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Joggler's Jottings by Bill Giduz, editor Davidson, North Carolina
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It's
like when you get a haircut. You're likely to forget your appearance
has changed. So it is with this initial issue of Jugglers World. Despite
the name change in the IJA's official publication, I feel the same as I
did as editor of the Newsletter in July.
The
name, Jugglers World, was suggested to, and overwhelmingly approved by,
IJA members at the convention business meeting without much explanation
or question.. For that courtesy, I thank them. I've had time since then
to clarify the reason why the change was suggested, and feel obliged to
explain post-facto.
More
and more I am convinced that it is one world, and its citizens must
communicate to maintain it as home. Jugglers World, and I as editor,
want to act toward that goal, codifying information to be commonly read.
It is not all the organization can do to be a good world citizen, but is
one thing it must do.
The
sudden renaissance of juggling in the Juggling
technique has been refined in various parts of the world far beyond the
scope of performers on stage at the
The
recent interest in juggling stateside should not make us myopic, but
spur us to explore juggling everywhere. It's an astounding juggler's
world out there,
and Jugglers World wants you to know about it. Moreover, Jugglers
World would like to help every person become a world citizen and
communicate with other world citizens through a skill they commonly
practice and enjoy.
There's
exciting news for jogglers this month! Michel Lauziere of
Lauziere
is two-time IJA mile joggling champion, but has never faced Scott
Damgaard. In a recent Milwaukee Sentinel article, Damgaard
claimed a new mile joggling record. Damgaard, called that paper in
mid-August and challenged an unbelieving reporter to a mile race in
which Scott would joggle and the reporter run.
As
duly reported in a subsequent edition,
Damgaard not only beat the reporter, but did so in 4 minutes, 37
seconds! That tops Lauziere's best in IJA competition by a full minute!
One
thing you notice at an IJA convention is how many people just stand
around and 'oogle.' That's Robert York's expression for the statuary
pose of observation struck by jugglers watching someone else juggle.
You
have to be a better juggler than I to attract ooglers, so I can't speak
for the oogled party. But I'm quite an oogler myself on the convention
floor, and
can describe the phenomenon extensively from that point of reference.
It
starts just wandering around a gym floor with time on your hands and
nowhere to go, surrounded by up to hundreds of other active and
non-active jugglers. In that situation, my eye is quickly attracted to
the action of someone else's impressive efforts, either as individuals
or groups. I approach it to the edge of that undefined but
well-recognized personal juggling space occupied by the
juggler-in-action.
Then
I start oogling. I've notice that some ooglers stand and some sit. The
more ooglers there are, the more likely you are to find sitters.
In
any case, the oogler(s) watch at silent attention with a steady eye for
detail as the subject goes through the paces. Silence is usually
maintained out of respect for the concentration of the performer. Also
out of an appreciation for the right to oogle. Eventually, the subject
will take a break, and ooglers can pass into introductions and
questions.
I'm
an oogler because it's one of the most pleasant ways to meet people I
know. Ooglers love the oogled attention and a sincere appreciation for
finer application of the common exercise.
The
person oogled is usually genuinely glad to receive a pat on the back;
and glad, subsequently, to talk and tell. So, two people meet, support
each others relative interest, and each make a contact. It stems from
recognition on the convention floor that effort and ability are two
sides of the same coin. |
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