"Simply Rambling...Reflections of an Educator"

Simply Rambling grew out of a stream-of-conciousness writing style meant to engage the reader and provoke thinking on a myriad of subjects. The context of these eclectic vignettes creates meaning by adding quotations that are memorable and illustrative. The sometimes-serious tone of the content, coupled with the whimsical play on words, is meant to lift readers' spirits and bring smiles to their faces. The origin of a popular quote may be widely attributed to a person of fame or political status. Counterfeit quotes and/or misleading attributions take on a life of their own, morphing into word manipulation seen as appropriate in the moment. Computer search engines identify dozens of references to quote variations and numerous individuals credited with one or more of the variations. Putting the words in the mouths of the likes of Shakespeare, Franklin or Kennedy extends the life of the quote and brings momentary credibility to the user. Ferreting out the individual who uttered the first words is often difficult. As the purists search for the truth, it may well be helpful to remember Ecclesiastes 1-9: "That which has been is that which will be. And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun." Such, too, is the way of the "infamous quote"! Simply Rambling is meant to entertain, amuse, enlighten and challenge the reader. It is not a search for the originator of the idea embodied in a quote. These vignettes should not be devoured in a single sitting, but rather revisted again and again to add meaning to the context.