Sunday, August 1, 2010

Battling Depression -- via a Young Don Quixote

As a child I was always intrigued by a section of gnarled tree trunk
that was carved into the head of Don Quixote.
 It never occurred to me to wonder who Don Quixote was; 
after all, he was just some guy dad liked.
Dad also had a small wooden piece, only a few inches tall, a 
skinny old guy with knobby knees, pointed helmet, and tall spear-thing. 
My brother now has these in a niche in his den.  
A good friend has a silkscreen print of Don Quixote on a horse, 
again a scrawny guy wearing a pointed helmet 
and holding a  lance, all drawn with a striking grungy outline.
I finally wondered, who is this Don Quixote?
Well, he’s a guy who seems to be simply silly or crazy-as-anything.
Maybe that’s because he goes through his days with boundless hope.  
Or maybe it’s because he thinks every 
windmill is a giant enemy that needs to be slain. 
(At this point it occurred to me that the pic of dad at nine, 
grinning big-enough-to-beat-all as he sat on a horse, 
would be perfect to alter: Young Don Quixote!)
Seems to me that jousting with windmill blades is either crazy or delightful.  
I think it’s a delightful metaphor 
for battling depression -- that visible/invisible 
giant-of-an-enemy found in homes far and wide.
What a way to bring a smile to your eyes and a lift of the chin:  to face
the day with an imaginary lance (how about this candy-cane striped one 
I found on flickr?) ready to battle any giant you might encounter.
Enjoy!  Click comments below to share your fav Don Quixote story, 
your battle with those visible/invisible-giants-of-depression-or-you-name-it, 
or anything else on your mind.  (Yes, you can
also still email me -- people love to read comments though
as we grow, think, and learn together.)
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