We don’t all eat twigs, We Rhinos. But from those of Us that do, to those of You who don’t, you might try it. Rounds out your diet and keeps your teeth sparkly.
Why not?!?
Category Archives: R Life Lessons
Who can tell?
We Rhinos are never quite clear about which is our Left and which is our Right. We try to take the issue seriously, but can’t find a purpose for the Investigation. We figure half the time We are right, when We guess. Of course, that means that the other half, We are mistaken.
For all We know, Left and Right may be arbitrary, changing places as they see fit. Maybe some days they don’t even come to work.
That seems like the Right mindset. What other one is Left?
99% Serene
Being Large Critters, Rhinos need to conserve our energies, just to keep the System up and running. We can’t fritter ourselves away, just on a whim.
That is why We think of ourselves as generally Placid and Even-Tempered, almost to a fault. We are contemplative. We eat, We snooze, We socialize in modest ways, We mind our business. Self-possessed… almost all the time.
Still, there is that 1% window…
Care-fully Yours
Today, in our series of ‘Stories-I-Like’ from our Readers, is “Pierre”, written and illustrated by the gifted Maurice Sandak. Pierre is a boy who knows his own mind. This little book is great fun, grand for reading aloud. You can have it read to you on Google!
Pierre’s perspective is pretty limited. It struck Us Rhinos as interesting, since each of Us has blinders provided by our own choices and assumptions. Those Limitations are by choice, not by fact.
Obvious, but still surprising, right?
Ups & Downs
Judith Viorst wrote “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”, in 1972. It is illustrated by Ray Cruz. The point seems to be that some days don’t work out as imagined. It is humorous.
Rhinos all know about this Fact of Life. We must take it as it comes, and make the best of it, when possible. Or try tomorrow, when it gets here.
That’s what growing up is about, even for Us.
Swiss Miss
Ms. Johanna Spyri wrote “Heidi” in 1881, and it has been popular ever since. Heidi is a spirited little girl, who charms her gloomy grandfather, and Us in the bargain. Up there in the Alps. We like Heidi.
We Rhinos know very little about family dynamics, just because. We know our Moms and Moms know their Offspring, but otherwise, We just associate with the Rhinos in the vicinity. And let it go at that. Of course, We do have grandfathers, but it would never occur to Us to go “relate” to one. Actually, it’s the same for our Dads.
On this topic, We are wired differently. Rhino.
Same but Different
Our YIR Reader Ann asked for an illustration for a series of stories told to her by her Dad when she was little. The stories took place in ‘The Googelock Forest’ and featured Ann and her friends Adventurating, which is the point of Youth, right?
A gift from her Dad that will never grow old.
by Margery Williams, 1922
‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ tells of a toy rabbit that achieves a Reality beyond his simple toy-ness. The affection of his child owner elevates him, and he is ultimately transformed into a real rabbit.
We all have childhood affections for things, but with time those affections can pale or disappear entirely. That shift is both Natural, and a little sad, the loved one put aside.
Yesterdays.
Beyond Us
Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote and illustrated ‘The Little Prince‘ in 1943. A quote from it: “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”
It is a tender and poetic story, impossible to describe. It is hard for Us to believe it was not written by a Rhino, but We are assured it wasn’t.
Touching, and just a bit disturbing.
That old Ounce of Prevention
Mr. H. Dumpty (featured in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass) discusses matters with Alice while he is perched on a wall. As you may know, things do not work out for him, though up to that point he seems to feel he knows it All.
Any Rhino would point out that wall sitting has related concerns. Walls come in many sizes and feature two sides. To avoid accidents, inspect both sides of the Wall in Question.
When did you last hear of a Rhino falling off a wall? That’s right.
Your Inner Rhino 