the Wakefield Doctrine

Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)

The subtitle of today’s Post is in reference to a conversation I had with Phyllis last night. We were discussing changes in (her) rogerian expression.¹  We ended up focusing mostly on the nature of ‘rogerian expressions’ and how they manifest at various stages of life. The conclusion we reached: the early part of life (for a roger) is centered on a well-defined and all-consuming ‘expression’ but as the demands of life change and maturing causes an inevitable diminution of the energy available to (this) expression, what happens is, at first glance, rather counter-intuitive! What immediately came to mind is a river.  At first a broad, almost non-directional movement of water, with time (and erosion), a path is defined, (almost by consensus between the water and the earth), and eventual there is a channel. The more the water flows, the more defined the channel, the more defined the channel the more focused (and faster moving) the water, which causes the channel to develop more rapidly.  A ‘rogerian expression’ is beginning to appear to be following this lifecylce in reverse. The ‘rogerian expression’ of a young roger demands all energy, jealously guarding (the power to express ‘the Right Way’²). The emphasis is decidedly on the literal manifesting of the idea (that forms the heart of the expression). With time, however, it seems that, while the energy still seeks expression, it becomes permissible to do things that, while related to the core idea, varies from the literal. This ‘liberalization’ of the expression of the ‘rogerian expression’ appears to encourage a less strict definition.  The narrow, raging river becomes a broad slow tributary, eventually becomes a largely un-defined body of water.

(Yes, this is a example of an evening’s conversation in a Doctrine household!)

OK!  that was insightful…. for fun, how about a reprint?

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…I’ll bet you thought that ‘Winter Wonderland’ (music by Felix Bernard, and lyrics by Richard Smith) was just some old 1940’s, ‘your parents and girls like this song’  kind of Christmas Carole, now didn’t you?

Yesterday morning  one morning, a couple of years ago, I heard the call of the Wakefield Doctrine  (‘…time to write another post‘).
At just about this time, (that early December morning),  the weather forecast mentioned something about snow later in the day, which, from what I could see out the window at my desk was totally believable.
All of a sudden I heard the phrase ‘sleigh bells ring, can’t you (something something) them’  in my head.  Accompanied by just a light hint of the music,  damn catchy music.

To ‘the Google’  and I had the whole story. The actual title of the song, the complete  lyrics, even a link to an mp3.  I listened to an audio clip of the song and that starts the ‘mind-worm’, and I’m totally stuck with the song playing in my head.  I immediately realized that my only hope of not having a Christmas Carole playing in my head all day long, is to write a Post about it and put it out on the internet.
So I scanned the lyrics for any reference to ‘the sleigh bells’ ( the song fragment melody that was still cycling in my head) and the line “Later on we’ll conspire” jumps out at me from my computer monitor!

(… a pause, a sip of my coffee, looking over the brim of my cup,  I read all of the lyrics. …. What have we here?)

This classic Holiday song, ‘Winter Wonderland’ very much has my attention.

The lyrics! It is the lyrics that have me, reading and I begin to smile  (I am starting to like this Richard Smith guy. Get weird much, Richard?  thank you! my friend, you’ve just handed me today’s Post!)

Here are the lyrics to this delightful Christmas song:

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We’re happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland. (“ok, nothing strange, it is, in fact, some  fairly attractive imagery, …sort of what we all remember about the song.”)

Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland. (“…still safe, expanding the imagery, including local fauna maybe in order to stress seasonal climate changes, …safe …safe.”)

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown (“…?!!?”)

He’ll say: Are you married? (“Who exactly are you asking and who the hell is ‘Parson Brown’?”)
We’ll say: No man,
But you can do the job
When you’re in town.(“…wtf !? The ground is beginning to feel decidedly spongy.”)

Later on, we’ll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we’ve made, (“Yes! The plans! tell about the Plans…tell us about the Plans George…”)
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he’s a circus clown (“No, there is absolutely nothing funny/charming/cute about a circus clown made of snow, standing alone, not moving...yet”)
We’ll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kids knock him down. (Other kids? How old is this person, I mean, he’s talking about marriage for god’s sake!”)

When it snows, ain’t it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We’ll frolic and play, the Eskimo way, (Yeah! sure,  eat still warm animal flesh, kiss with our noses and give birth on an ice floe. Merry Christmas, you weird, carole-singing, 27 going on 13 year old)
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In any event. Have a good Wednesday wherever you are, I’m including a music video, so you can have the song stuck in your head.

(I have to go now, there’s a circus clown (with coal for eyes!!) and a carrot for a nose, on my front lawn and I think he’s upset.)

1)  New Readers? the term ‘rogerian expression’ has two applications here at the Doctrine:  a) it refers to the characteristic malapropisms of rogers.  You can read examples of them here  2) the primary expression of ‘the Right Way’  in the life of a roger. Often, (though not always), it can be an occupation or expression, sometimes it is a hobby or avocation and even, a vocation

2)  the central feature (and therefore characteristic of the worldview) in the personal reality of a roger is the belief in a quantifiable universe and the existence of abstract Right. (for a roger) there is a ‘Right Way’ and a myriad of ‘not Right Ways’, the path in life for rogers is to identify with the Right Way and strive to be an example of (life lived accordingly). This does not (necessarily) cause the roger to be overbearingly judgmental but the bottom line is that they will strive to be an example… of Something.