Because I Know You’ve Always Wondered

Indiana Beagle is the spirit of curiosity, exploration and adventure. His twin sister Intuition is the beagle of my Destinae trilogy and the mother of Faith and Hope.

Intuition is wordless but Indy can speak.

Intuition came to life in June, 2001, during some early morning laughter with Princess Pennie.

There is a beagle in our brain,” I shouted in mock rage, “and it must be unleashed to go where it will!” With my fist raised in defiance to anyone who would keep their beagle tethered, I shouted, “Free the Beagle! Free the Beagle! Aroooo! Arooooo! Aroooooo!”

The subject of our laughter became a Monday Morning Memo, “The Beagle in Your Brain,” the following week. Two months later it was chapter 54 in Magical Worlds of the Wizard of Ads, which quickly became a Wall Street Journal bestseller.

It was only when I was writing the Destinae trilogy that I realized Intuition has a mischievous brother, Indy, who can walk into any work of art and instantly be in that place, at that time. For Indy, photos and paintings are portals, giving him entrance into other worlds.

But isn’t that what photos and paintings do for all of us?

Indiana doesn’t appear in the Destinae trilogy because that’s the story of his sister. Likewise, you’ll find no photo or painting of Indy on the campus of Wizard Academy in Austin. When he isn’t guiding guests through a rabbit hole, Indy lives in the art collection you’ll find in the 12 buildings, 18 courtyards, parks and gardens, and 98 uniquely decorated rooms of that place.

When you’re here and a work of art intrigues you, ask Indy what it means.

There’s a scene at the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) that tells us where Indiana Jones got his name.

SALLAH: “Please, what does it always mean, this, this ‘Junior?'”

HENRY JONES: “That’s his name. ‘Henry Jones, Junior.'”

INDIANA JONES: “I like Indiana.”

HENRY JONES: “We named the dog Indiana.”

SALLAH: “The dog? (heh-heh) You are named after the dog?” (Laughter)

INDIANA JONES: (Irritated) “I’ve got a lot of fond memories of that dog.”

Like I said, Indiana Beagle is the spirit of curiosity, exploration and adventure. This is why he’s the guiding spirit of the Worldwide Worthless Bastards.

“You know, Lydia, I used to be a rationalist.”

“What is that?”

“Well, it’s sort of believing only in what you see, or hear, or feel. But lately, I’ve begun to suspect that there are more things in heaven and earth than I ever dreamed in my philosophy.”

“You learn much when you learn that.”

– Colonel Ralph Denistoun to the gypsy woman, Lydia, in Paramount’s 1947 Movie, Golden Earrings

Indy and I have enjoyed the conversations we’ve had with prospective members of the Worthless Bastards during the past several weeks.

Here’s what those conversations sound like:

“You should join us at the Toad and Ostrich Pub on Friday afternoons at four.”

“What do you do there?”

“We just talk, mostly. But you’re not allowed to discuss business, or work, or politics or sports. And you can’t complain about anything or talk about your problems.”

“What is there to talk about, then?”

“We sip water and tea and wine and whisky and talk about music we love or movies we’ve seen or restaurants we’ve tried or sometimes someone will do a magic trick or tell a funny story about growing up or a colorful person they used to know. It’s really amazing how interesting people can be when business and politics and sports are off the table.”

Worthless Bastards are people who have discovered that life’s nonproductive moments are often the most life affirming of all.

There is a time for goal setting and grit, struggle and striving, determination and defiance. There is a time for vision and valor and timelines and tenacity.

But it isn’t all the time.

Roy H. Williams