I made this picture back on July 29th. I captioned it “A Possible Future.” Only one person noticed it on social media. The attacks in Paris make it relevant.
I had made this for my “The Old Man Chronicles” series and put it in a folder for later. The quote applies to so much of what I’m hearing and reading from people who seek simplicity solely to feel like they are doing something.
I’m poking fun at my wife, who is meticulous and meticulous. Did I mention meticulous?
“People say they want to know the truth, but what they really want to know is that they already know the truth.” Max Klein, “Fearless”
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After I posted again last week ( CLICK H-E-R-E ) about the pilot who crashed on my residence in 1991, I got some interesting responses. A friend and contemporary who I connect with only on facebook reached out and shared part of a personal story and perspective related to ‘my’ crash.
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My friend had met the deceased pilot in passing, after having spent time with other pilots around the United States when younger. It was a big part of their life. So, the friend got to experience part of the impact on me from both an insider’s and outsider’s perspective. It is truly a small world. It’s a story I was unaware of and would have never known had my friend not reached out to share a slice of perspective from the other side. I was grateful to know that my small story had connected to another person in a meaningful way.
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Writing is often like throwing stones into the dark. I know that people are reading it who don’t comment and that most content doesn’t connect. But I don’t throw the stones for the reaction.
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The concentric circles of coincidence and how connected we all are still surprises me, even after living through thousands of insights. https://xteri.me/2015/06/19/sonder-and-sonderous/
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Even after I posted the airplane story again, I had a few people who still thought it might not be true or that it was just a clever story. I’m no Ben Carson on this one. It’s too strange to be untrue. Like so many other things, it is both a small part of my life and a big impact into who I am today.
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“You told me I was going to be safe with you.” (Carla) “You’re safe. You’re safe because we died already.” (Max) “Fearless”
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“Fearless” is a movie from 1993, starring Jeff Bridges. (It’s also a novel by Rafael Yglesias.) Jeff’s character is a normal person until he survives a horrific plane crash. Surviving the crash changes him dramatically. I’ve watched the movie 5-6 times and each time I do, it revives the macabre laughter in me that awakened even further after being on the ground under a crashing plane.
“The sunset may be closer than you realize, as the light steals away…” -X
Inspiration or insight is sporadic for most. For me, it is a constant mumbling voice in my head. “The Old Man Chronicles” was one of those murmurs. The old man had much to say and he keeps whispering to me to share some of it…
Post from social media:
“Weird. It is almost like no one recognizes me. But I got a lot of waves and laughter as I walked
to my car.”
Before leaving work, I had an inspiration. I grabbed a large brown paper bag, ripped it across and then ripped two eye holes, stuffing my glasses on as an anchor. I left work and walked to my car, along a very busy road. People were gawking, laughing, waving, and pointing. It was great fun.
Some people say I have never looked better in my entire life. And my laugh lines and wrinkles are virtually gone. I may be on to a new type of product!
I wish life were always so carefree. For just a few cents and a little willingness to come across as stupid, I got a great dose of fun out of an otherwise mundane activity.
Although Kraft foods might not enjoy the witty reference, at least now we know why the Donald is seen so often with a bottle of the condiment. (With regards to Andy Borowitz.)
If someone says, “I’ve got a picture of folks working hard in the cotton fields,” why do people assume that there are slaves in the picture? Cotton was the territory of the poor.
My mom was literally born in the cotton fields and her family did the harsh work in them.
Mike Rowe has created a controversy by assuming that a news anchor had a picture of slaves on her wall as inspiration. That’s just illogical. Cotton field workers weren’t all slaves – but they were all poor and had to work like their lives depended on it – because it did.
(I’m not a follower of either Mike Rowe or Melissa Harris-Perry.)
Mike Rowe butchered logic by pinning an entire viral social media argument on the premise that Ms. Harris had a picture of slaves to define “hard work” for her. She said she had a picture of folks working the cotton fields. That picture could literally be a photo of my ancestors – and none of them were either black nor slaves. It is so easy to create a whirlwind where none need exist if you are more interested in earning a living fanning the fires on social media than you are in trying to get to the gist of what someone is saying and believes.
P.S. Parenthetically Speaking 