The Adventures of the Reporter

Dear Jimmy,

As we were on our walk this morning, when I shared with you my love of writing, you came up with this amazing idea.

You were so excited that I could be someone who travels the world and write stories for people and find the truth. 

Just like Tintin.

I added our family in that picture.

We both got excited. What if we are a family on that journey of discovery!

And we already have a white fluffy dog.

So I decided to come up with a picture of the family in the style of Herge.

And this is what ChatGPT/Dall-E came up with, using a photo I have with our dog Cosmo.

What an amazing time and place to be alive. With each other, creativity in our blood and technology on hand to make new worlds. 

"What an amazing adventure this will be. 

What do you say to that, Cosmo?"

"Ruff!"

Night Vision Goggles - Part 2

Dear Jimmy,

They arrived quickly! 

Ordered Saturday. Arrived Sunday morning.

You were so happy. You could hardly wait to open the box. 

But you did wait for us to open the box with you.

You were so happy with your night vision goggles.

So happy, you took it to the park.

You had it with you while you climbed that massive park castle. 

Did you need it to be bashed about? 
Did you need to attract all that attention from the other curious children struggling with FOMO?

But you did listen to me. 

We kept the goggles in the car while you played.

You just played.

I remember when I struggled with that too.

You charged the batteries and you took the goggles out at night to find the animals.

You searched all around the bush of our home away from home.

You marvelled at how much you could see. 

You didn't find any creatures. 

And we went back inside. 

We spent another 5min on the deck.

Sam was on the screen playing a game. Happy.

So happy, you went to join the screen time.

I kept waiting on the deck and kept searching with the goggles.

Jimmy! Jimmy! 

Did you see the wallaby hopping about? 

Jimmy! Jimmy! 

Did you see it looking back this way?  

Jimmy! Jimmy!

Don't you want to see this?

Jimmy? 

The dangers are less outside like we thought.

It seems to me there are dangers - more... inside.

"Adventure's out there!" 

- from Up! the movie

to be continued... 

Night Vision Goggles - Part 1

Dear Jimmy,

I am so excited that you are so excited.

I am so glad you will get your own Night Vision Goggles arriving in the mail.

Tomorrow, perhaps!

To see, we need either

• A source of light OR
• A way to see the creatures who shine their warmth.

You have such an amazing vision for the world.

You see beauty and fun in so many things.

You live in an age of power.

You can acquire it. And enjoy it.

 

Darkness is falling around us.

I want you to see well.

We are not hunters.

We are curious.

We go outdoors together.

That's our thing.

We observe. We learn. We enjoy.

Together.

In the wild.

And what's more, I really love how you saved up for this.

You have kept yourself from spending your Smile Jar funds on other things.

I love saying yes to you.

I hope this works well for you, Jimmy.

Love, 

Dad

Forty-fied

Forty marks a significant inflection point for many people. 

Forty In the Word

Forty shows up more than 100 times in the Bible. The most significant examples are in the experiences of Noah, Moses, Saul, David, Solomon, Ezekiel, and of course, Jesus.

According to this author,  

Forty generally symbolised a period of testing, trial or probation.

According to this author,

...it’s a number associated with testing and the hardships one must endure to become more spiritually aware.

Forty in Asian words

Forty shows up in Chinese and Japanese culture too. 

Credit to Takeshi Yoshida who did a nice video on this.

My parents remind me that according to a Chinese proverb, likely from Confucius:

...三十而立，四十而不惑, 

In other words, 

...at 30 I stood firm at, 40 I had no more doubts

Forty in English words

Forty

This was interesting to read

40 years constituted a generation or the period at the end of which a man attains maturity, an idea common, it would seem, to the Greeks, the Israelites, and the Arabs.

Fortified

For some reason word "fortified" came up in my mind. I wonder about roots or links of the above symbols in the etymology. BUT something resonates with me. 

Fortified - Strengthened or made strong

40 Words about Forty

Through four decades of trials and troubles, 
    my awareness has grown more.

I still wrestle such weakness, confusion and doubt,
    but this I know for sure.

He who endured our painful forties with joy and kindness

    now fortifies generations more.