Tripod: Messages from the Staff

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<option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://pages.ebay.com/antiques/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">Antiques <option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://pages.ebay.com/books/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">Books, <option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://pages.ebay.com/books/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">-Magazines <option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://pages.ebay.com/collectibles/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">Collectibles <option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://coins.ebay.com/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">Coins <option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://computers.ebay.com/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">Computers <option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://dolls.ebay.com/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">Dolls, Figures <option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://jewelry.ebay.com/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">Jewelry <option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://pottery.ebay.com/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">Pottery <option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://pages.ebay.com/sportsmem/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">Sports <option value="partner=TRIPOD&loc=http://pages.ebay.com/sportsmem/%3FTRIPODSPONSOR">-Memorabilia <option 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husband</a>'s family reunion, I happen to be writing from a cruise ship  the MS/Leeward. I must admit that for me  being scared of the water and tending to wilt in the sun  an ocean cruise is one of the last things I would do of my own free will for a vacation. To make time to write this "Letter from Tripod," I am forgoing many things: the Giant Jackpot Bingo in the Stardust Lounge; the One-on-One Basketball Tournament with Anne, our cruise's own sports director; and the Ice Carving Demonstration with the MS/Leeward's culinary staff. (If you want to read an incredibly hilarious and frighteningly accurate description of a cruise vacation, see David Foster Wallace's essay "A Supposedly Fun Thing That I Never Want to Do Again," in his book of the same name.)<p> There are over 100 of Josh's relatives on this ship, many of whom are kids. Although there are lots of cruise-sponsored events for them to participate in, the one small video arcade on the ship (with about 5 games and a foot of space behind them) seems to be where these kids spend a lot of time crammed together. Street Fighter II is the most popular game, and young cousin Ben has found a way to wire it so that all the games are free.<p> Street Fighter II, for those of you who haven't played, is a game with about nine characters, each of whom has a different look and fighting style. You choose a character (like Blanka  a man/monster who uses his incredible strength to pick up his enemies and smash them on the ground, or Jun Li  a female ninja warrior who can kick her legs so fast that they become electric shocks) and your opponent chooses a character, and you fight each other in what are basically rather drawn-out and fancy fisticuffs.<p> Ben is really good at Street Fighter II, not to mention his savvy wiring ability. His little brother, Amos, isn't so good at the game. But Amos wins the award for trying. He is in there hour after hour, and gets crushed all the time  no matter which character he chooses. When he is Blanka, he gets electrocuted by Jun Li; when he is Jun Li, he gets his head crushed by Blanka. But he works at it like nobody's business. He will take on anyone at any time. Game after ruthless and losing game, he plays on.<p> Maybe Amos is why I'm thinking about my viola on this cruise. Although I had never played a string instrument in my life, and am well past the optimum age for the Suzuki method to work, about a year ago  after several years of thinking about it  I got motived to buy a viola and find a teacher. It had been a long time since I had started to learn something completely new to me and the first steps were exhilarating. In the first months I learned how to hold the bow, how to make a noise, then even a note! I linked some notes together and played a few tunes  classy songs like "Bobby Shafto" and "Crunchy Cookies," the ever-moving "In Space" or the sad melody of "Under the Sea." <p> After those first few steps, however, things got a little less exciting. One could say the process became down-right frustrating. Once I had learned the basics, it became time to practice them. To improve, not only did I have to place my fingers in the right places, but I had to do it over and over so I could get better. Playing "The Finger Mixer" or "Off to School" repeatedly is bad enough, but playing them and sounding like crap is even more frustrating. And playing "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" along with the Suzuki tape again and again (and sucking every time) is a little humiliating.<p> I became pretty frustrated with the concept and the tedium of practicing, and currently have not opened my viola case for about three months. I thought that living in Williamstown, in the slow-paced "country," would provide an optimum atmosphere to work at playing the viola. Instead, I think the quiet of Williamstown made me realize how hard it is to be truly dedicated. It's easy to avoid practicing as an adult, since you can always convince yourself that you're too busy. But as I stand in the foot of free space in the Leeward's arcade, Amos is getting me inspired. He has just had his head crushed by Blanka for the 50th time this morning, but he's already asked another cousin, "You wanna play?"<p> <ul> <a href="/">Susan Roe</a>, Human Resources Coordinator (4/18/97) </ul> <p> <center> <hr width="330"> <p> Read more "Letters from Tripod" in the <a href="../../../www_subdomain/tripod/letters/archive.html">archive</a>. <p> <hr width="330"> </center> <br> </blockquote> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </body>