My open letter to Jacquie Lawson

My open letter to Jacquie Lawson

            Ars est celare artem !

    Dear Jacquie,

   First, I would like to take this opportunity
to express my deep sense of gratitude   for your
noble and brilliant creativity ,  tremendous
dedication and  unique treasure on the web .
My acknowledgement would not be complete without a deep bow of appreciation your   pieces
of art which are inspiring, stimulating, energizing
and thought provoking.

Jacquielawson.com -- What does it stand for? What does it mean for us ?

The site is high educational and
intergenerational as well !

In our contemporary wireless generation and today's fast-paced environment to all existing educating institutions mass media ,television, films, law, museums, libraries, social work -- is incorporated the strongest one INTERNET.
( I would say even stronger than gravity..)
Why? Because by means of Internet you can achieve all the above mentioned educating institutions and much MORE that can educate
to the right or wrong way. And if we find
that the contemporary education is weak
it's not because the environment does not educate , but rather because it educates to the wrong way.

From Plato, Socrates , Aristotle to Rousseau, Voltaire and Jefferson , a well known truism says that it is the community and the culture
that are the main educators in the society,
that is the environment that educates . This is why the words of the ancient Greeks 'paideia'
( media) and 'paideutics' ( art of teaching) do have a common root; So, to know how to suggest and how to impact is the greatest art of teaching.

   And you make it so!

                      In this situation when parents and grandparents find on Internet such a noble and brilliant art site like jacquielawson.com we can not overestimate its educational role not only
for our children and grandchildren but even for
us in our way of bridging the gaps between generations.

    Generally the education is not designed only
for cultivating the intellect alone. The nature
of the mind itself consists of encompassing
feeling no less than intellect , and intellect   no
less than feeling;
moreover, the artificial separation of these
two mind aspects cognitive and affective domain,
can only cripple the development of thought and feeling .
Pascal well-aimed this point with his famous
saying : 'Le couer a son raison que la raison
ne connait point' .

      O wonder !

How many goodly creatures

are there here !

How beauteous mankind is!

      O brave new world

That has such people in't!

        (Miranda , -- The Tempest  )

Rousseau wrote : "With our foolish and pedantic methods we are always preventing children from learning what they could learn much better by themselves , while we neglect what we alone can teach them" Since what children are interested in is a function of their environment as well of their native endowment , it is our responsibility to structure that environment in the best possible way and to help it change and grow in response to each childs evolving interests and needs"

Your website is a powerful and convincible sample of a superb way in which our main educational environment Internet should be structured . This is why I would add to some expressive comment 'elles sont magiques'-- 'c'est un chef- d'ouevre'; generally, in your stories reigns an atmosphere of excellence and your characters play in a world of bliss interacting with us.

Q u e l c h a r m !

Every card is a story containing its who, where, when, what , how and why in a concise, understandable and brilliant form; moreover, the cards are interactive with magical effects to entertain the children and adults : the cards are cognitive , affective and moralistic. This is why they are absolutely relevant to the main concepts of the educational process, this is why our children and grandchildren enjoy playing and interacting with your clip-cards.
   All my endeavors and intentions to express better my deep gratitude for your shining educational creativity and your classy writing and designing style lead me to a well known Bible saying : 'Pleasant words are like a honeycomb , sweetness to the soul and health to the bones'. (Prov 16:24)
The best and greatest things in the world cannot be seen, or even touched; they must be felt with heart. That's why I sensed your shining creativity both inspiring and challenging. Thanks again : Mille fois merci !

       In my freelance writing practice the first readers of any final draft are at least two-three 'nonegoinvolved' people; in this case they are - Mr. Saginor ( 95) and George (12, in 7-th grade). I asked my neighbor Mr. Sidney Saginor- a lifelong professional engineer.management consultant, reader, swimmer and past 'slide ruler'(he is 95!), why he prefers to play your clip cards?

Voila his comment :

" "I am enchanted by Jacquies charming artistic style , I like her village cottage and the village green around as astonishing environment for the cards, Beverleys exquisite, watercolours flowers and Mikes easy to use program even for beginners in computing area. My delight will not be complete without mentioning Chudleigh's diary miracle ! Maclom and Chudleigh are sitting down , looking eyes to eyes , talking heart to heart and writing the various exploits which Chudleigh gets up to . Everything in the diary is based on a real story and it's well known that a story is the shortest way between being and truth . I ask myself: What is the real source of my patience while starting an e-card ? The initial message 'Loading your card please wait.This card may take 2-3 minutes to load- please be patient' or the happy and friendly Chudleigh's appearance with a wagging tail and licking tongue ? I think the latter ! One more effective and educational attribute of your creativity consists in it's secularism : The cards are worldly, created for everyone , for all generations , for any 'homo sapiens' . So, while bridging the gap between generations --what does one generation say to another? - Meet you soon at jacquielawson.com !!! Thank you , Jacquie , for noble work !"

Now, what about George -- another 'nonegoinvolved' person ? His comment is very specific : " My favorite Jacquie's cards are pelmanism games ; I enjoy playing those cards . particularly finding instantly the matching pairs to reveal Chudleigh's card.

I like the music to the card -'dancing piper' . My Dad explained to me that this music belongs to a famous Russian composer Tsaikovsky and promised me to pick me up to the theatre to see the ballet 'Nutcracker' , provided I'll accomplish my 7th grade with excellent points. Once, backing from school I found my Dad playing the pelmanism Birth card. I told him that this card is one for children and he wishpered me smiling - 'never late to play the piano'... I adore Chudleigh's behavior and play ; I try to train my

four-legs 'homo sapiens' - Peggy in this same manner. When Peggy sees Chudleigh on the screen , he puts a leg on the keyboard in order to interact with him ! Understanding well his hint, Chudleigh seemingly reacts appropriately. Is ,really, Chudleigh telling to Mr. Maclom his adventures ?

Generalizing the above mentioned comments of representatives of three generations we can conclude that your creativity is educational and intergenerational as well ( Quod erat demonstrandum'...) That, at any rate, has been my aim writing you this open letter.

For me it's time to give you lasting reminder that your wonderful job is well appreciated !

May your Muse bring you a full pocket of ideas , stories and fantasy to keep surprising us with your brilliant creations !

Well known Latin saying goes : 'ARS EST CELARE ARTEM' ( Art consists in hiding art ) ; If so, how you make us discover,feel and enjoy your hidden art without libretto? I don't know exactly the answer but I guess it's your hidden art secret ! Isn't it? At any rate, that's why we play your cards with boundless delight ! Thanks, again!

Best wishes of happiness and prosperity in your noble life.

Quod bonum, felix , Faustumque sit !

Sincerely & appreciatively