“And am reminded that if we can somehow turn this damn thing around, dismantle this system, and start caring for one another and disable any incentives to hoard and take, that somehow, miraculously, most of what we need is right in front of us.” This. Yes. ❤️
So much beautiful here to give me breath for another day-
"the seeds we share can be a subversion of the forces that desire to own and profit," a slow checkout at the grocery for elderly starved for human contact and a friendly face, and that Calvino video, like the Walter Benjamin's angel of destruction with the forces of violence mounded behind him.
I love that you picked up on that! It took me a moment to put together the angels and the brooms and the airplane. It's a video to return to, for me.
And what a lovely idea, sharing things with one another that give breath for another day. I feel that way about a lot of things I come across--something to treat myself to when I need a reminder to slow down and focus on what's in front of me, while also letting the imagination roam.
Your mentioning the woodworking reminded that here in Port Townsend, WA -- where we're staying for three weeks -- is home to a wooden boat building school/facility that I love visiting just for the smell of the wood. And reminded that one day I would love to do some woodworking myself.
There really is something about woodworking. I don't do much of it anymore, mostly due to time but also working with soft woods (most of what we have locally) is less of a draw. But not that much less. Getting your hands on some wood and a chisel or a sander ... nothing like it. And every tree and its wood has a particular scent. It's lovely. Except black locust. That tree smells like a mix of squashed stink bug and sulfur. Incredible to work with, though. It's so hard it can be used as decking in place of concrete.
Yeah, it's the smell that I most love when visiting the boat building center here. It's magical. And I guess they must not be using any black locust! LOL.
I so look forward to your essays because I also read about ownership and private property a lot, befuddled and angered at how much it is at the core of so many wrongs, and how little care goes into even property that is owned. Loved hearing about the woodworking and seed exchange, and thinking towards spring with the light returning slowly.
It’s like if you dig deep enough, there it is, every time, with a hardened shell of a psychological separation from the rest of life (nature) surrounding it.
I love winter so much, I was surprised to notice myself thinking of spring with pleasure and delight so early!
I love Border & Rule. And Rose Bear Don't Walk was in the master naturalist class I took a couple years ago. That family features some mighty women!
(Maybe you told me about Border & Rule? It’s been on my shelf for close to a year, I think--wish I could remember!)
Harsha is a "burn it all down" comrade too and I love her for it. 🔥
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bccla-leader-resignation-1.6106796
YES. Me, too. ❤️🔥
That would be an awesome person to be in that class with!
“And am reminded that if we can somehow turn this damn thing around, dismantle this system, and start caring for one another and disable any incentives to hoard and take, that somehow, miraculously, most of what we need is right in front of us.” This. Yes. ❤️
Thank you, always, Greg. 🧡🧡🧡
So much beautiful here to give me breath for another day-
"the seeds we share can be a subversion of the forces that desire to own and profit," a slow checkout at the grocery for elderly starved for human contact and a friendly face, and that Calvino video, like the Walter Benjamin's angel of destruction with the forces of violence mounded behind him.
I love that you picked up on that! It took me a moment to put together the angels and the brooms and the airplane. It's a video to return to, for me.
And what a lovely idea, sharing things with one another that give breath for another day. I feel that way about a lot of things I come across--something to treat myself to when I need a reminder to slow down and focus on what's in front of me, while also letting the imagination roam.
Your mentioning the woodworking reminded that here in Port Townsend, WA -- where we're staying for three weeks -- is home to a wooden boat building school/facility that I love visiting just for the smell of the wood. And reminded that one day I would love to do some woodworking myself.
My advisor in my MFA program -- Douglas Whynott -- was writing a book at the time about boat building that I never got around to reading but really liked hearing the process of. It was specifically about Joel White, E.B. White's son, who became a boat builder: https://www.amazon.com/Unit-Water-Time-Joel-Whites/dp/0671785265/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
There really is something about woodworking. I don't do much of it anymore, mostly due to time but also working with soft woods (most of what we have locally) is less of a draw. But not that much less. Getting your hands on some wood and a chisel or a sander ... nothing like it. And every tree and its wood has a particular scent. It's lovely. Except black locust. That tree smells like a mix of squashed stink bug and sulfur. Incredible to work with, though. It's so hard it can be used as decking in place of concrete.
Yeah, it's the smell that I most love when visiting the boat building center here. It's magical. And I guess they must not be using any black locust! LOL.
I so look forward to your essays because I also read about ownership and private property a lot, befuddled and angered at how much it is at the core of so many wrongs, and how little care goes into even property that is owned. Loved hearing about the woodworking and seed exchange, and thinking towards spring with the light returning slowly.
And I look forward to yours, too!
It’s like if you dig deep enough, there it is, every time, with a hardened shell of a psychological separation from the rest of life (nature) surrounding it.
I love winter so much, I was surprised to notice myself thinking of spring with pleasure and delight so early!