Another Letter to Virginia

[David Campbell]

Marty, Maureen, Bob, Vic and Robyn...thank you for your responses. I agree about the baby steps, Maureen. Just to take today's news, the public outcry about that horrific rape in India gives some hope for change over there, although in the US the Democrats and Republicans still can't seem to find a way through the 'fiscal cliff' problem. We're slow learners!

David

[Neville Briggs]

We're slow learners!

Have to agree with you on that David, we've only had four thousand years (of recorded history) to learn. Maybe it's not a learning problem ?

They were the most advanced civilisation, cultured, scientific, highly educated, lovers of high art and spiritual music.
And they built Auschwitz.

[Stephen Whiteside]

So put me out of my suspense, David. Does Santa Claus really exist?

[David Campbell]

My five-year-old self thought he did, Stephen, and that kid is still part of me. Maybe that says something about what stimulates our imagination.

David

[Stephen Whiteside]

Yes, it's important to find a way to keep the child alive, isn't it. Happy New Year, David.

[Dave Smith]

To keep the child alive goes a long way to how we are in ourself and the reverse works my grand kids go along way to keeping me alive, Hey.

TTFN

[David Campbell]

Thanks Stephen, and best wishes to you as well. That's a nice thought, Dave. We don't have any grandchildren as yet, so I have to rely on the inner child.

Cheers
David

[Bob Pacey]

I was amazed the other day when I asked a six year old what Santa was giving him for Christmas and his reply was " Santa's not real mum and dad buy our presents" .

At what age should kids be told ?? I cannot remember when i found out but I do know kids up to nine years old who still believe and is that so bad !

Next thing you know someone will decide that the "Ghost Who Walks" does not exist either


Bob

[David Campbell]

You ask a good question, Bob. Sadly, children seem to lose their childhood at an earlier age with each generation. And with all of the amazing visual technology at their fingertips, I suspect less and less is left to the imagination.

One thing I believed in (or maybe just wanted to believe in) as a kid was the Faraway Tree (home to Moonface, Dame Washalot and co.) depicted in the Enid Blyton books. At the top of the tree was access to a fascinating array of different lands (Land of Goodies, Land of Dreams, Land of Birthdays) which the children in the stories ventured into. In Melbourne it was serialised on a radio station (3KZ) and read by a bloke named Norman Swain, who did all the voices. His reading of those stories must have stirred the imagination of thousands of kids over the years, and I sometimes wonder if he ever realised how much influence he had. I can clearly remember the suspense-filled waiting to learn if the children escaped back to the tree before the scarier lands moved on.

Modern trivia: Political correctness has held sway and Fanny is now Frannie, Dick is Rick, and Dame Slap is Dame Snap.

And I was once the proud owner of a Phantom ring!

Cheers
David

[Stephen Whiteside]

Yes, it is sad to hear how children are losing more and more of their childhood these days. We will all pay for it in the long run, I am sure.

I worked hard with our kids to maintain the Santa Claus and Easter Bunny myths for as long as possible. There is a point where belief gives way to mere ritual - and it is hard to pinpoint exactly when that happens - but even the ritual is of value, I believe.

I was too young for Enid Blyton, but I loved all the Narnia series. Arthur Ransome had a huge influence on me - especially 'Swallowdale'. The only thing that kept me going through those detestable swimming lessons was that soon I would be home and able to sit in my red trakkie in front of the wall heater and read the next chapter. I also loved the poems of AA Milne - and 'The Geebung Polo Club' and 'Mulga Bill's Bicycle' also made a very big impression at a young age.

I'm sure that books and radio stimulate the imagination in a way that TV and movies just don't. Story-time on ABC radio on Sunday morning was also marvellous. I suppose a lot of it was the Argonauts, but I'm sure there was lots of other stuff as well.

My father had a couple of vinyls of Lionel Long singing Australian folk songs. This was my first introduction to Australian folk music - 'Click Go the Shears', 'Moreton Bay', etc. Anybody else remember Lionel Long? You don't hear much about him these days.