Date:	Wed, 5 Jan 1994 08:43:26 -1000
From:	sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki)
Message-Id: <1994Jan5.184353.17625@das.harvard.edu>
Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University
Subject: knowing when to let go

This doesn't have anything to do with kite flying, but seemed
appropriate especially in view of discussions about letting go and
harnesses, etc.

I don't know where it originally came from. It probably isn't true,
but I chuckled when I read it.
----------------------------------------------------------------
This is a copy of an alleged letter written to an insurance company
that wanted a complete explanation from an injured man who had
explained what happened with the words "lost presence of mind".

   "I'm a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was
working alone on the roof of a new six story building. When I had
completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of bricks
left over.  Rather than carry the bricks down by wheelbarrow, I
decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley which was attached
to the side of the building at the sixth floor.

   "Securing the rope at ground level, I went back up on the roof,
swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back
to the ground floor and untied the rope, holding it tightly to assure
a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in block 11
of the accident reporting form that I weigh 135 pounds.

   "Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I
'lost my presence of mind' and didn't let go of the rope. Needless to
say, I proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building.

   "In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down.
This explains the fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only
slightly, I continued the rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers
of my right hand were two knuckles deed into the pulley. This explains
the lacerations of my right hand. Fortunately, by this time I had
regained my presence of mind and held tightly to the rope in spite of
the pain.

   "At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit
the ground, and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the
weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed about 50 pounds. I refer
you again to my weight of 135 pounds, in block 11. As you can imagine,
I began a rapid descent down the side of the building.

   "In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up.
This accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations to my
legs. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my
injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks, and fortunately only
three vertebrae were cracked.

   "I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there in the bricks,
in pain, unable to move, and watching the barrel six stories above me,
I again 'lost presence of mind'; I let go of the rope."


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Date:	Wed, 5 Jan 1994 23:11:42 -1000
From:	ye79@gec-mrc.co.uk (ye79)
Message-Id: <1994Jan6.091411.25698@das.harvard.edu>
Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University
Subject: Re: knowing when to let go

sasaki@edu.harvard.das writes:
>This doesn't have anything to do with kite flying, but seemed
>appropriate especially in view of discussions about letting go and
>harnesses, etc.
>
>I don't know where it originally came from. It probably isn't true,
>but I chuckled when I read it.
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>This is a copy of an alleged letter written to an insurance company
>that wanted a complete explanation from an injured man who had
>explained what happened with the words "lost presence of mind".
>
>   "I'm a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was

Monologue deleted.

>I again 'lost presence of mind'; I let go of the rope."

I think this originates from the the English musician, comedian and
caricaturist Gerard Hoffnung. At least I first heard it in a
recording, made in (I think) the late 1950's, of an after dinner
speech he made to the Oxford University Debating Society. His
rendition is hilarious.

Chris
--
Chris Willis (ye79@uk.co.gec-mrc) GEC-Marconi Research Centre, Essex UK




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