Uberview

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.