And other tokens of Upbeat Acknowledgement for Us Rhinos.
And Thanks for anything you can think of to help out with the ‘Rhino Situation’, which frankly could use some Improvement.
Moments of Recognition
Today is the last day of Summer.
So tomorrow will be the first day of something else, We can safely assume. Or We assume We can assume that…
Distracted
Sometimes We get inattentive. Our focus shifts into some middle ground of consciousness. Our wits wander.
At these times, Rhinos may lead ourselves astray.
De Classics
Rhinos are connoisseurs when it comes to Mud (among other things). Our skin is so sensitive that We use this gift of Nature to protect ourselves. We have used Mud for eons (?). Long times.
The Recipe is deceptively simple: Add water to dirt, stir, and Voila! Mud. But We Rhinos carefully analyze the dirt, the water. We appraise the use to which We intend to put the Mud. A Sun Screen? A Bug Repellant? A Cosmetic? A Plaything? Do We want to enhance the recipe with leaves, or bits of other food, or whatever seems best? A drop more water, a pinch of sand? And of course, there are R Family Traditions involved as well.
Mud can be overwhelming in its variations and complexities. Take it from Us!
On Edge
Often Rhinos forget to take Obvious Things into account. We forget the ABCs of what’s what. Observe the illustration. Is this about the Rhino Hobbyist? Or about the activities of gulls? Or simply a bravura display of seascape brushwork? (Yes but) No.
What We want to remind our Readers to focus on is an omnipresent Fact. That is, namely: We go to places that are either A: Land or B: Water. This is mostly the Truth as We experience it. There is nothing static about the place where the two meet up. It is always in flux, one reason or another.
Sort of Marvelous when you think about it. There is an ever-shifting Edge, a demarcating border, defining Experience: wet or dry. SO SIMPLE, yet crucial to almost every interaction with the Planet. For each and every one of Us. Thrilling, all in all.
Barnacles & Grog
It is almost Talk Like a Pirate Day, you valued Readers! So grab your eye patch, a clean bandana, and start rolling and grinding them R’s like you mean business.
Saturday morning, you can spring from the sheets and let ‘errrrRrRRRrRrrr RRRRRrRRRip! Very Exciting Event, Right? AaarRRrG!!!
Starlight is not the Same
About once a month the Moon takes a day off, leaving things very dark indeed for those of Us who still need to be getting on with business. Fortunately, We have other ways, nose and ears, to navigate.
Rhinos have come to expect these lunar holidays, but that does not mean they are welcome.
Demi-Jumpy
Coping is a skill that’s easy to underestimate. Coping takes its toll, even for Rhinos. Or perhaps, especially for Rhinos, since We are a pretty sensitive species, all things considered, right?
Things come up, and We get Jangled. With luck, the Jangle only lasts a jiffy, but sometimes days. In grim cases, the Jangle can become a habit.
We don’t recommend it, but mostly We don’t get a Grip just by announcing its advisability.
On the Road Again…
Today We remind you about Nasir-i Khusrau, a famous Persian Muslim philosopher and writer. In 1046, age 42, he responded to a dream urging him to go to Mecca; shortly he set out on a trek of 15 thousand miles, taking 7 years. He was seeking wisdom, experience, and spiritual enlightenment, ultimately visiting Mecca four times before returning home.
Nasir-i Khusrau was a diligent diarist; his detailed account of his travels is the basis for a modern understanding of the medieval Middle East. His ‘Book of Travels’ (The Safar-nama) remains a Muslim source of pride. It is available in translation and in the original Persian.
Rhinos are all for a Spirit of Inquiry, immersion in intellectual evaluation, enhanced by wise folk all along the path, though few have had a path quite as amazing as Nasir-i Khusrau!
Little Room for Nonsense
Today is Wednesday, named for the king of the Norse gods, Wotan. A difficult diety to like, but a figurehead for a people who had few romantic illusions.
In an effort to gain Wisdom, Wotan had sacrificed his eye. Thus he lost vision but gained Greater Insight, a grim but poetic trade-off. With him are shown Huginn and Munn, ravens that daily informed Wotan of all they had seen. Also there sit Geri and Freki, Wotan’s companions. Power under control, measured and remorseless.
Thus YIR ends this day-at-a-glance series, begun on August 25.
Your Inner Rhino 