11/11/24 Ketchup and Mustard
“Ketchup and Mustard”. Priceless Treasure from the I.Newson archive.
From: Jared Escobar <Sent: Monday, September 16, 2019 8:20 PM
To: Newson Ingrid <
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ketchup and MustardHey Newson!
It has been too long! I was just reading the Republic for my philosophy class, when I remembered where it all started. With you! Great book but it reminded me that I should give thanks to those who educated me properly. There is a portion in Book VI where Socrates mentions the sailors all fighting for captain, but the one who was actually the best navigator and star gazer would never become captain because he wasn't trying to take power. Immediately my brain yelled, VIVA LA REVA-NEWSON! You are that sailor with a significant amount of valuable knowledge that stays behind the scenes leading from the background. And then I thought well a philosopher teacher is perfect because they educate others on the value of educating others. And you have done just that in me.
I got a tattoo last year that says the three words, I don't know. Simply because I was so amazed with their moral implications, and now we are talking about Socrates and his, the only I do know is that I know nothing, and I realize that is what I subconsciously walked into. You inspired me to question and wonder and be curious and be content. Choose your future, love your choice has never left me. I don't think it ever will. There are so many lessons that I learned from you and I wanted to let you know.
Anyways just to update you on where I am at. Finished my first year at Western, and I spent my whole summer in Durango working at a summer camp called Colvig Silver Camps. It was the time of my life and I got to take 8-10 year olds on one night and three day backpacking trips over two weeks, four different times. Although not simple, very rewarding, and definitely gave me some clarity on what age group I want to work with, not that age ha. Definitely devoted myself to a good amount of backpacking ever since. I got Labrum Surgery on my shoulder in July of 2018 and in March of 2019. It has been unfortunate, but I have enjoyed camping and hiking as less dangerous outlets. My thoughts are all over the place, but I am also gonna be minoring in philosophy now which I am stoked about.
I started off the school year as an Orientation Leader where I got payed to make friends so that was sick and now I am working four different jobs. I am working at Wilderness Pursuits, the low cost recreation group that is an on campus opportunity for students. I am working as a sustainability coordinator for the LEAD(Leadership, Engagement, and Development) Office and we are getting a super expensive rocket composter started:) I am also the Secretary for the Club Sports Council, and I am a Teacher's Assistant for a Leadership and Facilitation class. So staying busy, but I still find time to kendama. I would say I am happier than ever. A busy schedule, a nourishing summer, a small community, and of course the ambiguity of philosophy to keep me thinking. Life is good.
But enough about me! Tell me about your summer, did you do anything fun? Still teaching the same classes? Did you get a new dog, maybe invested in a turtle? Any new hobbies or pastimes? Any new philosophical breakthroughs? I can't wait to hear back from you. Above all, I hope all is well.
Jared E
Jared!!!
It is so wonderful to get this e-mail. I confess it chocked me up and I had to re-read it with clearer eyes. You made my day. 🙂 You get me.
I was thinking about you the other day and I remembered you saying how you were skeptical about former students writing me long after graduation and then you e-mailed me the following year. It made me happy and I am so happy to be writing to you now. It really is rewarding to get such an authentic note.
I am so glad to hear you are thriving and perhaps flourshing? I think there is something magic in Gunnison air. I bet you are fantastic with those impressionable lil darlins. How rewarding. Working with kids has certainly been the love of my career life. It really is some kind of calling. I could do without some of the business bs but such is my fate.
I went to the Dominican Republic this summer and it was not a vacation as much as it was an education. Wow, my eyes are wide open. We stayed with families and whoa am I humbled. Unforgettable trip.
My baby is now in college and we are empty nesters. It was really weird and existentially sad at times, but I am readjusting and having fun. I started painting again and my brain takes over. No works of art but a great way of self expression.
I still teach Psych and Philosophy. I feel on top of my game and having a blast with students this semester. I am planning on retiring in two years. Hahahaha I am finally graduating from High School... I have no idea what to do with the rest of my life so if you have some ideas, send em my way.
Thank you so much for taking time to reach out. You have a special place in my world as a former student and I am grateful to know you. I would really like to hear more about your Philosophy class! And YES! I have been reading a mind blowing book called The Master and His Emissary. I would love to tell you about it.
Keep up the good life and
"Above all, I hope all is well" (I like that and am stealing it from you 🙂)
Newson
Newson,
You have been so influential in my life and hearing back from you is more special than you know. Authenticity is something I learned from you, so it is only fair that you get to receive some of your own medicine.
I am glad you got to experience a bit of a paradigm shift from going to the DR, its memories like that that mold your personality. And an empty nest! Congratulations, and if you thought you were bored now, imagine how you are gonna feel two years from now after you graduate.
I always remember that story from when you were proctoring the standardized test, and you got so bored you created the ABC's of philosophy(Something I would very much like to have a copy of:). I can't tell you how many times I have gotten off of my lazy ass just because I thought back to that story.
And retirement?! Holy crap thats awesome, you better write a novel, or produce a movie, or start a revolt. I mean that much free time is dangerous! Here are some suggestions I thought of off the top of my head:
Take up a pastime you thought you would never do before: Guitar, Fishing, Mahjong, Paintball, Kendama, whatever.Create a masterpiece, a life story, a documentary, a mural, anything that requires a little extra creativity, something I know you are good at.Invest in Connect 4Start a non-profit or anything of the sortMove to a foreign country
Just a couple thoughts.
So my philosophy class is an introduction course, and is styled where we are given a reading, so far it has just been Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Unfortunately my teacher likes to lecture a lot on those, but he is open to conversation which we haven't done enough of, I think. Thus far just explored the Republic and everything in there from the Allegory of the Cave/Divided Line to the idea of justice and now we are transitioning into the Golden Mean and Eudaemonia and all that. This class has been a wonderful refresher away from all the hubbub of life. Counting down the days until Existentialism:)
I am glad to hear from you, you are a superstar. Keep on Keepin' on!
Jared
