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February 15, 2005
:-)
I often use the expression “So-and-so doesn’t know anything.” I found an exceptional market for it while in the Army, but later too. I’ve found it necessary to reevaluate this expression, though, after spending a few days with Zoe.
When babies are born, they really don’t know anything, not even how to eat. There’s something about that state that is extraordinarily neat. Zen Buddhist Monks spend their lives trying to reach the state that my daughter lives in now—a child like awareness that views everything as novel and important.
Most of them never reach this state, they just long for their infancy. Learning, apparently, is inevitable. This learning naturally brings bias and interpretation which necessarily limits possible understanding. This is okay—that’s why everybody dies.
There are many things to learn, some more important than others, and though Zoe still knows only one syllable (“La”), still shits in her pants, and still can’t even sit upright, she learned yesterday what may well be the most important skill of her life. She learned to smile.
Posted by james at February 15, 2005 07:35 PM
Comments
Dude, hate to be the one to break it to you, but she was laughing at you, not with you.
Posted by: Jarrad at February 15, 2005 09:43 PM
Welcome to the club. May God and Goddess give blessings on your new one.
Posted by: Rob at February 16, 2005 05:47 AM
Congratulations to the proud parents and to the newest member of the family! Many happy tomorrows!
Posted by: Adrian at February 16, 2005 08:59 PM
I am so incredibly happy for you! Congratulations! And remember, it is not just her that is seeing everything through wonderous eyes at the moment. You too will have such "infant" moments!
Posted by: Nicolette at February 21, 2005 09:29 AM