We have all heard the story of young Galileo. On his way to Padua to get admitted to a medical school. The teen, around 18 maybe, stopped by a wayside church and instead of paying attention to the sermon .., timed the oscillations of the church lamp as it swung from a high ceiling.

We have also heard the story of James Watt who played around with a spoon trying to stop the steam spouting from a kettle.

I am interested if there are any other stories, or,

childhood impressions (not nightmares) you may recall that made a difference.

I never heard either story.

The story I remember is the one of a princess who lived in her father's rain kingdom. Everything was dull and grey and wet.
Then she came of age and time for a husband. None of the princes wanted to marry her as she looked so dull, grey dresses, dripping with water.
Then there was one who was interested in marrying her but they'd never met yet. He was the Sun prince in the Sun kingdom.
She went over there and on her wedding day was horribly sad as she knew he wasn't going to like her much.
But when she stepped outside where the wedding would take place the sun caught the waterdrops on her hair and dress, and beautiful rainbows appeared!
The prince was bedazzled, fell in love, they married, and lived happily ever after.

Having started this thread, I've been racking my brain for one positive and this what I recall. Was in class II, sports day. Since my school, a convent was on a hill, (boys studied till class III and then transferred to a boys school); the races were held in nearby army grounds. A bunch of us ran; and at the finish line the army guy was having a tough time picking out the winners as several of my classmates had bunched around him claiming 1st place. I stood a little away watching the fun and the army guy parted the pack, came over and led me over to the 1st place stand.

on the way back home (I was carrying a cup!} my mother said that a parent had asked her, 'how did your boy win; he was nowhere in the lead?'; no answer.

Probably explains the wrong attitude I have in life. 'come easy, go easy'.

for Crystal



Galileo's water color drawings of the moon, from telescope (?)

I'm a lil confused at the intent of your thread?

Are you seeking stories which explain scientific epiphany?
Like the apple falling on Newton's head and gravity is explained? (Which is not what happened at all)

Are you looking for folklore which exemplifies an epiphany?

In reality very few scientific break-thrus start with an epiphany.

I had to look up the word 'epiphany', ha, ha

No, I'm not looking for epiphanies.

Impressions that may have influenced our adult years - on the lines of which you may gift some experience to your child.

Crystal's lovely story - a fairy tale she cherished wherein 'waterdrops reflecting rainbows' made an impression - wow!

I am not particularly interested in paintings and therefore the amount of effort that goes into color schemes but after reading her story her paintings dawned on me.

For example, like her 'lady in spring' - in multiple colors, one would not be surprised if there was a fairy tale fawn somewhere; there is not - but the sense of joy / liberation - there's a deer prancing - we have so structured our mind, we don't see it.

Then there's a lady walking through the narrow street - dark blue sky overhung -
be careful lady' I whisper; then she explains it as a moment in time when she was 'heartbroken'
Colors, like music, stir emotions?

She had also painted a unicorn in white – I was not particularly moved by it then - but after her story, I was reminded about Galileo's moon drawing in white and shades. Now I see the unicorn in a different light- shades of white racing across the skies - medieval thinking(?)
Thank you Crystal!

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

In trying to recall something from my childhood (I didn't find any) - then the rare incident of the cup thrust on me - explained a few things about 'not trying hard, or not competing ' This may appear absurd but it seemed to have worked for me. Happy with the things the way they are

Your question once again jogged my memory. I remember receiving gifts, the best were unintended; like reading the books from my father's shelf.

So what's the intent of this thread?
When we were children, we were sometimes curious; that's creativity. Then the school system knocked it off. As parents, we may do a wee bit better - if we introspect, share, get some new light?
Thanks Tom - I needed the question to clarify to myself

My father collected Edgar Rice Burroughs books.
I read every one because they were there.

Older - I noticed I have a tendency to read science fiction and fantasy. I write SF flash fiction much like I read in those ERB Barsoom and Pelicudar books.

My father cataloged his extensive record collection. He was always rewriting the entries with new info on those 3x5 index cards. I remember hearing him type long into the night.

Not only do I type a lot now, I constantly update my music, movies and TV show collections with new info. He owned a lot of records, I own a lot of files.

When mother cooked she cooked certain foods which I now cook as comfort foods the same way.

My children have told me they do many things I used to do when they were kids. They admnit to teaching their own children those things as well.


I'm thinking you are looking for associations and their impact on your life or your offspring's lives. Sadly, those influences are both positive and negative. Happily, I've gained the wisdom to keep the positive and discard the negative.

The influences of our childhood comes from multiple sources besides parents and siblings.
My organizing skills come from a teacher in mid-school (primary) who impressed me with her ability to always know where she puts things.

When we adopt new thinking and pass it to our offspring or others the 'impressions' are given to others often without intent. We tend to exude what we learn for all to see.

We read the T comics; great fun but definitely not the same thing.



In my opinion, science fiction is the highest form of creativity; HG Wells 'Men on Moon' floored me; I don't mind rereading. There have been others, including one by a scientist, don't recall; nothing close to Wells. The 'war on worlds' prank, would've got him 10 years - today.



Great observation Tom.
People here don't talk about such things - so we still carry some baggage.

I read earlier that you've some fiction written down; and I think you should not delay publishing it; even if it's 20 pages, unfinished, (why should science stories have sex, monsters, or a comforting ending anyway? It's like a runaway train. Try stopping it.). Later on for part 2.

Since 2015, I have been writing on & off; after 500 words, Google - and there are already books on same topic. Still not bad. Some thoughts get rubbed off in Mingle.

