Man, I knew you were a brudda. New Albany! So much of your point-of-view matches my own. I feel fortunate to have been raised in a small town, in the American South, connected in many ways to nature and physical reality (vs. virtual). Social media eventually rotted out some of my "friendships" (NO dissent allowed!) to where I simply deleted all of my accounts and set out looking for other ways to "connect". Substack has been very satisfying as a way to feel like I'm not a solo voice in the wilderness. Thanks for your eloquent contributions.
Michael - look up the word Hiraeth, a Welsh word that does not have a one word English translation.
I feel this way towards my home town that was literally destroyed by the progressives in what was called Urban Renewal. They even used the word Progressive in their selling of the concept to the townspeople during the 1960's.
It was a town of around 10,000 people, where we knew most everyone. We have great friends that we road bikes with, had picnics and cookouts with, studied with, and just hung out with. It was a very comfortable and safe place to be. And most all did not even lock their doors at night.
It was a town where many had guns, as it was home to Remington Arms, and never a school attack, or mass shooting, but there were shooting contests, and gun safety, and fish and game club, etc.
I so long for the old town, and the feeling that it held for me. Hiraeth - perhaps is what may be happening in several parts of the world, and yet not within reach.
Thoughtful and thought provoking, Michael. What you and your friend Mr. Rubin describe is probably why my little family is so close. We live a couple of hours apart from our daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren, but strive to see each other every other week, and talk by phone or skype everyday. My best friend from a very young age is my bride of 43 years. Career opportunities took me around the planet and to every corner of this continent -- I would not trade the experiences. There are times when I reach back to the acquaintances along the way who live in the same community where born, in wonder at the depth of their lives and attachments to community -- their comfort zone. Your piece caused me to realize that my comfort zone has always been seeking new and interesting people, places, and experiences -- and the closeness of my little family.
I am excited (and more than a little frightened) to report that I am driving 500 miles north to visit neighborhood friends from my childhood - most of whom I've not talked to in sixty years. If we find anything to talk about, it will be heart-warming and sweet.
Two comments:
(1) It seems that we have a need for stress. As our lives have become more comfortable and decision-free, we fall into a vegetative state. This is comfortable for a time & then we find a need to stir things up. That may be as simple as turning on television news or logging on to Twitter.
(2) It may be that Generation Z is an evolutionary midpoint for humanity similar to the point in a baby's life when its heart begins beating in the womb. As a fan of Isaac Newton, Albert Pike, and all the alchemists throughout history, I suspect that the current obsession with "Internet friends" and the compulsion many have to communicate and argue via satellite is a precursor to actual ESP and mental communication between humans.
The togetherness with a phone photo does not work for a friend while hunting in the Everglades or spring break sleeping on New Smyrna Beach when you don't have sufficient funds for quarters.
Man, I knew you were a brudda. New Albany! So much of your point-of-view matches my own. I feel fortunate to have been raised in a small town, in the American South, connected in many ways to nature and physical reality (vs. virtual). Social media eventually rotted out some of my "friendships" (NO dissent allowed!) to where I simply deleted all of my accounts and set out looking for other ways to "connect". Substack has been very satisfying as a way to feel like I'm not a solo voice in the wilderness. Thanks for your eloquent contributions.
Michael - look up the word Hiraeth, a Welsh word that does not have a one word English translation.
I feel this way towards my home town that was literally destroyed by the progressives in what was called Urban Renewal. They even used the word Progressive in their selling of the concept to the townspeople during the 1960's.
It was a town of around 10,000 people, where we knew most everyone. We have great friends that we road bikes with, had picnics and cookouts with, studied with, and just hung out with. It was a very comfortable and safe place to be. And most all did not even lock their doors at night.
It was a town where many had guns, as it was home to Remington Arms, and never a school attack, or mass shooting, but there were shooting contests, and gun safety, and fish and game club, etc.
I so long for the old town, and the feeling that it held for me. Hiraeth - perhaps is what may be happening in several parts of the world, and yet not within reach.
Thoughtful and thought provoking, Michael. What you and your friend Mr. Rubin describe is probably why my little family is so close. We live a couple of hours apart from our daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren, but strive to see each other every other week, and talk by phone or skype everyday. My best friend from a very young age is my bride of 43 years. Career opportunities took me around the planet and to every corner of this continent -- I would not trade the experiences. There are times when I reach back to the acquaintances along the way who live in the same community where born, in wonder at the depth of their lives and attachments to community -- their comfort zone. Your piece caused me to realize that my comfort zone has always been seeking new and interesting people, places, and experiences -- and the closeness of my little family.
Good morning, Michael!
I am excited (and more than a little frightened) to report that I am driving 500 miles north to visit neighborhood friends from my childhood - most of whom I've not talked to in sixty years. If we find anything to talk about, it will be heart-warming and sweet.
Two comments:
(1) It seems that we have a need for stress. As our lives have become more comfortable and decision-free, we fall into a vegetative state. This is comfortable for a time & then we find a need to stir things up. That may be as simple as turning on television news or logging on to Twitter.
(2) It may be that Generation Z is an evolutionary midpoint for humanity similar to the point in a baby's life when its heart begins beating in the womb. As a fan of Isaac Newton, Albert Pike, and all the alchemists throughout history, I suspect that the current obsession with "Internet friends" and the compulsion many have to communicate and argue via satellite is a precursor to actual ESP and mental communication between humans.
The togetherness with a phone photo does not work for a friend while hunting in the Everglades or spring break sleeping on New Smyrna Beach when you don't have sufficient funds for quarters.