next trip was to Home Depot and the purchase of a Cub Cadet (CC) mower that they had. I checked it over, considered its features but still couldn’t “test drive” it. One of the features important to me with my mowing is having to mow in and around a few places that require backing up and turning to get around it. This did have the required feature as did the previous mower and it allowed backing up with the engine and cutting blades still operational or engaged. This being a little short of a week after the previous mowing I put the CC to use. After mowing about half of my yard and using the “Back-up with blades turning” feature, it started dying out or shutting down the engine and blades as soon as I put the mower in reverse. I could switch to the normal mowing mode, and it ran fine but every couple of times I tried to reverse it, it cut out.
Home Depot was much more accommodating with the return after I explained the problem and importance of that feature to me and promptly credited my purchase to the account I had used and wished me luck. As a side note, Lowes couldn’t credit my purchase card so refunded the purchase price in cash. They had to scramble around a bit to accumulate that amount but they “got er dun.”
As soon as I put this writing to bed, I am off to Lindquists Garage in Bolivar to pick up my new riding lawn mower recently purchased there. It was a pleasure once again dealing with that facility having done so for many years in the past. Sadly, the owner, who I had pleasurably dealt with for many years is no longer with us but the purchasing experience dealing with his wife and the establishment once again was a pleasure.
I will end this with the invitation to reach out to me with any comments, cares, or concerns if you would like to. I have recently had some very enjoyable and memorable messages and “reach outs.” one of which, concerns a family relative who I have previously mentioned in my writings. I mentioned him when my writings were published as “Words From Wiser.” Now I just Wramble.
I leave you now with a poem featuring a photo inspiring me, having seen it on (FB).
If you have comments, cares or concerns about this article please feel free to reach out to me at IM.Wiserdad@gmail.com Topical suggestions are always welcome.
