Dear Edith Ann: i truly think that we start our almost adult lives thinking we have the key, that we know it all; then we age and realize we don’t really know much of anything but what we know is twice as precious.

I’m now old enough to know why adults when I was young said,”Children should be seen but not heard.” I thought it such an awful thing. Didn’t do it with my own. Now I understand. Children, no matter how intelligent, need to spend several years quietly observing, in order to come up with the ‘right’ questions. Had I been allowed to ask any question I’d wanted to ask I wouldn’t have had time to observe anything! Observation is ‘key’ I think. Mom was right and damn if she up and died before I could let her know all the things she was right about! She’d love the opportunity to say “I told you so!”

Loved your comments about learning, Edith Anne. S M I L E!

Dear EA - It’s been my experience after many decades of learning, that there aren’t very many “right answers.” There are “better answers” and “worse answers” but not too many absolutes. I think your Dr. Lopez must be very, very smart because she wants you to do some critical thinking (it’s a grown-up term-don’t worry about it). That way you get to exercise that wonderful imagination of yours and ask about what really matters to you. Sounds as if you’re on the right track to become a boon. xxoo from your friend Maurine.

Edith Ann, mostly what I’ve learned is that most people think learning is what all those other dumb, uneducated, pain in the butt, annoying people ought to get some of.

Edith Ann: I carry a copy of “The Messiah’s Handbook.” It says that “learning is nothing more than remembering what you already know. Now my question is, what have I forgot?

I like what e e cummings wrote about humanity’s ability to learn: Humanity i love you because you are perpetually putting the secret of life in your pants and forgetting it’s there and sitting down on it

For years, I have known that Edith Ann rocks! Literally, in a big oversized rocker! I love you Lily. Like Scread from “Dregs and Vestages”.

At the age of 47, I am a junior in college studying to be a Middle School Math and Science teacher. One day I was helping my 15 y.o. son with a math problem and he turned to me and said “Mom, you are really smart!” I regret that I did not have a tape recorder to capture that statement. I would encourage anyone with the time to volunteer as a tutor at your local school. There are many children struggling and just a little one-on-one time with a tutor improves there learning capabilities. Not all families can afford these learning centers that have cropped up. They are very expensive. The education of today’s children is the future of this country and until funding is equitable we as adults have to do what we can to level the playing field. We need to improve math and science scores in this country or the companies looking for mathematicians and scientist will go overseas. Many countries out perform the U.S. on international testing in the fields of math and science. Google the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and see for yourself how we perform in international testing. Look at what countries out rank us on these tests. That is where the technological jobs will go, because of the availiblity of a knowledgeable workforce. Thank you for listening.

Iris, I was never without that wonderful little book in my 40’s! I used it to turn to just any page and see what it said and how it applied to what scrunch was in my life. Great great book. My favorite part was the first pages that looked like lines on the blackboard or an assignment book! Said it all. But to your comment on ‘…learning is nothing more than remembering what you already know…’ by Bach, is I think in the Art of Observation in whatever we are doin’, kinda like ‘bein’ there, or better said maybe, here? I loved that book and bought so many to give away and loaned out so many I never got back and now I don’t have one. But it is with me. It was his best, I think. They lived about 20 miles from where I grew up. I know where he used to take up and put down that little Bi-Plane, both the physical and the metaphysical. Thanks for reminding me of that jewel.

You’re welcome. Yes, the parable of the river creatures. Little concept’s come a long way since 1977. How marvelous your connection. I’d enjoy hearing your stories one of these days. Maybe ‘round a campfire with some badly baked bread.

Grownups run the world and if you ask them to explain what they have said you usually get this answer “I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” So I am with Edith Ann - I ask my own questions and come up with my own damn answers :)