Large Fierce Mammal

I’ve mentioned my Esteemed Friend and Fellow Fiend Jim Keating more than a few times here, and no doubt will again because he persists in provoking me. His daily updated MAAJAK World (pronounced “MAGIC World”) ezine (MAAJAK = Master At Arms James Albert Keating) has been a daily morning stopping point for me since I first discovered it many moons agone. To my own sensibilities, its eclectic selections give insight into the mind of a Man who is a Complete Gentleman of the Oldest of Old Schools.

Over the years, Jim has expanded his august publication so that today we have two related pages to enjoy – MAAJAK 1 and MAAJAK 2, and today, he felt compelled to issue a definition of the MAAJAK publication philosophy:

Maajak World was created for entertainment purposes. To share knowledge and to educate also became a priority over time. Magazines of the past were an inspiration. Saga, Argosy, True and many other great old publications offered a diverse amount of good reading in their heyday. I wanted that same diversity in MW. Those old magazines  always had something about cars, a bit of adventure, some hunting topics, outdoors stuff, new products mainly for men and opinions that counted! That was some quality, five star entertainment! MW loosely follows that lead from the past. Yes, the subjects are a lil bit different, yes the players have changed. But all in all, we never tire of such classic magazine formats, they are long lived. Rejoice in this wonderful world and what it offers. Maajak World is just a bridge or a portal that can offer glimpes of greatness which we all share in. They are the reflections of the greater cosmic roles we play in this universe of mysteries. The wonderous wizard of www.cyberspaceorbit.com aka Kent Steadman was also an inspiration for MW. Kents non-classical JKD-ish approach to the internet was ahead of its time and provided ground for others to build upon – he was old internet. FREE meant just that free – “Steal this Book” Abby Hoffman – take it and run son. Maajak World is made up from hundreds of emails that are sent in daily. Good links and websites. Some are unsuitable, others are spot on! I thank you all! Thank you also for the support over the Valentines day long holiday too. Like real life, there are no 2nd chances. Here and gone, that is the way of nature. Look now, taste now, jump now.. soon no more. Gone. MW is like that, like life, rapid, here and gone. No archives, no second chances. These are some answers to some of your questions.

I’m guilty of having been among those who send Jim the occasional inspiration to be shared with our respective, and often overlapping, audiences; even as he has frequently inspired items that appear here. I don’t think either of us will stop that behaviour any time soon.

I quoted what Jim posted today for posterity because, as written word, it won’t be around for long even though its spirit and sentiment will remain. As he wrote, “… Like real life, there are no 2nd chances. Here and gone, that is the way of nature. Look now, taste now, jump now.. soon no more. Gone. MW is like that, like life, rapid, here and gone. No archives, no second chances ….”

This carpe diem approach to Life parallels my own, and only last evening I gave a related snippet of advice along those lines to another Esteemed Friend. You know who you are.

And the title of today’s piece? Well, that refers to a family encounter not long ago involving 4 year old Alyssa (Neice LFM) and our own Treasured garçon sauvage, SFM Viktor. We were all visiting Nana Izabella (Esteemed Mother of Mrs. LFM) who lives to photograph everything in range of her ever present camera, and on the day in question, had apparently been targeted by the Gods for a lesson in carpe diem.

Alyssa kissed Viktor on the head – in itself not an amazing or even remarkable thing – but Izabella noticed it while she was somehow, miraculously, without camera ready to hand. She immediately cried out in dismay, seized her camera (instead of the day) and asked Alyssa to repeat the scene.

Alyssa pointedly and resolutely declined, and when asked why replied, “Because it already happened.”

Thus endeth the lesson.