Happy Second Anniversary, Tonya. I predict a good year for you. Meanwhile, this selection of Juke contributions was inspiring and educational.I love how people can pull cadense and rhythm out of the mundane. Thank you for everything, Tonya.
Anthony mentions the humanity of Julie in asking the question. That did make me wonder what ChatGPT would have answered, and so did go out and take a look, for those interested. It's brief response was: "I've been right here!"
As for me, though I sometimes question whether I have any more humanity than these machines, I've not been traveling, at least not physically, though my mind has been bouncing around. This weekend I went to the local Blueberry festival. I'm in Texas now, but I used to annually attend a luscious, craft-sy Blueberry festival in northern Pennsylvania, when I lived in upstate NY. I wanted to duplicate that pleasure. I'm not going to say this one was comparative, but I will note that on the drive there, we passed by a great number of homes, on these Texas back roads, with American flags, Texas flags, and even this time I noted a "Don't Tread on Me" flag. It occurred to me that these homeowners use these flags as an element of protection -- their home is not just a home, but projects itself to passerby's as a fortress and an identity. "Don't tread on me." Who has been trying to tread on you? Why the persecution complex? There's a sense of suffering here, perhaps profound suffering, even if it's not based in reality. I mean, these are comfortable-looking homes, each sitting on at least a sprawling acre of land, so there can't be enduring poverty or subsistence living involved. They are not in a war zone, though others in the world are. But each of us can feel persecuted in our own way, I suppose. As for me, I'm traveling only internally, lately trying to reinvent myself in tiny, private ways.
What a great answer, Steven. I used to find every little town festival I could in the Midwest--most were disappointing, but occasionally one would be great. A blueberry festival sounds like heaven. And I like your analysis on the flags. I think you're right about everyone feeling persecuted in their own way. Living in little bubbles of paranoia--it's a sad state of affairs. And then that perfect phrasing of "reinvent myself in tiny, private ways." That's just fantastic. And all we can hope for.
Kudos & rowdy applause to Tonya (& all of you!) for two years of quality writing, laughs, squirms & beautifully-expressed revelations. I am delighted with all of it. I read today's entries with great interest.
Where am I? On my couch (a VERY frequent occurrence), in Greenwich Village, pondering my day & generally in the same 10-block radius, with some lovely travel exceptions. In a state of occasional agita but overall gratitude.
Boy does this group of people's observations work well together! wonderful. so grateful to be a part of it all!
Couldn't agree more! It's so great to have this incredible group of minds together on one page.
Happy Second Anniversary, Tonya. I predict a good year for you. Meanwhile, this selection of Juke contributions was inspiring and educational.I love how people can pull cadense and rhythm out of the mundane. Thank you for everything, Tonya.
Thank you, Sue!! And I love that too. The Juke writers constantly show me new layers of meaning in the seemingly mundane.
Anthony mentions the humanity of Julie in asking the question. That did make me wonder what ChatGPT would have answered, and so did go out and take a look, for those interested. It's brief response was: "I've been right here!"
As for me, though I sometimes question whether I have any more humanity than these machines, I've not been traveling, at least not physically, though my mind has been bouncing around. This weekend I went to the local Blueberry festival. I'm in Texas now, but I used to annually attend a luscious, craft-sy Blueberry festival in northern Pennsylvania, when I lived in upstate NY. I wanted to duplicate that pleasure. I'm not going to say this one was comparative, but I will note that on the drive there, we passed by a great number of homes, on these Texas back roads, with American flags, Texas flags, and even this time I noted a "Don't Tread on Me" flag. It occurred to me that these homeowners use these flags as an element of protection -- their home is not just a home, but projects itself to passerby's as a fortress and an identity. "Don't tread on me." Who has been trying to tread on you? Why the persecution complex? There's a sense of suffering here, perhaps profound suffering, even if it's not based in reality. I mean, these are comfortable-looking homes, each sitting on at least a sprawling acre of land, so there can't be enduring poverty or subsistence living involved. They are not in a war zone, though others in the world are. But each of us can feel persecuted in our own way, I suppose. As for me, I'm traveling only internally, lately trying to reinvent myself in tiny, private ways.
What a great answer, Steven. I used to find every little town festival I could in the Midwest--most were disappointing, but occasionally one would be great. A blueberry festival sounds like heaven. And I like your analysis on the flags. I think you're right about everyone feeling persecuted in their own way. Living in little bubbles of paranoia--it's a sad state of affairs. And then that perfect phrasing of "reinvent myself in tiny, private ways." That's just fantastic. And all we can hope for.
Kudos & rowdy applause to Tonya (& all of you!) for two years of quality writing, laughs, squirms & beautifully-expressed revelations. I am delighted with all of it. I read today's entries with great interest.
Where am I? On my couch (a VERY frequent occurrence), in Greenwich Village, pondering my day & generally in the same 10-block radius, with some lovely travel exceptions. In a state of occasional agita but overall gratitude.
Thanks, Ellen! Lucky for you (and also me) your 10 block radius contains a whole wide universe!