When Alice fell down the rabbit hole in her Adventures in Wonderland, she was chasing the White Rabbit. When I fall down into a rabbit hole, it too means that my own White Rabbit, or curiosity, has gotten the best of me. I’ve been known to lose significant chunks of time only to reappear to meet my demands in life. As a college student, this happened in the library – either in the drawers of extensive card catalogs or in the endless mazes of the book stacks. Sometimes I surrounded myself with so many massive volumes of the Reader’s Guide(s) to Periodical Literature that I was not only figuratively, but literally, lost among them.

As a naturally curious student of life, and a librarian at that, this curiosity occurs almost daily. The difference today, of course, is that there are now many more endless opportunities to get lost. Give me a website like the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), Wikipedia (gasp!) or the Urban Dictionary, and I’m meters down the rabbit hole faster than you can say “Wonderland.” Open up the candy boxes of the Internet like the Library of Congress, National Geographic, or Google Scholar and off again.

The rabbit hole also beacons me down when I visit my paid subscriptions to Netflix and Sundance, or our library services – Hoopla! and Kanopy. I’m a documentary junkie, and even the titles that don’t sound the least appealing to me hook me instantly. But then I often find myself pressing the pause button because I need to know more. Details of every character and each location. Links to clips and articles. It always leads to the library catalog and seeking those books that could tell me more.

Many of those rabbit holes become library columns. And just like my habit as a college student, I never feel that I’ve opened up enough of those candy boxes and consumed the contents. My husband, Gerry, will attest to the fact that I often start my columns with an idea on a Friday night and spend much of my weekend on my laptop, free-falling among the twists and turns of my latest curiosity.

A few weeks ago, I stumbled online upon the documentary Far From the Tree (and now available as a DVD in our library.) It didn’t take long for me to discover that Far From the Tree was based upon a  2012 book with the same name by Andrew Solomon, subtitled Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity. Soon, I unearthed the young adult edition with the subtitle How Children and Their Parents Learn to Accept Another … Our Differences Unite Us. Both of Solomon’s books qualify as sizable tomes for their audiences. The 2017 edition adapted for younger readers is over 400 pages. With notes, a bibliography and index, the original Far From the Tree is nearly 950 pages.

In the books and documentary, Solomon studies children who, unlike “acorns which fall from the oak tree,” fall “far from the tree.” Solomon explores the circumstances that cause children to be unlike their parents and even their siblings. These children and their families cope with deafness, dwarfism, Down syndrome, autism, schizophrenia, and other disabilities. They may be gay or transgender, criminals or murderers. In his lengthy book, he describes pages of cases and individuals in each of these named circumstances.

The documentary is simpler but still powerful. IFC (Independent Film Company) and Director Rachel Dretzin include intense childhood videos of children growing up and who are dealing with their differences. Also included are testimonies of the family members who are coping with accepting them.

Author, researcher, journalist, and professor, Andrew Solomon has a well-deserved reputation. The first chapter of both editions of his books describes his dyslexia and the resulting nurturing love of his mother who helped him learn despite it. Solomon graduated from the Horace Mann School in New York with honors at age 18. He earned his BA from Yale and a Master’s and Ph.D. from Jesus College in Cambridge England. He wrote The Noonday Demon, a memoir of his own depression and a definitive study of depression that earned the 2001 National Book Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2012. Terry Gross of NPR’s Fresh Air interviewed Solomon in 2015 after an update to The Noonday Demon with an additional chapter on new treatments. Solomon has four TED Talks to his credit. One reflects explicitly on the insight he shares in Far From the Tree. (Thankfully, inspirational TED and TEDx talks can all be viewed online, for free.) In Love, No Matter What (2013) Solomon shares what he learned from children, parents, and families he talked to about learning to unconditionally love and accept differences from what was initially dreamed.

Solomon is a professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University Medical School in New York City and is deeply involved with work related to women’s depression during and after pregnancy, doctoral research he accomplished before being awarded the degree in 2013. He is also actively engaged in LGBT rights and acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in their families.

Solomon’s mother did not accept Andrew’s admission that he was, as a young adult, gay. In his books, and on his website (andrewsolomon.com), he argues that while he now knows that his parents always loved him, he did not recognize it as love because he felt that they rejected him. His mother sadly died of cancer years before her son earned much of his success or her acceptance; Andrew was in his late 20s at the time. His father, however, is still alive and spoke at his son’s wedding to his husband John in 2007, a poignant moment was shown on screen in the documentary.

Far From the Tree is about courage, compassion, and acceptance. These unique children are not defined by their differences when their families communicate their love for them and triumph over the odds. It is an intensely strong film.

Solomon wrote his autobiographical debut novel, A Stone Boat, in 1994.  His last book, Far and Away: Reporting from the Brink of Change was written in 2016. I’m thankful I tripped upon the documentary that led me down my rabbit hole, discovering more about Andrew Solomon through his books and online, along his journey. All of his powerful books, and the documentary based upon Far From the Tree, are available at our library, and through the MLN catalog.

Charlotte Canelli is the Director of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the March 21, 2019 issue of the Norwood Transcript.

