Two and two are four

There’s a children’s vocal in an old movie about Hans Christian Anderson, sweetly reminding us of the lessons life teaches. I included it when writing my book, Pecaw’s Gift , mostly because I’d always enjoyed how the children’s voices improved the lesson; but also because it helped move my story along a particular sequence with the numbers acting as an anchor.

Two and two are four,
Four and four are eight,
Eight and eight are sixteen,
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty two…

Added to the original verse; but mirrored behind the children’s part and sung solo by the lead character, Danny Kaye played Hans Christian Anderson.

Inchworm, Inchworm,
Measuring the marigolds
You and your arithmetic
Will probably go far. . .

Two and two are four,
Four and four are eight,

Inchworm, Inchworm,
Measuring the marigolds,

Eight and eight are sixteen,
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty two

Don’t you think you’d stop and see,
How beautiful they are…

All I could find was a salute to that particular scene as done on the Muppet Show; it will have to do. ( Note: I did find the original version and have linked to it via the title bar )



Simple lessons about the importance of learning coupled with the thought of adding a measure of gratitude for the beauty which surrounds us; sure beats most of the garbage being passed off as entertainment by today’s standards, or more accurately, lack of standards.

Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying, “I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.”

Britain’s Ben Jonson said: “Language most shows a man: Speak, that I may see thee.”

“The images to which our minds are exposed are held in store, seemingly forgotten, even for years. But at the crucial moment they re-present themselves to influence our thoughts and lives. And so it is with the music, literature, art, media, and other images to which we are exposed.” Douglas Callister, as quoted from his talk, Your Refined Heavenly Home .

I was going to include a video, something which made me wonder what our generation had to show for all our efforts to improve, to be knowledgeable and informed; it was too depressing so I’ll just include a link.

Grape
Stomping (time waster)