Hello, my friend! It’s been a while since I’ve put pen to digital paper with you in mind, but I felt that your generous gift for my birthday deserved a longer response than just a thank-you text.
I’ve always felt that a birthday gift should involve something that, for whatever reason, the person wouldn’t buy for themselves, but might want to if they could - which is why I earmarked my gift to you as part of your guitar replacement fund. However, I freely admit that I'm a tougher crowd in that sense, I don't even play the guitar, let alone have the need to replace a broken one.
Regardless, I do have a short list of extravagances that I might indulge in given the opportunity, starting with the Chris Hadfield MasterClass on Space Exploration.
The MasterClass program showcases an unbelievable list of instructors, featuring chess lessons from Garry Kasparov, Bob Woodward on journalism, Jane Goodall teaching conservation, Annie Leibovitz for photography, film making from Spike Lee, and a much longer list of luminaries from a wide range of specialties. Commander Hadfield is an obvious choice for Space Exploration, with a class that features 29 video sessions dealing with a fascinating range of topics that includes Astronaut Training, Orbital Mechanics, Capsule Design, the exploration of Mars, and concludes with an overview of Chris’ journey to becoming an astronaut and the lessons he learned on his way.
The $120 MasterClass fee would still leave part of your gift - what to do with the rest?
It seems obvious to me that a visit to the past would be a suitable compliment for a visit to the future – as such, the balance of your present will go towards four weeks of training in swordplay at Vancouver's Academie Duello, conveniently located about eight blocks from my workplace. The school offers a choice between rapier and broadsword, and given that the latter features two-handed broadsword, sword and shield, and poleaxe, that may well be my class of choice.
Don’t be surprised if this doesn’t happen right away. We’re currently on our honeymoon, and I’m also in the middle of a 12-week introductory continuing education course in Occupational Health and Safety, so I won’t have free time to dedicate to other pursuits until December. My current plan is to sign up for Commander Hadfield’s class at the start of the month, and then take a four week break from my regular gym schedule in January for longsword classes at Academie Duello – the beginner’s course runs two nights a week for a month, which would make for an interesting start to the new year.
And that's the plan! Thank you again, and my best to Jennifer!
Cheers,
Sid
Sid
I am so very pleased that you chose items for yourself that seem to be appropriate in all categories of science, fiction and fantasy. It is the best possible use of the gift. Live long and prosper, parry, thrust and lunge.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thank you for your contribution toward my particular, um, fetish? It feeds my mind and my soul. The weird thing in all of this is that the 'replacement' guitar has not even arrived yet (and I refuse to let go of my birthday celebration until I actually have it in hand) even though I ordered it early in September, hoping that it would arrive in time for my birthday.
Enjoy, the best to you and Karli from Jennifer and I.
Colin