Fred’s Journal 2.11.18: A Birth Announcement
The first philosopher to ever turn my head was Henry David Thoreau. I was about 20, and I happened upon his magnificent American classic, Walden, in a small neighborhood library. I checked it out, took it home, and read it. It changed my life forever. I now own it in both the Easton Press leather edition, and in the wonderful Yale annotated edition, which is part of an ongoing Thoreau library edited by Jeffrey S. Cramer.
So it is with at least great reverence, if not humility, that I’m using a photograph of his cabin to illustrate what I hope and expect will be an ongoing journal from me to you. If I can manage to keep the entries short, then we have a chance. If they go long, the journal will be lost to us. The idea is to write short-short pieces about topics that arise here. I can’t do a video on everything, and I can’t find the time anymore to write a post on anything, so this is going to be what we have. In invite you to join me here regularly.
I’ll at least keep this one short!
Love,
Fred
February 11, 2018 @ 8:05 pm
Awesome! As you know, I’m a devotee of journaling. I, and I’m sure many, many, look forward to reading your reflections.
❤️K
February 12, 2018 @ 3:18 pm
I think it was Thoreau that coined the phrase “Comfortably Numb”…referring to the populace of his day.. Pink Floyd got that song title from him…??
February 12, 2018 @ 6:32 pm
Hey, Terry! You are correct. Another one of his lines expresses the unconscious daily experience beautifully: “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” ♥
February 13, 2018 @ 5:01 am
Ahh so they also got their line “Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way” from the Dark side of the Moon album ?
February 13, 2018 @ 9:30 am
Yep. 🙂
February 12, 2018 @ 3:35 pm
Invitation gladly and humbly accepted!
February 12, 2018 @ 6:32 pm
It’s always great to have you with me, Mike! ♥
February 12, 2018 @ 5:10 pm
Thanks, Fred. I dwell with Thoreau’s Journal weekly as I walk in the quiet woods and observe the small natural changes. Like him, I relish the small outer and inner changes from day to day.
February 12, 2018 @ 6:36 pm
Hey, Robert! Great to hear from you.
I have a cabin in my backyard. Perhaps I’ll take a picture of it, and use it instead of Thoreau’s. It hadn’t occurred to me until this very moment. Walden ripped the feet out from under my whole world. Thank goodness!
February 13, 2018 @ 8:29 am
Heaven is below our feet as well as above our heads. So well said. Thanks again, Fred
February 13, 2018 @ 9:31 am
Love that. Thanks!
February 15, 2018 @ 7:54 pm
I like this, short sweet posts on what ever arises. I especially enjoyed your last one.
February 15, 2018 @ 8:39 pm
Thanks, Barb!