Nothing Gained My Friend

I wrote this in my blog Knowledge In Reverse. "I often try to imagine the world through the mind of Neil Peart because his lyrics have greatly influenced my life. You could say I care what I think he thinks. He and I are opposite, however, and were we to meet I'm sure my personality would be foreign to him."
I have been reading Neil's third book Traveling Music that I bought at Rush's 30 year anniversary tour at the Hollywood Bowl. I skipped his second book because I didn't want his real life experience to taint my imagination for the story I'm now writing Ellison & Amos. But I've changed my mind about our personalities.
We are so alike it's funny. There are obvious differences, but that is to be expected. He's 12 years older than me, matured much faster, comes from a strong family and upbringing, and is a musician. In regard to these items I'm the opposite.
I have not yet needed to guard my life as he has, obviously, and though I ironically met the Michael he speaks of who handles his security in L.A., passed several books on to him, I respect the distance that is morally ethical for the fan-mentor relationship as he would with Keith Moon, his childhood idol.
The similarities are interesting. We both regard bullies the same way, having had our fair share of abuse heaped onto us at an early age. Mine was in the form of this mindless ape named Ron Rovaki in the 7th grade who cold-cocked me in front of a crowd that disapated entirely by the time I regained consciousness (I won't do the others justice by mentioning their names). I walked around high school with my head down for fear I'd attract the attention of any number of athletic drones. Despite the fact that I was really good at football, it was never known outside P.E. and the games that I fondly participated in on Thanksgiving & Christmas breaks during college down at the high school stadium.
That high sense of consciousness was evident in our fear of nuclear war because of our geographic areas growing up, mine just 10 miles from Hoover Dam and the other side of the montains separating Boulder City from Nellis Air Force Base.
The most obvious similarity is the fact that Neil used his fondness for philosophy and his intellectual id, the way I did the LDS religion. Both of us seemed to desire a strong obligation to improve ourselves and increase our wisdom out of a pure intention to become more than we were. I love the fact that I read books on philosophy and political science now like the one on its way from Barnes & Noble, "The Prince." "I know perfects not real, I thought we'd get a little closer."
I usually wake up early, especially Sundays. Yesterday was no acception, and I went to Wal-mart to buy my son an Iron Man action figure before I send his other gifts to Georgia. On the way back from Orem I stopped at the Village Inn for coffee. The fondest memories of my childhood were waking with my Grandpa when visiting Boulder City from S. California before the sun rose and have morning coffee with him (lots of cream and sugar, of course).
I sat facing four elderly men and felt a familiarity in their manorisms and demeanor as they interacted with each other. I had always associated with adults better than my peers growing up, and they reminded me of Grandpa and his friends. Ironically, the ring I glanced down at, which belonged to him, on my left hand bearing the symbols of the Masons was a tribute to a time when these men were only 20-30 years old. But they were the range of age my Grandpa was back at the time I knew him. He died of colon cancer at 64. I was 10. My cousin Freddie (how he has changed in time from being the golden boy of the family) carried me out of the funeral as I was so distrout to move on my own. I can still hear another cousin taunt me just hours before because I hadn't cried. "You didn't love him."
So I was trasported back in time, looking out the window into the void of utter loneliness, and back at these men who were so secure in who they were that it reminded me of another time when I had few worries, and a stronger sense of security. The silver lining is the fact that despite my age, I had amassed experience because of the number of changes in my life. Ignorance is bliss, but consciousness brings madness. My life is somewhere in between.
I've found solace the study of science and psychology to rid my inner self of its hyposcrisy. I've been lucky to incorporate my studies of Buddhism, Hindu teachers, and Islam with those of Carl Jung and Wayne Dyer. It's not enough to "think" I'm knowledgable just because I can interpret scripture. It's important to discern different points of view and put them into daily actions. How many times has this ideology kept me sane in an insane, unnatural world.
Neil spoke a lot in his book about how he didn't fit in with his peers, and how he was not coordinated in sports. I can imagine and laugh at the irony of this, considering a person who's primary talent is for all four limbs to act independently, going off into all directions in his mastery of the drums. This describes the way my brain works, cataloguing details and abstract thoughts amid storylines and character. I think this means that I am coming into my own now, as Neil has experienced a wonderful lifetime of success. To my lifelong mentor, I am honored to see his world as he has shared his truth with us.

Emeritus

Emeritus is retiring from something earned
Usually by means of education.
The opposite of a college education
Can be an education of experience in life
Proving as Carl Jung did that two opposites
Can lead to two obvious correct truths.

Learning from experience out of necessity
Shapes a different reality.
Both can develop empathy for people
And the experience you share is based on
An infinite wisdom rather than something read.
A good book without practical use
Is more likely forgotten than real life.

This is the difference between
Being book-smart and street smart.
Both paths lead to the same conclusion
But the defining attribute is the presence of humility
As these opposites prove themselves…

But intelligence is not based on a degree
It is the unlearned man gaining his degree in life…

It is a beautiful thing to find two persons on the path to wisdom with whom you can learn from and teach as well. Both have truth beyond their years, and will take what they’ve learned with them wherever they should go...