FredL

Back in my previous incarnation as a Computer System Developer, I often was saddened by the terrible decisions I would see made during the course of developing computer systems by management that simply had not experienced the many ways that such work could go wrong. Finally, I came to the realization that there is simply no substitute for experience. None! Nada!

So it is with bonsai. With my two or three years of experience (repeated 3 or 4 times), I lack important components of the experience of people who have worked with bonsai for many years. Plus, I simply lack the talent to quickly absorb and understand important parts of the understanding that really outstanding people in this field of endeavor have.

I do not really gain experience by participating in this forum. Rather, I gain sensitivity to things to watch for. It helps me to gain more from my experience than I otherwise would.

I do not feel that this is reason for despair. It is my intention to stumble along, learning as I go, making mistakes, killing trees, turning out trees with little artistic merit from the large amount of second rate material I have accumulated until finally I begin to receive a little of the inevitable enlightenment which comes to those who persevere.

The reason that I am willing to do this is because the process involved is so much fun! I love the little trees I'm working with, even tho they may be years away from being bonsai, in fact, even if they never are. And I've really enjoyed the rapid learning that I'm involved in.

Thanks all, Fred