Competing at Coney Island

A change of wind whipped through the Troop a few weeks ago when The Twins apologized to one another. I thought the gust had something to do with the Vernal Equinox but I was wrong. Have you ever felt a rush in saying—or hearing—I'm sorry? To celebrate their reunion, The Twins headed up our skein and led the Troop to Coney Island.

Did you know every July 4th there is a hot dog eating contest on Coney Island at Famous Nathan's? Did you know the 2011 winner ate 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes? Can you find the best seats in the house occupied by Pascal, Roman, Black Jack, Yvette and The Twins?

While we were digesting our dogs and talking about plans to see the Mermaid Parade this year, something flew by our heads and almost tipped us off our brollies (except for Silas—he's always hanging upside down). Coney Island is a mysterious place so I whistled for my best mate so he could investigate.

Have you ever had to tell your best friend something you know they wouldn't like? "I saw and felt a brown bird fly by that might be as fast as you, so I think you should check it out." When Black Jack gets mad, he goes totally silent. He flew off without saying a word.

Have you ever been number 1 at something, only to meet somebody that might make you a number 2? Being the best is the best when you're the best, but when that changes, it's not the best. Black Jack found the brown bird near The Scream Zone and challenged him to a race. "I'm going to break your wind," was all Black Jack could mumble.

Sometimes going from the top to the bottom can feel like a roller coaster...

... especially when your friends are watching.

But never doubt your friends, because your friends are your fans...

... even when you come in second place.

As it turns out, the brown bird wasn't the jerk Black Jack thought he would be. Just because somebody can do something better than you, doesn't mean they are mean. The brown bird treated us to ice-cream and then gave us a tour of Luna Park.

It turns out, Baron (the brown bird) was raised near the amusement park so he's been doing stunts his entire life and he even taught us a few (you would have mistook Penny for a clucky, spring chicken).

I found my best mate and sat with him for a spell. Soon, BJ flew up to Baron and apologized for being a jerk about the race. Baron quickly responded by saying, "No worries, man. Hey—could you show me how you turned that dive at the end of the cork-screw?" And just like that, a wind blew two new friends together.

The Realization of Self-Reliance

Things have been blurry for The Under Twin ever since he split from his sister. For their entire lives, The Twins have always been considered "mistakes" because they were double-yolked at birth, so being separated from his twin made him feel even more isolated and scrambled. When you live your entire life as a pair, in the face of odds, it's not easy feeling whole when you're alone.

What does it feel like to transcend separation? Have you ever wanted to see solitude from a higher place? The Under Twin wanted to understand self-reliance so he visited a magical white house in Concord.

The magical white house once belonged to a great poet named Ralph. He believed magic existed between people and nature. As The Under Twin poked around the yard, he remembered Algernon teaching him how to listen to the wind of his soul. So he did. In a very quiet, whipsery kind of way, this is what he heard...

Your isolation must not be mechanical, but spiritual, that is, must be elevation. At times the whole world seems to be in conspiracy to importune you with empathetic trifles… But keep thy state; come not into their confusion.

The secret of fortune is joy in our hands.

Insist on yourself. Never imitate.

Your goodness must have some edge to it - else it is none.

Prayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from the highest point of view. It is the soliloquy of a beholding and jubilant soul.

Power… resides in the moment of transition from a past to a new state… This one fact the world hates, that the soul becomes.

Jumping off Ralph's chimney, into the wind, felt like a rush because The Under Twin had come to realize a few things about himself while visiting the magical white house: he knew he was going to find his sister and apologize; he knew he wasn't a mistake just because he was born double-yolked; he knew he was going to avoid the hobgoblin of little minds; he knew he was going to live in the swift, summary way of boys... who are sure of a dinner.

--

All italicized references from this post are direct quotes from the timeless classic essay, Self-Reliance. Read it.

Little Women's Little Woman

Somethings you never expect to happen: salt ditching pepper for cumin or macaroni going stag for a night on the town while cheese molds away in heartbreak. So when The Twins' sibling rivalry blew up into an unusual heated argument, The Under Twin took off and the day turned gray. They have never been apart, so The Upper Twin was completely full of woe. The girls brainstormed and came up with something to cheer up their Upper Twin:

a visit to Louisa May Alcott's home to be Little Women!

Did you know the book was written and set in the Alcott's home? Did you know the Alcott's named their home Orchard House? Have you ever been so excited about something that you've had an accident? That's okay. Accidents happen.

Sophia always imagined herself as Margaret "Meg" March—the oldest, the most beautiful and governess-employed sister. Spending time in front of the mirror/window seemed something very Meg AND very Elizabeth Taylor.

The artistic, youngest and "regular snow-maiden" Amy was Yvette's muse. Sometimes spoiled and somewhat vain, Yvette could sympathize with Amy's disposition and her choice in men. "The last IS the best of all the gang—she gets Laurie!" Yvette shouted, imagining jumping from the roof into Laurie's arms (the Christian Bale version of Laurie, of course).

