INTRO TO "NEXT TO NOTHING"
Childhood as I choose to remember it.
"There are two types of kitties; inside kitties and outside kitties. You're an outside kitty." Tammy Hosaka
My brother Herb sat at the kitchen crying. At first he was crying quietly to himself. Then his tears and pain became visible. Mom and Dad were puzzled. My sister Jan and I were puzzled. Even Herb was puzzled although he didn't know why. Pain always brings the question "why?" My brother was crying because his hand wouldn't "work." Somehow in the remote village of Disautel, Washington, we were having a dinner of fresh crabs complete with mom's homemade dip of ketchup, mayonnaise and tarter powder. (Years later I would puzzle over the difference between the tarter in sauce and the tartar my dentist so valiantly struggled against.) My brother was struggling with the tool used to break the shells. Because his was thumb was broken, he just couldn't figure out how to get that delicious crabmeat. That's when he started crying. Now by this time you're wondering how did Herb break his arm and what does it have to do with this book and why does Jeff Albin have to start everything with all these weird stories?
Fair enough. Earlier in the day, Herb had been bounced off of the "bucking barrel." He had landed so hard on the compacted earth that he had broken his thumb. A bucking barrel consisted of a 55 gallon steel drum suspended from four trees. Usually a used saddle was strapped on top. Once the rider was seated, people would vigorously shake the ropes. Few stayed on for long. Successful riders probably went on to the rodeo circuit. Herb had injured himself that morning. It wasn't until that evening that he became aware of his injury. Before you leap to risk assessments consider that Herb broke one arm twice, one arm three times, dislocated a shoulder, shredded his knee cartilage, broke an unknown number of ribs and perhaps an ankle during the course of growing up. My childhood was filled with calls from the emergency room but Herb survived and so did we.
The bucking barrel still stands strong in my mind as the height of low-cost, high fun rural adventure. First, it was cheap. Steel barrels can be found for free. Stout ropes and old logging cable could be scrounged anywhere. Generous cowboys full of heart and wisdom still live in rural America. It also required community. Adults had to put it up. You needed at least two people per rope and one brave rider to make it happen. There was also, believe it or not, an unofficial safety committee. And more than anything, it was a rite of passage. Riding the bucking barrel gained you at least some acceptance from the children of Disautel. Other than a few bumps and bruises, people didn't get hurt. My brother was the lone exception during our time there.
My brother's experience through my eyes confirmed his character for me. He was tough. In today's language, we would say resilient. He didn't feel his pain until it became a real obstacle. In a small way I liken this to the Japanese gymnast who completed his routine complete with aerial landing despite a broken leg in the 1988? Olympics.
Resiliency is a quality parents, counselors, teachers and youthworkers strive to build in children. One of the simplest ways is to build a sense of community and family in whatever environment you are working in. The activities in this short book are designed with the principles of the bucking barrel with a few changes..
1) Materials must be found in the found in the average school or free in the community..
2) There must be a sense of adventure and risk.
3) Any community member can run the activities.
4) You don't ride unless you want to.
5) You don't need elaborate techniques or confusing jargon.
Childhood as I choose to remember it.
"There are two types of kitties; inside kitties and outside kitties. You're an outside kitty." Tammy Hosaka
My brother Herb sat at the kitchen crying. At first he was crying quietly to himself. Then his tears and pain became visible. Mom and Dad were puzzled. My sister Jan and I were puzzled. Even Herb was puzzled although he didn't know why. Pain always brings the question "why?" My brother was crying because his hand wouldn't "work." Somehow in the remote village of Disautel, Washington, we were having a dinner of fresh crabs complete with mom's homemade dip of ketchup, mayonnaise and tarter powder. (Years later I would puzzle over the difference between the tarter in sauce and the tartar my dentist so valiantly struggled against.) My brother was struggling with the tool used to break the shells. Because his was thumb was broken, he just couldn't figure out how to get that delicious crabmeat. That's when he started crying. Now by this time you're wondering how did Herb break his arm and what does it have to do with this book and why does Jeff Albin have to start everything with all these weird stories?
Fair enough. Earlier in the day, Herb had been bounced off of the "bucking barrel." He had landed so hard on the compacted earth that he had broken his thumb. A bucking barrel consisted of a 55 gallon steel drum suspended from four trees. Usually a used saddle was strapped on top. Once the rider was seated, people would vigorously shake the ropes. Few stayed on for long. Successful riders probably went on to the rodeo circuit. Herb had injured himself that morning. It wasn't until that evening that he became aware of his injury. Before you leap to risk assessments consider that Herb broke one arm twice, one arm three times, dislocated a shoulder, shredded his knee cartilage, broke an unknown number of ribs and perhaps an ankle during the course of growing up. My childhood was filled with calls from the emergency room but Herb survived and so did we.
The bucking barrel still stands strong in my mind as the height of low-cost, high fun rural adventure. First, it was cheap. Steel barrels can be found for free. Stout ropes and old logging cable could be scrounged anywhere. Generous cowboys full of heart and wisdom still live in rural America. It also required community. Adults had to put it up. You needed at least two people per rope and one brave rider to make it happen. There was also, believe it or not, an unofficial safety committee. And more than anything, it was a rite of passage. Riding the bucking barrel gained you at least some acceptance from the children of Disautel. Other than a few bumps and bruises, people didn't get hurt. My brother was the lone exception during our time there.
My brother's experience through my eyes confirmed his character for me. He was tough. In today's language, we would say resilient. He didn't feel his pain until it became a real obstacle. In a small way I liken this to the Japanese gymnast who completed his routine complete with aerial landing despite a broken leg in the 1988? Olympics.
Resiliency is a quality parents, counselors, teachers and youthworkers strive to build in children. One of the simplest ways is to build a sense of community and family in whatever environment you are working in. The activities in this short book are designed with the principles of the bucking barrel with a few changes..
1) Materials must be found in the found in the average school or free in the community..
2) There must be a sense of adventure and risk.
3) Any community member can run the activities.
4) You don't ride unless you want to.
5) You don't need elaborate techniques or confusing jargon.
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