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talkpoliticsThe Takeaway has been playing interviews today in their series "In My Experience" which is aimed at offering some wisdom from people who have had fascinating or unusual lives. On Monday, they interviewed TV and movie star Betty White. Listening to this, I realize that when Betty White does die (hopefully many years from now) they will need to hold a state funeral because 1 million people or more will show up:
On Wednesday, I had to stop my car and listen while feeling a little bit teared up listening to Cary Grant's daughter talk about her experience being raised by her father who stopped making movies when she was born so he could dedicate his time and energy to raising her:
Now, seriously, listen to that without feeling a little tear in your eye, I dare you.
The challenge to listeners is to think about the best advice you ever got from anyone who has earned the right to give you advice. I immediately thought about my grandfather, which isn't hard -- I think about him every day even though he died in 1993. He was a carpenter who "retired" to teach woodworking to disabled students -- something he did until the day he died. He was about 5 feet and 1 inch tall. Barrel chested. Glasses. Mustache. Smoked cigars and drank whiskey. I spend too much of my life thinking about academic ideas that amount to very little probably, but he's the part of me that kicks my ass when I forget about doing things that are useful. And I miss him every damn day.
Two of his sayings are imprinted on me pretty heavily. The first is "Measure twice. Cut once." That's been pretty damned good advice first as a teacher and now as an academic. The other is a piece of paper that he had over his drafting table and which is sitting over my desk now: "Those who don't attempt the ridiculous never achieve the impossible" which has been my inspiration for a lot of lesson with future teachers who are tempted to think they have to accept that some kids will never be interested in their classes.
For discussion: What's the best advice you've ever gotten?
On Wednesday, I had to stop my car and listen while feeling a little bit teared up listening to Cary Grant's daughter talk about her experience being raised by her father who stopped making movies when she was born so he could dedicate his time and energy to raising her:
Now, seriously, listen to that without feeling a little tear in your eye, I dare you.
The challenge to listeners is to think about the best advice you ever got from anyone who has earned the right to give you advice. I immediately thought about my grandfather, which isn't hard -- I think about him every day even though he died in 1993. He was a carpenter who "retired" to teach woodworking to disabled students -- something he did until the day he died. He was about 5 feet and 1 inch tall. Barrel chested. Glasses. Mustache. Smoked cigars and drank whiskey. I spend too much of my life thinking about academic ideas that amount to very little probably, but he's the part of me that kicks my ass when I forget about doing things that are useful. And I miss him every damn day.
Two of his sayings are imprinted on me pretty heavily. The first is "Measure twice. Cut once." That's been pretty damned good advice first as a teacher and now as an academic. The other is a piece of paper that he had over his drafting table and which is sitting over my desk now: "Those who don't attempt the ridiculous never achieve the impossible" which has been my inspiration for a lot of lesson with future teachers who are tempted to think they have to accept that some kids will never be interested in their classes.
For discussion: What's the best advice you've ever gotten?
