Ishkabibble, Chaos, Joy
While on my morning walk yesterday, my mind resurrected a term from the past — Ishkabibble. The internet being the marvel it is, I googled it. According to worldwidewords.org, it originated around 1913. It was adopted by actor Merwyn Bogue on a 1930s radio show called Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge. He took it from a song, Isch Gabibble (“I Should Worry,” meaning “Don’t worry!” or “Who cares?”). That indicates the origin is Yiddish, but the article states the source has never been proven definitively. I recall using it during my Catholic school years, and my classmates did the same. I’m pretty sure my next door neighbor, Clifford Brown, used it. Through the haze of time, I have lost the context of what we meant by it. My best guess is it was a term of endearment or a gentle put down. It puts a smile on my face. Here’s Bogue in character:
Since I had only ten days left of my hiatus between rounds of proofing the novel I hope to self-publish in January, I chose a short book to fill the gap, The Doors of Joy by Daniel Odier. Born in Geneva in 1945, he has devoted his life to the study of spirituality, rising to master, author of about 40 books. I’m not a spiritual person. I don’t look down on it, but find it baffling, even though I accept the belief that all is one, as Odier contends. Perhaps my mind isn’t sharp enough to grasp it. I see no meaning to life other than what an individual ascribes to it. I did find several interesting thoughts in the narrative, however. Oddly, almost all coincide with my book. I’ll include comments in parentheses on what I think is meant by statements where it may not be obvious:
Life is beautiful to the extent that it is dangerous. (The unexpected should always be welcomed. It challenges us to be at our best.)
The mind, like any other worker, deserves hours of rest. (Doesn’t a night’s sleep almost always do that?)
There is no need to fully withdraw from the world to touch life and experience freedom.
We must make a minimal effort to really take a look, to feel, to touch an object, then, after a short lapse of time, we can let go of being present and return to our habitual state of distraction. (Take a break from routine to behold any of the wonders prevalent in the world — smell the roses.)
The “no” is the guardian of our security and the guarantor of our ultimate boredom. (Don’t deny a spontaneous break in routine.)
One who knows joy will not cease the exploration of the Real. (I do not grasp what he means by real, other than it is not the lives most people live. Oddly, I find those real while my own life often seems fake.)
Periods of chaos are marvelously creative. (If so, we are living in a golden age.)
Meeting with uncertainty stimulates our mind and body so paralyzed by habit.
There is no authentic joy without encountering chaos. (It is outside the routine.)
What is present in this moment, in front of you, contains all that is needed to bring joy. (Contemplate one of the wonders taken for granted or overlooked.)
I’ve settled on a title — Vito’s Day. It follows thoughts and actions. I began the second round of proofing six days early. And wouldn’t you know, within the first few pages the protagonist experiences a flash of joy that startles and scares him. Bear in mind that the language of the mind is often abbreviated: “Why not let it take you? Why such fear of happiness, of losin’ focus? More painful to fall from a greater height. Gotta fall, come down eventually. Inevitable. And if it was more than a brief flash you might get bored with it. Then what?…” Odier’s book and beliefs seem a repudiation of how Vito lives. That’s fine, as Vito is constantly questioning himself.
My thanks to the kind folks who bought and swapped books on this gorgeous day, and to Marty, NYPD retired, who had a lot of nice things to say about Exchanges, which he just finished. I’m always surprised when someone who didn’t experience the bizarre world of commodity floor trading likes the book, and I always fear that many who worked there and loved it will not. I always felt like an outsider there and tried to be objective about it. I’ve never missed the atmosphere, but many who worked there still do and say so in Facebook posts. I respect, admire, envy, and am baffled by their love of it. About 33% of the new novel takes place there. Obviously, it had a profound effect on me, and it was positive despite my dislike of the job… I also had an interesting encounter with a thirtyish artist who wanted to take a picture of my profile because it reminded him of a drawing by DaVinci. He showed it to me on his iphone, and I laughed out loud. I believe it was this one:
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