Margaret Thatcher
Dear Friends of the Pub Quiz,
Margaret Thatcher once said, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” Setting aside whether one can make blanket seemingly-essentialist statements about men and women in our sensitive era, I will say that I myself depend upon all sorts of women. My mom, for instance, has done a marvelous job parenting my brother and me, even while working full time as a librarian for the last five decades or so. These days she is continuing to find and increase her strength after getting her hip replaced. She impressed her doctors and physical therapists with her resilience and ability to heal. Obviously the years of yoga, dance, and swimming lessons have served her well.
My wife Kate underestimated the weight of our solid son Jukie when adjusting the patio chaise lounger in which he was reclining yesterday morning, and she consequently pulled a muscle in her back. At least she got to enjoy brunch and dinner in bed, delivered by her husband who has been prepping for fall classes and writing a guide to the cultural offerings of Davis. The boys and I depend heavily on Kate – she is what a friend called “the CEO of the family.” I will see to what extent I can pick up the extra slack – so many jobs, so many tasks! – while Kate is recovering.
And then there’s Hillary. Our former Secretary of State seemed to have recovered pretty quickly from the frightening episode, recorded on multiple smartphones yesterday, in which she had great difficulty getting into her car. At least 40% of the country, myself included, expressed concern and rooted for her to recover soon. Many of us also wondered why her pneumonia, diagnosed Friday, was not previously revealed to the public. Discussions began about what we should know about candidates running for president, especially two of the three oldest ever to aspire to occupy the office. The polls are tightening, and the anxiety is rising. Men and women everywhere are hoping their candidate has the strength to continue.
Poetry comes to mind when I need strength or inspiration. Here is a short and I hope relevant poem by the Indian poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore:
This is my prayer to thee, my lord—strike,
strike at the root of penury in my heart.
Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows.
Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.
Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees before insolent might.
Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles.
And give me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will with love.
For myself, I will need to call upon more of my internal resources without the available strength of these three strong women. In such situations, I seek out the sort of love that Tagore mentions in the close of this poem. I hope such love is also available to you.
Tonight’s Pub Quiz will feature questions about the U.S. Constitution, consumerism, trade deficits, Turks, punks, accomplished directors, memoirists, Harvard doctorates, the things you are, tissues, the wide expanse of Canada, Lawrence Olivier, that which is shared with cheese, longer titles, mediated authenticity, 38 seasons, great Scots, unusual containers, combustion, accommodating American consumerism, turned attention to water, that which is demanding, school rooms, legislatures, people named John, hemp, odd numbers, teams named after creatures, the ACLU, an account of billiard balls, the question as to whether Virginia is for lover(s), Davis artistic expression, and Shakespeare.
It would be a thrill to see some (or all) of you are my re-coronation as Davis poet laureate tomorrow evening at the beginning of the Davis City Council meeting. I expect to be crowned at 6:40 or so, at which time I will present a new poem. The poem is so new that it could even be called “unborn.” After the poem, I will slip out, and you are encouraged to do the same.
Meanwhile, see you tonight at 7!
Your Quizmaster
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Here are three questions from last week’s quiz:
- California Counties. Starting with the letter T, what California county has the greatest number of cows and dairies?
- The Presidential Election of 2016. When did, does, or will early voting start in one or more American states? Last month, this month, next month, or November?
- Pop Culture – Music. What late 2012 hit for will.i.am and Britney Spears was the first number one song of the newly established Dance/Electronic Songs chart? Hint: The song has 12 letters in its title, if one counts the ampersand.
P.S. Thursday is Poetry Night again. Can you believe it?