With present topic 'Impressions' - now like the reading experience, it's mostly common sense; but now comes a choice:

What should kids be reading? (generation on I- phones watching cartoons & games)

Rowling? - she's no Burroughs

or, <nothing comes to mind>

So search for next topic - another evening, another 1000 words - flow with the crowd.

Hi Tom,
I must admit I had to look up 'Pelicudar books' and this led me to a blog:

What Series of Books Did You Love Most as a Child?

https://pattinase.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-series-of-books-did-you-love-most.html

And now I'm of the opinion that if one can write a science fiction for children, just one

Or even a small set of poems for kids ..,

then life's purpose is served.

Its been my experience life has no purpose except being alive.

Sharing ones imagination in print allows others to share your imagination.
The same follows for painting, drawing, movies and music.

Kids should be encouraged to read according to their passions and imagination. Cartoons and games come from creativity and imagination.
A parents, we should encourage children to expand their scope of creativity and imagination...not for us, for them.

For your own enjoyment have a look at Fantastic Fiction for a few of these authors. Their pages give a brief history of the person and a listing of their works. There's even a suggested reading list to find similar authors.
http://www.fantasticfiction.com/

Speculative Fiction includes Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and all the subgenres of those.

http://www.fantasticfiction.com/top-authors/

Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon
Terry Goodkind
Terry Brooks
George R R Martin
Orson Scott Card
C J Cherryh
Larry Niven
Poul Anderson
Margaret Weis
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Roger Zelazny
Philip K Dick
Kim Stanley Robinson
Arthur C Clarke
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Alan Dean Foster
David Eddings
Robert Heinlein
Harry Turtledove
Isaac Asimov
Frank Herbert
Raymond E Feist
R A Salvatore
Piers Anthony
To name a few...

Hi Tom,
I asked for water and you've given me a glass of milk!
thanks.

I was just getting ready to whip you up a milk shake!




Featured page on my site...
Escape Artists

Podcasts which have the source material available to read free online.

http://ghostown.freeforums.net/thread/6106/escape-artists-fiction-podcasts

Speechless!

Hello

Thanks Delightful,
But for your action, I would have felt this vase had shattered.

No offense meant to fellow members / critics, I have had my share of mistakes and still learning .., the art of constructive criticism. Mingle does this, blocking opens up new, wonderful venues from within all because you want to be here, among friends.

Hi Tom,
From the science forum I know that you were a mechanical engineer, now retired. Also that you are a self-made man, something that for us Indians takes a long time, if at all. As Jordan Peterson says, 95% of our memories is 'copied', i.e., 95% dead wood - and this is true within certain contexts.

Anyway, permit me to ask with the intent of this thread being useful for parents of children in their middle school years - 10 to 15

With reference to lesson plans from companies: https://mingle2.com/topic/621987

What I would like to know is the mechanical engineering side of you - because one we enter the digital world - we are into white collared management. We abandon outdoors, factory floors and lose touch with a majority (in my country) who are underprivileged.

Some of the thigs you write echo and reinforce my thoughts so The reason for this enquiry.

If this thread works as a DIY booklet for fathers and single mothers - the purpose is served.
Thanks.

I wasn't a mechanical engineer, I was a truck mechanic/auto mechanic.
My degree was geared to applied physics which I used as a technician.

As a teen, I was always interested in auto mechanics. My friends were interested in auto mechanics. We were farmers and worked on tractors and farming equipment a lot.

I originally majored in art...specifically, commercial art and graphics.
It was my passion for cars that drove my choices to pursue a career in the auto then truck technician field. I mastered it quickly and got certified.
I chose jobs which gave me experience in my passion.
I joined the service as a Construction Mechanic Seabee and advanced quickly.
I worked my entire career in the mechanic fields, including parts supply part time for awhile.
I totally loved my job.
I would still be doing it if the Dr hadn't put me out of work permanently.

Advice to parents and teen children is to pursue your passion. Stay focused and do all possible to to master that passion to find inner fulfillment.

I chose to know all I could know about my passion, which made my life successful, in my heart.
I wrote shop manuals, gave training and taught other mechanics what I knew.
As a fleet mechanic, its better to teach others than to have to stop what you are doing to fix their mistakes, so it was kinda selfish in that sense.

The legacy of my ideas and innovations persist to this day. It feel pretty good knowing that was my idea, all those years ago, even if I didn't get paid for it. My drive was not money inspired, not recognition motivated. It was I felt need to be done.

It didn't happen overnight (seems that way looking back) but eventually it became easy and sensible.
I read all the manuals and made a lot of mistakes. I tore things apart and put them back together.
I even frequented junkyards so I could just tear things apart to see how they went together.

Nobody told me to do it, I did it because I wanted to. After I mastered my field, the money came easy. In the beginning, not so easy.

When I try to offer advice I am not looking for recognition or wealth. I do it because I like to share what I have learned and the wisdom I feel should be common sense.

I can be wrong but I use that to set myself right, not to prove anything to anyone.

Bottom line....
Always pursue your passion with gusto!

As I read through, it is clear that you followed your interests & passions and built on it. Compared to this, my working years seem to be a series of accidents; like a ship hand jumping ships at every port to see the world. haha Actually was not so bad but when we compare, it reveals a bit more about ourselves. I have to thank you Tom, this has been a wonderful exercise.

There are of course gigantic economic differences between our countries so at best 'follow your passion' over here modifies to 'find passion in what one already has'
.
For instance, I did college project work in welding aluminum which as you know conducts heat so fast that only low heat tig welding is possible. The welding fumes disgusted me so I took a job in an assembly line. (jobs were scarce then and are now)

The monotony bored me so after 3 years, went back to construction & welding - always jobs there since Nobody likes live away from family.

Has been a good life, and this comparison helped to see how, being in India, how fortunate life has been. Thanks again.