i finished reading frank mccourt’s teacher man last night and i loved the bits and pieces that made me think, even though i really wonder if he really meant for the readers to think. the book is meant to share his teaching experience, i guess.

in it, he analysed the little bo peep poem along with his students. you know, the one that goes “little bo peep has lost her sheep / and doesn’t know where to find them. / leave them alone and they will come home / wagging their tails behind them.” he intepreted it as the beauty of people leaving each other alone and getting off each other’s backs while getting their tasks done. hell, i think that’ll make the world a lot more beautiful too.

and the part where he had his class reading out recipes from cookbooks and creating background music along with students singing the recipes aloud. after their potluck picnic out in the park. that had me in stitches too.

a tidbit that i’m still digesting, is the part where he wrote about an essay by this guy Thoreau, where he says when one should go out the door for a walk , he should be so free and unencumbered, he need never return to the starting place.

i’m still thinking about the reality, the advantages and disadvantages of this.

i mean, it’s a really cool idea and i’d kind of admire anyone who has the guts to give up all that he has (or doesn’t) to start from scratch somewhere new. i guess that gives a person a lot of experiences and stories to tell to his grandchildren. it’ll probably be damn exciting if each time i go for a walk, i reach a new place, it’s almost like experiencing rebirth.

but how many people can give up their wordly possessions, family and friends, their careers at which they’ve been slogging for, etc. etc.? along the way there might be new friends, but to me, it makes a difference whether or not i can hang out with my friends over a cup of coffee or have a weekly dinner with my family.

it’s a dangerous idea to think about, cos once i reach a conclusion after a long period of thinking, i’ll go after what i think is right, like the other off-the-tested-and-tried routes i’ve taken and is about to take. what if i think this kind of unencumbered life is the one i want?

sometimes i think reading ruins my life.

still, go read this book! it’s a good one!