Our Speaker: Tess Pierce Craft Talk
Dave Andrews’ intro included Tess’ education and career at Ontario Tech as a Communication & Digital Media Studies Professor. He reminded us that, in her retirement, she teaches a popular course at the OSCC+55 called History of the World Through Objects and Ideas. Tess is also a facilitator for the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI). Tess and her husband John, live and drink lots of coffee in Oshawa.
She got our attention with this statement.
“I ran away from home, was arrested, caught fire – twice, and overdosed – all before the age of 6. It was going to be a busy life. This is the opening sentence of my memoir “Some of my Lies are True” and I thought it might be fitting to introduce myself to Rotary.”
She told us of her recurring dream that taught her the lessons of perseverance.
“I remember this dream to remind myself that everything has more than one interpretation; each life consists of many choices. Often, the most obvious is not the correct path to follow. To produce quality work, one must realize that the best decisions may be the most difficult to achieve. And, even then, the first choice may not produce the best results. The point is that we must try and try until the best plan for success is discovered.”
She finished with a recitation of the poem from her dream.
Thank You Dr. Seuss.
By Tess Pierce
In a little back yard where the big elm grew
A child named Tess was alone and knew
There was a big world. A world she must find.
So, Tess decided a fence she must climb.
Now the yard was nice with a swing in the elm.
And I liked to soar to see over my realm.
But there was that fence so tall and so strong.
“I must get over it- even though it is wrong.”
I thought and I thought. A plan came to mind.
“My dad has a woodshed; in there I could find”
“Some scrap of a piece of a cabinet or chair”
“To help me climb to the place over there!”
The fence was a picket so sturdy and tall.
With a gate and a lock as big as my ball.
“I’ll need a long board to place up on the slats
But wood is so heavy I’m too small for that.”
“How can I get that wood to the fence?”
“How can I lift it that board it’s immense?”
“How can I do it, so mother won’t hear?”
“I have to act fast when she is not near.”
“My wagon! That’s it! It will carry the board.”
“I just have to pull it up close and move toward
The fence by the garden just out of mom’s sight.
Then lean it just so to help with my flight.”
“So, over the fence I succeeded to go.
But where to now? I did not know.
If I go to right the neighbours will see.
But if I go to the left, I’ll be blocked by the trees.”
So off to the left thru the trees and the yards.
Through the alleys and laneways - always on guard.
“Till I got to the base of the sled hill to find
A very steep path -Am I out of my mind?
“With precision and care I climbed to the top.
I climbed and I climbed -and did not stop,
Till I got to a ledge and sat just a bit,
And saw for the first time the glory of it.”
“A mighty big river and more bluffs I did see.
The world is much bigger than I thought it would be.
I knew at that moment I must know much more.
The escape that I made had opened the door.”
“So home I flew and to my surprise.
Found Mother in the kitchen baking some pies.
I ran in the house and hugged her with glee.
With the knowledge that dreams can help you break free”
How can a child so young and so small
See thru a fence or jump over a wall?
How can she climb to the top of a hill?
I’ll tell you how
She uses her will
A child you see is more than her age
A child can learn to break free from the cage
Of a life that is lonely
Of a life that looks bleak
To create a new life that’s not for the meek
So come with me now to where the big elm grows
Sit on your swing - fly high and know
That the fence may be strong
But your dream is your gate
And dreams do come true
It is never too late.
Meeting adjourned by President Dave M. at 7:52 pm
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