Even Rhinos get sucked into the discussion of Progress, the urge to make everything unique and astonishing. It is a seductive idea. Get on board, and watch those Progressionary Marvels reveal themselves.
But Rhinos find that oftentimes We stride into the future, pumped up and whistling out of tune, only to arrive at the end of the trail, almost precisely where We started. It doesn’t seem entirely fair.
Perhaps Nature isn’t looking to Us to define Progress.
Today was Edvard Grieg’s birthday in 1843. His haunting music for Henrik Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt has always fascinated Rhinos.
In Peer Gynt, Peer is a freewheeling scamp. Full of potential and charm, but only partially civilized, he scoots around the world, frantically grasping at opportunity, ultimately accomplishing nothing. As a play it is remarkable in its ambition, a dream play really with lots of Dark Undertones.
Peer Gynt is very Rhino. When We each set out on our Quests, none of Us is sure what’s coming, how our lives will go. So perhaps each of Us is Peer Gynt.
From time to time, a Rhino will be asked the secret to our physical Presence. How is it that We are so Stupendous? Our Grandiosity must have a source, a special fuel, right? How do Rhinos do it?
The answer is simplicity itself: Grass Power!! Amazing, but true. Grass does it every time!
Not to mention, Grass is delicious!
Herr Heinrich Hoffmann (whose birthday this was in 1809) wrote Der Struwwelpeter as a gift for his son, back in 1845. It is a collection of short moral tales, merrily pointing out that defiant childlike behavior can have Catastrophic Consequences.
None of the Protagonists in these stories end up happily, so they clearly learn their Lessons, if a bit late in the day.
RhinoTots find these stories bizarre, but they do like them. Inexplicable, kids.
Occasionally, a Rhino will enter an unexpected phase of High Emotion. All intelligent critters avoid such an individual, since the point of each exchange seems to be Large Drama.
Random Emotion is pretty tiresome, at least most of the time. At least for Everybody Else.
This is to remind Your Inner Rhino Readers that, despite rumors to the contrary, We Rhinos are fully capable of Multitasking.
We think, We chew, We chew, We think.
We Rhinos obviously have Good Times most of the time. In fact, our problem is one of control and suppression, not expression. We are Good Time Beasts. Hard-wired for it.
This is the result of a Family of long standing, many of whom have explored and expanded our Exuberance Capabilities beyond the norm. Rhinos are and have been pioneers in Jubilationics.
We are also one of the few critters that can have a Square Dance, all by ourselves, supplying music, feet, and elaborate calls while entirely alone. And chewing.
Adolescence is designed as a time when RYouth can experiment with various personalities, philosophies, facades, mindsets, fads and posturings. The majority are meaningless trials and errors.
Eventually, one or another concept will stick, though there is no guarantee that choice will stand the test of time.
So RMoms are told not to despair, but also not to get their hopes up.
Rhinos everywhere hail the artistic accomplishments of Red Grooms, whose birthday this is. What a raw, frenetic, fearless, energetic crazed vision of things. Perfect. VeryRhino.
Mr. Grooms has focused on the Urban Experience, so YIR presents a version of Nature stuff, which We know more about. Naturally.
Rhinos like to see the Wild celebrate itself. That’s why We call it the Wild.
In the Ego’s Cineplex, each of Us Rhinos is always the Featured Attraction. The show runs every minute of every day. Never a dull moment.
Stardom is heady stuff. The interesting feature of the discussion is that We are not only the Talent, but We are also the only Audience. That’s right! We also embody the primary Fan Club.
Less delightfully, We also have to function as Critic.
Your Inner Rhino 