The Joggler's Jottings

By Bill Giduz, editor

It's been a good winter for juggling. I speak both personally and for the activity as a whole. First, and most visibly the U.S. Postal Service issued a W.C. Fields commera­tive stamp on January 29, depicting the comic child and dog hater juggling five balls. As far as I know, the IJA had nothing to do with this philatelic exposure, but we only stand to benefit from it.

Also, at least two excellent articles about juggling have appeared in national magazines lately. Marcello Truzzi, an IJA member and head of the sociology department at Eastem Michigan University, wrote a 12-page article titled "Keeping Things Up In the Air" for the December 1979 issue of Natural History magazine. Illustrations and photographs supplied by IJA members Karl-Heinz Zeithen and Hovey and Judy Burgess greatly enhanced Truzzi's thoroughly researched account of the history, sociology and psychology of our favorite manual activity. Several people wrote and told me to make sure alllJA members read this fine article.

Fortune magazine on December 17 printed an article about otherwise respectable business people who juggle as a hobby. Readers will recognize most of those featured as IJA members.

My personal juggling enjoyment has been on the rise lately, due mainly to my decision to master a five-ball cascade. After a month of regular practice I'm almost there, stumbling along in that frustrating phase of progress beyond the point of insight but short of consistency. I had a mental block against trying to learn the trick for almost three years, not daring to attempt it because of the seeming impossibility of the task.

I don't know what sentiment finally pushed me to begin working on it. Seeing W.C. Fields magnificently immortalized with five balls aloft certainly helped. But the thousand drops I've picked up since my moment of decision have been far overshadowed by the pride I now take in a semi­mastery of the trick. I now realize better how the best jugglers never let challenge stop them. Instead, it is their motivation.

Please continue to submit stories, story ideas and photographs (with or without stories). One final reminder:

The dollar amount beside your name on your mailing label is the amount of your 1980 dues. If you haven't done so already, please send in a check for that amount made out to the IJA to: Judy Durkin - secretary, Pelham, NH. Thanks a lot.

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