Tuesday, October 25, 2005
R-E-S-P-...aww, the heck with it!
I feel, kind of like, I had been funding a retirement program for 50 plus years, then found out I would never collect a cent.
You see, when I was growing up, elders were treated with respect - ALWAYS! It was expected and we all did it, even to schmos, like Uncle Albert. You see, it really didn't depend on the social status of the elder, nor their redeeming social value - merely their age, compared to yours.
In today's world, I have bumbled far enough along life's path to be senior to many (most?) I am treated repectfully by, let's see...the birds at my feeders? I wonder what cataclysmic event entitled folks to stop playing by the elder-respect model. I guess I must have missed that milestone. Is it better this way I.E. -no repect for anyone or anything? Just wait til you become elder...
You see, when I was growing up, elders were treated with respect - ALWAYS! It was expected and we all did it, even to schmos, like Uncle Albert. You see, it really didn't depend on the social status of the elder, nor their redeeming social value - merely their age, compared to yours.
In today's world, I have bumbled far enough along life's path to be senior to many (most?) I am treated repectfully by, let's see...the birds at my feeders? I wonder what cataclysmic event entitled folks to stop playing by the elder-respect model. I guess I must have missed that milestone. Is it better this way I.E. -no repect for anyone or anything? Just wait til you become elder...
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Thoreau-away society needs...
I am, obviously, not living a Waldenesque existence, or this blog would not exist. I am, however, one of the lucky people who has tasted great mouthfuls of real-world Walden. There are (still) many of us around, but we are a vanishing species. It's a generational thing, or was.
Most of my generation and the vast majority of folks from previous ones tasted simple pleasures on a very regular basis. God, how lucky we were. I grew up in a lakeside home in upstate New York and my best entertainment came from the lake and it's creatures. I didn't kill them to enjoy them. I enjoyed just observing them and, on occasion, interacting with them. I firmly believe that, for me, "Life's simple pleasures are the best" - always will be.
There were many quiet (boring-sounding) moments of wonder in the immediate (non-electronic) environment. Their impact on me shows by their ability to still live in my memory and always be near my concious thought and continue to thrill me.
I do know this, absolutely and conclusively, a person's ability to enjoy, relish or even realize such simple pleasures will be supplanted, stunted, and/or destroyed by immersion in the pop(-less) culture toys and foibles of this crazy world of today. For many of you, it is too late. You will never be able to have a clue to the genius and veracity of Thoreau's concept of happiness through simplicity. The Game Boy/IPOD headphones have killed your ears (and souls) to the flutter of butterfly wings.
I thank the Lord for the existence that allowed me many satisfying bites of Walden pie. I wish you could have had a place at the table, but you have missed the dinnerbell - forever.
Most of my generation and the vast majority of folks from previous ones tasted simple pleasures on a very regular basis. God, how lucky we were. I grew up in a lakeside home in upstate New York and my best entertainment came from the lake and it's creatures. I didn't kill them to enjoy them. I enjoyed just observing them and, on occasion, interacting with them. I firmly believe that, for me, "Life's simple pleasures are the best" - always will be.
There were many quiet (boring-sounding) moments of wonder in the immediate (non-electronic) environment. Their impact on me shows by their ability to still live in my memory and always be near my concious thought and continue to thrill me.
I do know this, absolutely and conclusively, a person's ability to enjoy, relish or even realize such simple pleasures will be supplanted, stunted, and/or destroyed by immersion in the pop(-less) culture toys and foibles of this crazy world of today. For many of you, it is too late. You will never be able to have a clue to the genius and veracity of Thoreau's concept of happiness through simplicity. The Game Boy/IPOD headphones have killed your ears (and souls) to the flutter of butterfly wings.
I thank the Lord for the existence that allowed me many satisfying bites of Walden pie. I wish you could have had a place at the table, but you have missed the dinnerbell - forever.
