In my capacity as a research psychologist, I had produced more than sixty professional articles, pamphlets, and books as well as many highly-acceptable applications for research grants. All were well-written in the style required by professional journals and fund-granting institutions. But while these contributed to my financial security and professional advancement, they were personally unrewarding. Writing them was always a difficult and tedious task. And was all this truly productive and worthwhile? While I’d like to think so, I really don’t know. Perhaps some of the findings were important and had significant impact upon society or individuals. Perhaps not. The jury is still out on this matter, and it will probably remain out for a very long time. 

I found that my practice as a clinical psychologist was more demanding and personally rewarding than my research involvements. The results stemming from my evaluations or psychotherapeutic efforts were more immediately forthcoming and apparent. Possible misjudgments or failings would come to my attention in short order. And while evidence of my successes came along a bit more grudgingly, I was always pleased when I found that I had really helped someone. In the main, I found private practice to be a gratifying experience. 

For thirty years as a Professor of Psychology, I taught courses in Personality Theory, Personal Adjustment, and Abnormal Psychology. It was mandatory that I keep abreast of current research and the latest thinking within these and related fields. I prided myself on new ideas that I had developed on my own. I provided students with a firm foundation in these disciplines, the latest developments within them, and how all of this knowledge could relate to the conduct of their lives. Every effort was made to encourage my students to address and answer the following highly personal and important questions: Where are you now? Where have you been? Where are you going and why? How will your university experience empower you to answer these questions?

During my retirement, I had pursued a variety of interests including travel, tree farming, dogs, landscaping and landscape art, and dog/horse racing. In addition, I had become involved in recreational writing, both independently and in collaboration with my daughter, Amy. Among other things, we produced a manual, “Ago-ing” which was designed to encourage individuals to record personal events, thoughts, and feelings. I wrote or coauthored many other formal and informal articles just for the fun of it. These ranged all the way from the somber “Ageism, The Last Politically-Correct Prejudice” to lighthearted chitchat about my grandmother’s salty vocabulary. 

While I continued to write primarily for my own amusement, I eventually came to believe that some of my works contained knowledge and a perspective worthy of recording in a serious way. I truly believed that I still had something to say. I should certainly have learned something important during the course of my professional experience and very long lifetime. But how could I express my thoughts in a manner that would engage or interest others? I was clearly stymied by a lack of the skills and motivation that would be necessary to write serious novels, plays, or formal poetry. Then, I came across a tiny book entitled, “Old Saws with New Teeth” by Will S. Adam (1906). Its contents consisted of short remarks and sayings about life and the human condition. As I read this book, I felt that I had discovered a format for expression which would work for me in light of my special talents, limitations, interests, and experiences. At least, I came to believe this. 

My earliest work in this new writing mode was directed toward my daughter. As part of my legacy for her, I tried to produce something memorable in a tangible and enduring form. By recording my commentary, short paragraphs, or wisecracks, I could convey to her a measure of my wide-ranging experience, know-how, and beliefs. 

I have always had an abundance of ideas and suggestions regarding almost everything under the sun. In-depth and innovative thinking was basic to the conduct of my research and clinical practice. The latest developments within these fields became part and parcel of frequent digressions from my prepared university lectures. Whether my students knew it or not, I was touching upon the very fiber of their beings. These presentations were very important to me. As my friends, students, and colleagues came to know all too well, new and offbeat thoughts frequently peppered my informal conversations with them. For many years, I had simply failed to commit these creative expressions to paper. When I finally got around to doing this, I came to refer to the writings as “pithograms” even though I didn’t bother defining the term at the time. 

I found it personally rewarding and cathartically comforting to use this “pithogrammic” form of expression. It was a rare day that I would not find something important to write about. I felt a special sense of personal satisfaction upon completing a pithogram. 

As I became more and more involved in this, I found it necessary to provide a formal definition of “pithogram.” And I came up with the following: The “pith” of pithogram refers to “the essential part, the gist, the message”; the “gram” means “a combining form used to form nouns meaning: something written down, drawn or recorded.” Hence, a pithogram is a recorded meaningful message. In producing each, I tried to convey to another something that was of personal significance to me.

Pithograms were created in a spontaneous manner that defied precise definition. The only rule was that “there are no rules.” I could and should feel free to write about anything. All were written with complete disregard for propriety or “political correctness.” Such freedom of expression seems to be rapidly disappearing from the American scene. 