Penny liked Josephine because "Jo" was like the author, Louisa. As Penny raced up the roof to do her beak-stand, she quoted Louisa: "No boy could be my friend till I had beaten him in a race and no girl if she refused to climb trees, leap fences ..."

The Upper Twin connected with the scarlet fever stricken Elizabeth "Beth" March. Being apart from her twin felt like a dark shadow was looming over her. She felt very little, very small and wondered if she would ever be considered beautiful and not just cute.

When they met up, The Upper Twin told the others that she was going to do the "bigger" thing and be the first to apologize to her sibling. After all, it was her brother that always carried her on his back and it was her brother who always made her feel taller than she really was.

A Fan's Animation:

A great fan of The Jolly Troop made this for us! It tells the story of my beginning, winged with music and motion! Watch this 2 minute clip and you'll pause & rejoice!

Jollymation: Say It With Heart!

   

Coloring Page: Say It With Heart V'tines!

Print and color these 3.5"x2.5" Say It With Heart V'tines!

Thoreau Like /Burrow/

I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.

To be awake is to be alive.

Do not stay to be an overseer of the poor, but endeavor to become one of the worthies of the world.

Let us first be as simple and well as Nature ourselves, dispel the clouds which hang over our brows, and take up a little life into our pores.

In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty, nor weakness.

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

While men believe in the infinite, some ponds will be thought to be bottomless.

A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.

It is surprising how many great men and women a small house will contain.

Visit Walden Pond. Deliberately.

Coloring Page: Who Is In Your Heart?

Find your heart this Friday. Who's in it? Print and color.

Wear Your Love

Click here to see our "Wear Your Love" tee.

V'Tine Place Mats

Say it with heart! V'tines place mats available at The Jolly Troop Shop.

12" x 18". Printed on Cougar 100lb uncoated. Laminated with love. Click here.

Penny Purple Planning

Penny isn't a pouter. But for some reason, after the big winter holidays and all the gatherings, she found herself feeling ultraviolet because she's the only purple member of the Troop. The reds have taken in Edward, Yvette has forced herself in with the yellows and of course, Black Jack and The Twins revel in being achromatic. She didn't want to feel blue, so she did what she did best: she made plans for an adventure.

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PLAN AN ADVENTURE. PENNY CALLS THIS "PURPLE PLANNING."

POINT NO. 1: PULL OUT A MAP    All "serious" adventures require a map. Find one in your grandpa's study, a local Maverick gas station, your city library, under the seat of your mom's car or on the internet. Become familiar with the names of streets and rivers. Determine a point of interest. Did you know Boston's nickname is "Beantown?" Did you know map-makers are called cartographers? 

POINT NO. 2: FIND A TOUR GUIDE    Who says you have to pay for a tour guide? If possible, find a friend that knows the area and can show you the best places to visit. If you don't have a friend there, make one. Ask for some pointers! Make sure to keep your traveler's guidebook (Rick Steve's, Frommer's, Lonely Planet) handy and thank the tour guide with dinner, a hi-5, and a commitment to help the next stranger in your neighborhood.

POINT NO. 3: TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED    You will remember your adventure better if you do what Robert Frost suggests: "take the [road] less traveled by." Duck down an alley or street or place NOT listed in your guidebook. Get lost finding it. Make your way back to the road "more" traveled. Getting lost helps you remember.

POINT NO. 4: EAT LOCAL WITH THE LOCALS    Enjoying great food is one of the best parts of an adventure. Ask local folks the best places to eat and where you can find the best "local" dish. Do yourself a favor and stay away from flavors you are used to. Make sure to treat yourself to at least one delicious meal. Did you know Boston is known for their baked beans?

POINT NO. 5: SEIZE THE DAY    You don't have to do the Newsies dance to seize the day. Take time in this new place you've found. Explore the details. Document it by shooting photographs of your favorite things and writing about it. Don't rush the day. Choose 2 or 3 things to enjoy that day and call it good!

POINT NO. 6: SEE THE LIGHTS    Make sure to spend time "seeing the lights." Enjoy the night life because it is usually when the city comes to life! Find a café. Listen to live music. See a dance performance. Stop to enjoy a street performer and make sure to leave them a tip—it's good karma, but it also supports their incredible talents.

POINT NO. 7: GET SWEATY    Try exercising in a different way than you're used to while you're on your adventure. Walk to the bridge and back. Run the fire escape. Take a yoga class in the park. Swim across a river. Paddle a kayak in a pond. Break up your routine by creating a new sweat-body memory.

POINT NO. 9: BE OF GOOD CHEER(S)    Adventures are adventures because things don't always work as they are planned. Be flexible. Relax. Laugh about the unexpected things. Enjoy the people you meet because next time you visit, you'll be in a place where everybody knows your name!