Page 14 - The Gluckman Occasonal Number Nine

it’s time for my dinner, to be followed by some fastidious grooming
and a nice nap on a plush pillow. See you later!” And she left.
Moral: A winning strategy depends upon logistics.

Parafable of the Clam

Unhappy the Clam wasn’t happy about never going anywhere. “All I
have to do is let go,” he said, “and soon I’ll be somewhere else.”
“Don’t let go!” his companions told him; “No telling what may
happen to you. Clam up and hold tight.” Unhappy replied, “It’s easy
telling what will happen to you if you stay: the dread clam-diggers are
on their way.”
Moral: Leaping before you look has a sound instinctual basis.

Parafable of the Pebble

A pebble looked at the adjacent paving stone. “What sort of rock are
you?” asked the pebble. “I am no rock!” answered the paver. “I am a
factory product molded of sand and other materials. That is how I
come to have a perfect ninety-degree angle at each corner. And you:
how did you come to have such a smooth bur irregular shape?” The
pebble replied, “I spent thousands of years ground by glaciers and
polished by rivers. My form was complete long before I ended up in
this garden. I have no corners at all.” The paving stone considered
this. “And I have just been born,” it said. “When adversity begins to
break me up or smooth me out, I will no longer be wanted. My
geometrical perfection may turn out to be a curse.”
Moral: It is better to be rid of rough edges early than to develop them late.

Parafable of the Dam

A family of beavers spent many weeks of hard work building a river
dam. It provided everything they needed to live comfortably. They
were happy until a group of otters came along and decided to break
through the dam, ruining it. The beavers immediately emerged to
protest: you are destroying our homes! The otters replied: we do what
we please, and it pleases us to clear out this area.
Moral: Going against the tide may be for suckers, but they’re not the ones
bringing down the house.