the apples fell far from the trees

I'm re-reading Plato's Republic for the third or fourth time. I'm a bit thick so it takes a few times for me to get it. This time it's pretty easy reading for me--almost like a novel. It is quite enjoyable.

Anyway, I started cracking up, when I read, "Amazed at the sight, he descended into the opening, where, among other marvels, he beheld a hollow brazen horse, having doors, at which he stooping and looking in saw a dead body of stature, as appeared to him, more than human, and having nothing on but a gold ring; this he took from the finger of the dead and reascended. Now the shepherds met together, according to custom, that they might send their monthly report about the flocks to the king; into their assembly he came having the ring on his finger, and as he was sitting among them he chanced to turn the collet of the ring inside his hand, when instantly he became invisible to the rest of the company and they began to speak of him as if he were no longer present. He was astonished at this, and again touching the ring he turned the collet outwards and reappeared; he made several trials of the ring, and always with the same result--when he turned the collet inwards he became invisible, when outwards he reappeared."

Of course Joseph and Spencer demanded to know what was so funny. I chided Tolkien for stealing his idea from Plato and proceeded to read the passage aloud. I actually had zero memory of this passage. Spencer said, "Oh I remember that. Wasn't Plato writing about Justice?" Then he went on to discuss justic and the difference between Tolkien and Plato quite eloquently.

It is really cruel to get shown up by an 18-year-old, who read Plato's Republic at 14. I work so hard at this stuff. He breezes right through it. How in the world can he still remember it so well? It's like this with everything we've studied together. I have a sort of vague feeling about things. He remembers them as if he's an authority. I guess he really does have a photographic memory. Is it possible to be humbled and pleased at the same time?

It was like this with all of our other children as well. I majored in voice at college; Emily was better than me by five--no joke. I love to cook; Sarah is the best cook on the planet. I work really hard to be outgoing; Jason is a natural people person. Serenity and charity are two of my main goals, Katie was naturally thoughtful, quiet, and gentle. Elizabeth is vivacious and athletic--I'm awkward and reserved. Lorelyn is the sweetest thing ever; I'm the PMS queen.

Well at least they all turned out better than their parents. In our case, the apples fell quite far from the trees. Thank Heavens!