If I were unduly concerned with proper grammar and punctuation, there would never have been any pithograms. If you look for such errors in this book, you’ll probably find them. But then, you’ve missed the point of the publication. In that same vein, don’t be unduly unsettled if you detect redundancy or what might resemble it. I usually carried some writing materials around so that I could record the germs of ideas as they occurred to me. The contents of these could be based on spur of the moment thoughts or conclusions that I had developed during the course of a lifetime. On any given date, the germ of a pithogram might be determined by my psychological/physical state, the immediate situation, current events, chance encounters with friends, and a host of ill-defined or fortuitous factors. It was later on that I would attempt to make clear to others these thoughts that were already crystal clear to me. A pithogram could sometimes be written in a matter of minutes. Some complicated thoughts required hours, and even days, for their proper expression. Whimsy ruled supreme in their production and in the selection of a catchy, offbeat title for each of them. Pithograms ranged from “one liners” to paragraphs to extended treatises. Over the years of their creation, I have found that my pithograms have grown longer. Hopefully, their quality has improved as well. 

After a bit, I developed an idea that some might consider a delusion of grandiosity. I came to believe that my pithograms might have a usefulness and appeal to others beyond my captive audience of my daughter Amy and a few close friends. Some broad scale distribution of them might be worthwhile. But I didn’t know how to proceed. 

In 1997, I had a fortuitous reunion with Nancy Clark Scobie. The chance encounter occurred at high noon on a Thursday in the Food Court of Eau Claire’s Oakwood Mall. It was very unusual that I was there at all, let alone at that time of day. As usual, Nancy was running late and had gone there for lunch only because it was handy. I hadn’t seen her for more than thirty years. She had been a student in my psychology classes at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire during the early 1960's. I found out that she had become a prolific poetess during this lengthy interim. We talked a bit and arranged for a subsequent meeting. At that time, I acquainted her with my pithograms and other writings. She presented me with a substantial volume of the poetry she had created since 1988. Each of us became very interested in the other’s very different forms of expression.

After about a year, we decided that a collaborative creative effort was in order. We would enter into the “minefield” that is publication. In this way, we could showcase our writings and the diverse points of view that they represented. And we have been successful in this effort. Four volumes have already emerged from this mutual undertaking: Muses, Music, and More, Scobie, N.C. and Thurston, J.R. 1998; Primarily Poetry, Pithograms, and Pictures . . . but a little bit more, Scobie, N.C.,  Thurston, J.R., and Stangel, P. 1999; A Paradoxical Potpourri of Poetry, Pithograms, Prose, and Pretty Pictures, Scobie, N.C., Thurston, A.E., Stangel, P., and Thurston, J.R. 2000; Meandering with Mariah, , Scobie, N.C. and Thurston, J.R. 2000. As should be obvious from these titles, each contained a full measure of both poetry and pithograms. 

Our chance meeting, subsequent partnership, and consequent productions are the stuff from which legends, or at least a few pithograms, could be born. 

In 2001, it was decided that a book devoted solely to pithograms should be published. Ms. Scobie had already produced a volume, Christmas Tidings (2001) that consisted of her Yuletide poetry. The pithograms for Purposeful Pithograms, as it came to be called, were drawn from all of those written in 1999, 2000, and 2001. Hundreds upon hundreds of these pithograms were reviewed. Efforts were made to eliminate those that were inconsequential, unacceptably coarse, beneath contempt, outrageous, and/or crudely provocative. Those pithograms that survived this selection process (approximately 35%) have been included in this book. The final published format assumes the form of an extended “stream of consciousness” with the pithograms appearing in the order of their creation over the span of three years. 

Purposeful Pithograms is presented for the edification and amusement of the readers. It is hoped that its pithograms might enlighten, provoke, engage, amuse, bemuse, defuse, or simply confuse those who read them. That is their purpose. 

Pithograms may serve as raw material that might be useful to the individual reader in a variety of ways. They represent my points of view. The reader is encouraged to take issue with any and all of these expressions. None of them is carved in granite. Some may have value or appeal to the reader; others may have none at all. It is acknowledged that one person’s junk may indeed be another’s treasure. 

The goals for the reader may be minimal or substantial in character. Casual perusal of pithograms for fun could be a worthwhile exercise. Humor is a common pithogrammic ingredient. 

Some pithograms could have personal impact. They just might tell the reader something that he or she needs to know. It is said that a book is a bargain if it provides even a single useful bit of knowledge or personal insight. 

The subject matter of a given pithogram could provide an appropriate topic for book club discussions or free-ranging bull sessions. Some readers may like to concentrate on a single topic, e.g., President Clinton’s character flaws and strong carnal interests, terrorists, personal lives of quiet desperation, or the profound impact of depersonalization/isolation upon American society.

In the unlikely event that the reader would be interested in assessing my personality and lifestyle, the pithograms are most revealing. 

