EVEN MORE ODDS AND ENDS

1. DIVING - INTO CAVES

I just read that a group of "SCUBA Enthusiasts" will be offering diving products and classes in Eldersburg, Maryland.

This reminds me of one of our good friends who loved to spend time underwater.  He also was opening a diving shop in Eldersburg when he heard about an underwater cave in Guatemala that had never been explored.  It was believed to be a "bottomless pit."

Our friend had lots of experience exploring underwater caves and felt very qualified to investigate this one. He packed his diving gear and headed to Guatemala, where he quickly dove into "the unknown."

He was never heard of again.

          

2.  THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

Growing up, I was intrigued with the story of a hero who fights against the evils inflicted on people by their so-called "leaders," especially during "The Inquisition."

This story was about Don Quixote (or The Ingenious Gentleman Sir Don Quixote of La Mancha, -- El ingeniosa hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha) and was written and published in the seventeenth century by Miguel de Cervantes.

Americans pronounce the hero's last name like "key oatie"; Brits pronounce it like "quicks ot." (I think.)

It is a story of an ordinary, but accomplished man who detests those cruel "leaders," and who hops on his "faithful steed," Rosinante, and gallops away with his "faithful squire," Pancho Panza to free slaves and beat up the "bad guys."

The "bad guys" often turn out to be the windmills that dot the Spanish landscape.  Along the way, he tries to be very heroic, to impress the beautiful Dulcinia, whom he feels is as sweet as her name implies.

During the World War, my mother told me to always fight against injustice and be like the Don. She also told me to dream "high," because I should be able to do anything I dream of.

The story of Don Quixote has inspired lots of artwork.  For instance, Pablo Picasso created the following:

Some other works:

1959 The Man of La Mancha, teleplay by Dale Wasserman

1965 The Man of La Mancha, musical, book by Dale Wasserman

1972 Man of La Mancha, movie, with Peter O'Toole as the Don, James Coco as Sancho Panza, and (my fellow birthday partner) Sophia Loren as Dulcinea.

2000 Don Quixote, play starring Baltimore's own John Lithgow as the Don.

2021 The True Don Quixote

I believe that these movies are free to watch on the Internet, and, of course, some of these works can be viewed on You Tube.

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Continue tilting at windmills!