Really fast and dangerous hot rod cars, drag racing, drinking, smoking cigarettes and marijuana, and having unprotected sex at every opportunity. I was absolutely clueless. I had no idea at all what the potential consequences of my behavior were. Some of my friends died along the way. I got lucky and made it to old age. Along the way I got a little smarter and a good bit more cautious.
And now that I am elderly and nearing the end of the journey, I find that once again I am willing to take risks. But now they are based upon a good understanding what is really going on, and sound judgment.
I am very lucky to have learned both Spanish and English as a young boy. English is my primary language, but I am still at least 90% fluent in Spanish. So I feel completely comfortable travelling in Mexico and Spain. I have travelled to Spain several times, and I have seen much of the country.
The book entitled "The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha" was written by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra from 1605 to 1615. It is written in a very funny and easy to read style. The story is still contemporary today. Don Quixote is a very polite and pleasant middle aged man. He is comfortable financially, very nearsighted, and frequently a bit out of touch with reality. Along with his trusty helper Sancho Panza he goes on lots of completely unrealistic and unachievable journeys (quests) all over the part of Spain that is called La Mancha.
La Mancha is a beautiful and fertile, but somewhat arid, elevated plateau around 610 m or 2,000 feet above sea level in central Spain south of Madrid. I have visited this area at length, and I love it. In many ways the topography is similar to what one sees in central and northern New Mexico in the United States.
Sancho Panza was fully grounded and very much in touch with reality, but just a little dull witted. On one of Don Quixote’s early quests he sees what he thinks in his myopia are evil, ferocious giants. He does the gallant thing which would be expected of any gentleman or knight, and he attacks them. This turns out to be an attack on windmills rather than evil giants. So the famous phrase, tilting at windmills.
I have a nice collection of various Don Quixotes that I have picked up all over the world. Many I bought cheaply in flea markets, and some I got in upscale galleries where I had to pay far too much money. This one, which is made from gold leaf, I bought at just such a nice gallery in Barcelona. Across the street from Gaudi's famous cathedral Sagrada Familia.
My whole life seems to have been one impractical quest after another. Of course with long periods in between where I was forced to be stable, had a successful career, raised a family, etc. From fighting against the Vietnam war and various environmental causes, to near the end of my career intentionally falling on my sword actively supporting the hourly employees of our company (I was General Manager) after it was bought out by vulture capitalists.
Now I am at the point where I see clearly what an evil and destructive course America has been on since the early 1960’s. And if I get the chance I will certainly tilt against this windmill too. There are lots of elderly, ex-hippie types just like me who are ready to do the same. We just need a strong leader and some guidance. Maybe Obama is the man. Time will tell.
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