The sparring gear I was wearing made my body feel twenty times hotter than the dojang that I was sparring in. I was fighting a guy who was slightly older than me in terms of age, but light years ahead of me in terms of skill. I wasn’t just sweating because of the heat; adrenaline was pumping through my veins, my mind was in high alert, and sparring is nothing like doing drills. With drills, you are kicking pads or punching into the air at your reflection in the mirror or at some phantom opponent in your mind. In sparring, you are simulating a real fight, with a real person, who can really hurt you, which is simultaneously exciting and nerve-wracking.

I remember trying to get in a few roundhouse kicks to his chest, and at one point even tried to land a crescent kick to his head, but he was FAST, and was using the best weapons in his arsenal to combat me: his mind and his experience. It seems as if he could read my every move before I even made it. I kept trying to land blows, but it was to no avail, until I saw an opening! I had dodged one of his back kicks, which I thought was a mistake on his part, which left his back exposed for a moment so I went in with a front kick to land a blow.

But it was not a mistake on his part, I was being setup.

I went in for the kick, and saw him fling himself around quickly, then felt a quick, hard impact to my head. After that, my world went fuzzy. My headgear, which was tightly fastened to my head, went sideways across my face. My arms, which should always be in the “fighting position” during sparring, went straight down to my sides. I stared blankly in front of me in a daze and everything went out of focus. He had landed a roundhouse kick straight to my head.  I think the only reason I didn’t fall over and hit the mat was because my Taekwondo instructor, who was facilitating the fight, had told him not to land another blow.

Ah, the joys of martial arts. Roundhouse kicks to the head aside, learning taekwondo was a great experience, and learning ABOUT taekwondo was an equally enlightening experience. Through taekwondo I was exposed to the Korean language, food, history and culture. I also eventually got better at not getting kicked in the head!  Here at the library, we have plenty of books and e-books that can teach you how to be a better practitioner of the arts, and can also deepen and enrich your understanding of what makes each martial art unique.

Taekwondo is an art that originated in Korea, and was formally established shortly after World War II, but has even deeper roots in older arts like Japanese karate and numerous Chinese and Korean martial arts. It was introduced here in America by Jhoon Rhee, the “Father of American Taekwondo” in the late 1950s who opened his first martial arts studio in Washington, D.C. in 1962. Tae kwon do’s literal interpretation is “tae” which translates to stomp or trample, “kwon” which translates to fist, and “do” which translates to “way.” The book The Secrets of Tae Kwon Do: Principles and Techniques for Beginners, by Jennifer Lawler is a great resource for learning about the history, philosophy, forms, and techniques of taekwondo.  All martial arts are about combat at their core, and most have roots in some form of intense military training, but, as Lawler states in her book, “The ultimate goal of Taekwondo training is the development of qualities that make you a better person. All Taekwondo students are expected to learn and follow the Five Tenets of Taekwondo” which are:

• Courtesy
• Integrity
• Perseverance
• Self-Control
• Indomitable Spirit

These tenets, along with the theme of personal betterment, are the reason many people pursue martial arts in general. As Lawler states, “Part of the process of living the way of taekwondo is to appreciate how to use the tenets not just in the training hall but in everyday life.” Martial arts is not just about training to defend yourself, it’s about reaching your highest potential and learning inner skills that can be used in all areas of your life.

I used to enjoy watching kids practice their drills and spar before my afternoon class would start. Unlike us adults, kids do not put in a full day at work before class, and are not as worried about getting hurt or being sore the next day. They just give it 110%! We have some great resources in our Children’s department for your little warriors. Taekwondo! by Terry Pierce is a Step into Reading book that will teach your little ones the fundamentals of reading and inspire them in their training. For the slightly older reader, we have Taekwondo, by Tim O’Shei which is a nice introduction to the history of taekwondo as both an art, and as a sport. As always, our Hoopla app is brimming with books for both kids and adults about taekwondo’s history and style.

Of course, taekwondo is just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless martial arts from all corners of the world for you to learn, and learn about. Each has their own unique history, distinct style, culture and philosophy. Here at the Morrill Memorial Library, we have all the resources you need to improve your fighting skills and hone the greatest weapon in your arsenal: your mind.

Check out some of these other great reads to learn more.

Tae Kwon Do: the Ultimate Reference Guide to the World’s Most Popular Martial Art, by Yeon Hee Park

Tae Kwon Do the Indomitable Martial Art of Korea: Basics, Techniques and Forms, by Dong Keun Park & Allan Schein

Tae Kwon Do: the Korean Martial Art, by Richard Chun

Brian DeFelice is the Information Technology Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for his article in the March 14, 2019 issue of the Norwood Transcript.

Just days after learning that the Monkees were on a national tour this past week, I heard the news about Peter Tork’s death. I questioned how a national Monkees tour could occur without Davy Jones, who passed away nearly seven years ago. Apparently, it wasn’t happening without Peter Tork, either, who had been ill and fighting cancer for the past ten years, but most specifically since 2018.