The reader is encouraged to produce his or her own versions of pithograms. A perusal of my pithograms might provide both motivation and format for doing just that. Each reader has much more to say than is generally realized or found to be acceptable. It is commendable to develop personal viewpoints and express them clearly. All too often, people have little basis for understanding where other people stand on many issues.

There is one common theme that runs relentlessly throughout this book. This may or may not be immediately apparent to the reader. It is the emphasis on the importance of the moment, “The Now,” in the lives of individuals. Each day and the moments that comprise it must be experienced fully and immediately. Each presents an abundance of both challenge and opportunity. All too often, people lead constricted lives as they dwell unduly upon a past which cannot be altered or worry about a future that can neither be predicted nor controlled. The joys of luxuriating fully in each moment are too often overlooked. It is lamentable that these precious moments are often appreciated only after they have become distant memories, when “The Now” has become “The Then.” Each pithogram reflects something that I considered important, exciting, depressing, insightful, or humorous at a given time on a given day. If the reader but looks around in his or her own life, there will be many similar “moment-ous” happenings. All too often, they are overlooked or underappreciated. It is a joy to recognize these as opportunities and to take full advantage of them as they occur. The reader is implored to do just that, and to do it right now. Purposeful Pithograms is offered in strong advocacy of these points of view. Procrastination is the bane of such efforts. A dilatory attitude, such as that exemplified by “Never do today what you can put off until the day after tomorrow,” will kill the magic of the moment every time. 

To accomplish the purposes of this book, each pithogram deserves more than a cursory reading with only a momentary reflection as to its possible significance. While generally lighthearted in their presentation, many would feel slighted if they were not accorded some measure of individualized attention and respect. One should avoid treating pithograms in the manner of a stack of photographs as they are riffled through by an indifferent and recruited viewer. 

Accordingly, the reader is admonished to avoid reading this book straight on through. “Hit or Miss,” occasional, or leisurely reading may well provide a special measure of enjoyment. 

It is said that the only way to consume and digest an elephant is one bite at a time. And the same would seem to hold true for Purposeful Pithograms as well. Each pithogram deserves a thorough chewing and a time for rumination. 

Read on! May my hopes and expectations for you to be realized. 

Old Saws

An older woman took exception to the condescension she perceived when someone referred to her as a “young lady.” She referred to this as a patently erroneous statement. A puckish observer then asked if both of the designations were in error. 

Tempus Fugit

How many milliseconds will you expend reading this pithogram? Time is the stuff from which your life is made. Could you have expended this brief time for some better purpose? On the other hand, consider the truly trivial time-consuming events that are part and parcel of your lifestyle. Check on how much you can accomplish during a TV commercial break.

Sic Transit Gloria Bugles

At the time of their appearance on the junk food scene, I came to regard Bugles as something of an end and all. There could be no improvements upon them. I consumed them until I was completely surfeited or the box became empty. I simply could not get enough of them. 

Although they are still available, it has been at least twenty years since I last tasted a Bugle. 

09-11-01 Attack on America Day 

Prejudice, Part I

We clearly misjudged our enemies. Too many of us thought of them as ignorant, dirty “A-rab beggars,” trudging around the desert with a camel or wandering aimlessly around some grungy Casbah begging for baksheesh while muttering, “Alms for the love of Allah.” They had funny names, dressed in odd ways, worshiped in a strange manner, and were generally beneath our contempt. We weren’t all that much interested in them. After all, we were content with these stereotypes that we had developed while watching old movies. 

Not so! Our enemy is bright and sophisticated, as well as fanatic in their beliefs. They were successful in destroying the World Trade Center and inflicting major damage on the Pentagon. The monumental success of that effort very probably surprised them. They were highly motivated, incredibly capable, and took full advantage of every opportunity available to them. 

Our initial reaction may suggest that we still have much to learn. Calling them cowards and threatening retaliation against anyone who would harbor such evil people, and blowing them into the Stone Age may play well on the home front, but is unhelpful in the long haul. These terrorists died as they implemented their beliefs. That is one true test of any religion. Death holds no sting for these people. Such a death provides reward, not a punishment. And there are many who hold these beliefs. These people believe that killing the infidel is one passport to their Heaven. 

Our situation seems comparable to some ancient defenseless pastoral society being beset by merciless hordes of people bent on their destruction.  If the farmers were lucky, the invaders were beaten back as both sides sustained casualties. The hordes would retreat in anonymity to some inaccessible sanctuary where they would reproduce and regroup for the next onslaught. The innocent farmers didn’t have the requisite know-how, equipment and hatred to confront and deal effectively with this threat.