A Horse Nighthawk
Vol. 93, March 26th, 2024 Published a day early online
A Horse Named Theo
Up, up, UP into the sky I climbed, swinging a leg over the saddle, and perching with a wobble on the back of the quarter horse.
“Gooood boy, Theo.” He flicked his ears.
“You all set? You look like you’re leaning” the neighbor said.
“I’m...good.” With a wiggle and a waggle, the saddle set, we trotted off, only slightly slower than the tiny granddaughter who had recently dismounted. (And they say peer pressure is bad.)
Theo proved a gentleman, and didn’t take off at a gallop, or throw me off, or drag me through mud in a humiliation of cracked ribs. He probably rolled his eyes, but that’s all right by me.
What a charge! I’d never been on a horse. Ah, to ride on a noble steed. My imagination took off faster than his patient hooves, with pretend narratives in my head.
“I thought of Nelly, brunching herself back to life in the big city. Maybe he thought of dappled mares in some high mountain meadow. One thing was certain, those bandits would pay, and pay dearly. We rode on.”
Hey, it’s a miracle I didn’t start singing “A Horse with No Name.” He’s got one, and it’s Theo. What a fella!
Quote of the Week
“The eternal difference between right and wrong does not fluctuate, it is immutable.”
–Patrick Henry
Ptolemy Begins His Work (127 AD)
Greek mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy starts his serious observations of the heavens, advancing science & civilization.
Carol’s Appalachian Word of the Week
Airish: Windy and cool. “We’ve been having an airish March so far. The bees are hardly flying it’s so chilly.” Thanks, Carol!
Book of the Week: Aesop’s Fables
William Caxton printed his translation of the classic today in 1484. They haven’t gone out of style.
Write to Us!
The Nighthawk is a new old-fashioned way to connect, published weekly. You’re invited to write back, or just enjoy reading. Let’s have some fun! It’s a social paper! Send stories, etc to: PO Box 783, Rustburg, VA 24588 or Joshurban@protonmail.com
Letters from Josh
(A weekly update from Josh Urban’s adventures on the farm and in the city. #178)
Appearing in the Altavista Journal, etc: Career Day
Howdy, folks, and welcome back to the show! My Grandma once told me to beware communists and gold diggers. It seems advice worth passing on to the bright young students at the upcoming career day. What else am I supposed to tell them–how to make lots of money? (I’m a writer.)
I used to be full of rare advice, but time does wonders for humility. Mark Twain put it best: “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”
I still love career day, though, and would like to help. Here are a few thoughts I’m bringing along in lieu of props (or a Ferrari).
1. Beware unqualified advice. (See above–Ferrari, lack of.)
2. What a blessing it is to be useful. I used to view work with suspicion, a way for “the man” to keep me from enjoying life, little Marxist that I was. (I’ve reformed.) Now I see how most any work, when done so it’s useful, keeps the world turning. Working like this makes me a better man in the process.
3. What you love + What loves you back + What the World needs = A good job to have. (Credit to Austin Kleon for that idea.)
4. You can’t eat a podcast. This quote makes me laugh every time. I’m a creative guy, and sometimes it’s cool. Sometimes it’s profoundly useless. Sometimes the creatives get smug about their hit podcast, and then forget both the skill and necessity of the people who keep food on the table. America need your talents–badly–and talent is found in every field. Be proud of your work, and make it useful, no matter the industry.
5. Challenge makes you sharp. A big stack of bills means I get out into the world, and make something that’s helpful. The task lifts me up.
6. Find a problem, then solve it. That’s when I get paid.
7. Ask for Advice. The world is full of mentors (most of them good). Ask for help along the way! You’ll be surprised at how many brilliant people like to share their ideas and give back.
Do you have career advice for a young person entering the workforce soon? Drop me a line, and I’ll find a way to share it. (I’d like to hear it, too.) For those about to rock...We Salute you!
Catch you on the flip side,
Josh
Send helpful hints for business and good living to P.O. Box 783, Rustburg, VA 24588 or on X @RealJoshUrban