Monday, November 05, 2007

"Where Do We Go From Here..."

Many, many busy things in the world right now. Hired to teach classes at a local business college. Work. Training (really into throwing tomahawks and viking axes right now). Enough overtime in two weeks to buy a high end computer for K. Writing. Reading. A writer's convention coming up, where I'll talk about violence and hope the writer's incorporate some of it... and on top of everything I'm coughing up a lung with a raging fever- the gods' way of telling you to slow down.

And the book. Saw the catalog from the publishers and for the first time saw the official date. "Meditations on Violence" will be on the shelves in June 2008. Seeing that was strange and powerful. The bullet leaves the gun and things will never be the same again.

Haven't had much time to write- much time to sit, really.

One thing: I'm used to teaching cops. We share a common language and when we don't share common experiences we are at least in the ballpark. Teaching at this college for kids who want to BE cops is different. They are naive in ways I can't even remember. Part of me sees it as an opportunity: I'm still an idealist in a profession where idealists tend to burn out pretty quickly. Can I teach them to see the world the way that I do, to thrive on a thankless nobility? Can I make other Don Quixotes to carry the banner into the next generation? Should I? It seems sometimes that the ones who embrace the negative have an easier time, an easier life, a quieter career... but that's not true. It just seems that way.

The world is changing.

6 comments:

Kai Jones said...

It's not the positive outlook that burns them out, though. It's not having the tools to deal with disappointment. Recovery is important; teach them to find the skills, habits and attitudes that lead to recovery instead of burn-out.

Deborah J. Ross said...

waves hi to Rory

Kami pointed me here. Good to see your phosphors. A book? Details, please! And hugs.

Mark Jones said...

What Kai said sounds right to me. See? That ability to see clearly is one of the things I love about her.

Anonymous said...

Good luck with the book. I've been looking forward to it for a long time.

jeff

Anonymous said...

Just got the YMAA catalog and saw your book listed! Looking forward to it.

-john

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the book