Notes

         Mid-afternoon. You have been thinking and have come to the realization that Kay did you a favor in asking the question and comments because you do not see writing the notes or the books a reality. Writing is a pleasure, a hobby of yours and as it is fiction (to you) it has very little to do with the real world, actually, to you, it has nothing to do with the real world. Thus, when she asked a question in ‘real world’ terms it threw you off center. You have ‘control’ of the books even though I do the writing. You always have the free will to erase, and although rare, you have done so. What do you have to say to this?

         Sounds like I’m a control freak – obsessive/compulsive behaviors. No doubt it is true. I have no real control in the real world and beyond that want none. I have no real ambitions other than enjoying life and friends and family and finishing the books. Do I?

         Not from my perspective. Very funny. Probably one of the reasons you have slowed down in your writing. After all, you wanted only three books, a trilogy and once they were done these are extra. For the record though, once you thought you might become famous.

         That’s true. I thought it would be fun to have a best seller and they would make a movie of it and I would become wealthy and give some of the money away to friends, particularly to those friends who I acknowledged in the front of the book. I wrote it up in my notes at the time as a contract of sorts. I would give them a percentage of the profits. They were kind to stick with me and they helped keep me honest in the notes and in the books. Kay, actually, in asking the question, has done the same kind of thing. I need to keep balanced and not get too caught up in the story or the imagination behind it. The writing makes me free in my head, I would hate for it to become and chain and stone that I have to drag around for the rest of my life. What I have come to realize is that I don’t care about being famous either. The writing process helps keep me mentally alert and active. We have good (well-earned) pensions and have a savings to fall back on. I don’t need anything more than I already have. Being famous sounds like another word for slavery. Too much of anything is a form of slavery in my mind.

         You have an opinion. Later, dude. Post. – Amorella.

         While on Facebook, Jim P. while writing on Michael I’s. wall page concerning Gutenberg’s first translation of the Bible you decided to comment. Here is Jim’s comment then yours:

J: Indeed. KJV is such a dated attempt to reach back to the autograph that its fans really show the superficiality of their attempt to connect with the original. But one ought to be charitable whenever another tries to follow a spiritual path.

R: This brings back a memory. Once in a stay-over with students at the Mosteiro de Sao Bento near Sao Paulo, Brazil in [the] early seventies, a liberal-minded monk once told me in private that the two best modern translations at the time were The Jerusalem Bible (1966)  and the New English Bible (1970). I bought and read them both, one book from one then one book from the other. I was not through the first page of each when I realized any spiritual translations from ancient Greek, Latin and Hebrew can be a tricky business. Both were worth the reading to me.

**

         What is funny is that I felt this first with my heart then with my mind. The setting, Brazil, was with my heart. I don’t remember ever differentiating between heart and mind thoughts so quickly. For me there is an intuitive difference, though both initial concepts Brazil and Bible translations brought a quick inner joy, it was Brazil (the country) that was more heartfelt. Is that why you wanted this included in the blog?

         No, it wasn’t and isn’t. – Amorella.

         What is the reason then?

         The reason is to remind you that you once read both translations, enjoying the ‘battles’ that must have gone on over the word choices. As a further reminder, let’s add an example from each Bible:

The Jerusalem Bible (1966)  - Catholic

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God's spirit hovered over the water.

New English Bible (1970) - Protestant

In the beginning of creation, when God made heaven and earth, ^(a) the earth was without form and void, with darkness over the face of the abyss, and a mighty wind that swept ^(b) over the surface of the waters.

a. Or, In the beginning God created heaven and earth.

b. Or, and the spirit of God hovering.

**

         I used to have a two or three page reading sheet of like translations when we went over the KJV of a few passages in the British literature text. It is interesting still and over the years more than a few of my students were curious as they did not know of various translations. It was always fun to show students something they did not know or realize and watch their reactions. Gave me joy, it did.

         So, there is where the joy comes from orndorff, just so you know.

         I didn’t mean to imply I read the Bibles for religious reasons.

         This clarifies it. – Amorella.

         No doubt this is going to offend someone as the implication is not very polite in my mind.

         Give it a rest, orndorff. Post. – Amorella.