Tork was diagnosed with a slow-growing cancer of the head and neck in 2009. After surgery and during radiation treatment, Peter continued to play music on tour. For nearly a decade, he documented his struggle with adenoid cystic carcinoma on his Facebook page. In an interview with the Washington Post: Voices, “Peter Tork’s Cancer, In His Own Words,” published in July 2009, Tork described the scary words of his diagnosis, the harsh radiation treatment, and his commitment to continuing to perform.

After Monkee Davy Jones passed in 2012, I wrote “Hey, Hey, Find the Monkees… at the Library” for the March 23rd From the Library Column. In that column, I confessed that Peter Tork was actually my favorite.

When a library patron emailed me to remind me of my teenage fandom for the Monkees, and that he was sorry Peter Tork had died, I was prompted to reread the column. Fandom, of course, was not a common expression or word in the time of Monkees. Mania was. Specifically Beatlemania and Monkeemania. I was pretty maniacal about the Monkees television show, never missing a night of the season.

In the 2012 column, I admitted that I remembered “racing home from school clubs and babysitting gigs to catch the very start of the show each week.” Further, I confessed that we girls “were all a bit nuts about the Monkees. They were quirky, silly but cute. We all had our favorites (mine was Peter Tork). Davy was just too cute, Mickey Dolenz a bit odd, and Michael Nesmith way too moody.”

Peter Tork was chosen as one of the Monkees for his “open, Nordic look.” Dave Zimmer, in his biography of Crosby, Stills and Nash, wrote that twenty-one-year-old Steven Stills flunked his audition for the Monkees. He then recommended his blonde and lanky doppelganger, Peter Tork. Peter was already in his mid-twenties, older than the other three band leaders. (Davy Jones was a mere 19 when he signed on).

What I find most interesting is that musicians Jones, Nesmith, Dolenz, and Tork never played their own music on the two-season television series. Davy Jones was an accomplished actor and singer, playing the Artful Dodger in Oliver as a teenager. Dolenz took drum lessons so he could act like he was playing the drums, but he was a guitarist, along with Nesmith and Tork. Nesmith played country and rock, publishing his own songs. Dolenz had acted since he was a child, and played guitar in cover bands. In addition to the guitar, Peter played piano and banjo. Tork was a Greenwich, CT native, and spent years as a folk musician in Greenwich Village after a stint at Carleton College in Minnesota.

Even though Peter Tork was cast as the dumb-blonde, often playing the dummy on the Monkees television show set, as a 14-year old teen girl I was definitely attracted to his refined and cultivated side. In the early 1970s, just after I had graduated from high school, Peter moved to Northern California where he joined a local choir. Later, he spent three years as a high school educator, teaching music, social studies, math, French and history in Santa Monica. And coaching baseball on the side.

In 1967, after the television show had aired both seasons, the Monkees were finally given their due. They released Headquarters, an album on which they played the instruments in addition to singing. Peter Tork co-wrote several of the songs and received acclaim for them.

Peter Tork created the Shoe Suede Blues in 1994, playing as a band for a benefit. They were an instant hit and were asked to perform at other events, including at the Monkees 30th Anniversary Convention in 1997 (which was televised). Peter and the Shoe Suede Blues, in fact, continued to play their blues across the country in small venues, releasing albums from 1999 to 2018. Saved by the Blues and Cambria Hotel were a few of the best. Relax Your Mind is their most recent.

Peter’s given name was Thorkelson. His father was a college professor in Connecticut, and he had two brothers and a sister who, of course, did not use the name Tork. Peter went on to marry four times, the last surviving his death this past week. He had two daughters and one son.

Tork was a realist about fame. He felt that “happiness came simply from doing the work. In a Los Angeles Times article written in 1992, twenty-five years after the Monkees television show ended, he confessed that he wanted to play music full time. “A little bit of fame is fun, but I’ve had enough, thank you.”

Nostalgia about the Monkees is apparently here to stay, and we’ve collected many Monkees recordings at our library. The DVDs of the two seasons of the Monkees television show (1966-1967 and 1967-1968) feature 32 and 26 episodes, respectively, along with the movie Head, which hit the screens in 1968, just three years after the Beatles’ Help! The story of the Monkees and their manufactured music and band can also be watched online on the Smithsonian Channel. The 46-minute documentary is fascinating and includes footage of all the Monkees, including reclusive and moody Michael Nesmith. If you would like to reserve any of these titles in DVD or CD version, please call the Reference or Information desks of the library, 781-799-0200, or reserve them in the Minuteman library catalog.

On “The Real Peter Tork (official)” Facebook page, Peter’s family wrote that “Peter’s energy, intelligence, silliness, and curiosity were traits that for decades brought laughter and enjoyment to millions, including those of us closest to him. Those traits also equipped him well to take on cancer, a condition he met with unwavering humor and courage. We are asking fans who would like to make contributions in Peter’s name to donate to the scholarship fund at The Institute for The Musical Arts in Massachusetts, a nonprofit that provides young women with music education, music recording, and music community.

Charlotte Canelli is the Director of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her column in the February 28, 2019 issue of the Norwood Transcript.